Narratives written by patients, family members, and clinicians who have been affected by harmful medical mistakes are becoming part of the discourse of the patient safety movement, which has emerged over the past decade in response to two landmark studies of the problem of medical error in U.S. hospitals: the Harvard Medical Practice Study (1991) and the Institute of Medicine report To Err Is Human (2000). These narratives do not quite fit into the familiar categories of the pathography or the clinical tale, and they have, to date, been little explored by scholars of narrative. In this essay, I characterize these narratives as "broken stories," because they often describe, and are even occasioned by, a breaking off of communications between a patient or family and a physician or hospital following an incident of confirmed or suspected error. Other stories describe the spiritual brokenness of physicians who have inadvertently harmed patients, and the shattering impact of medical harm upon individual and communal trust in health care providers and institutions. With reference to the insights of Dominick La Capra concerning narratives of trauma, I provide a descriptive overview of three narratives written by family members Sandra Gilbert (Wrongful Death), Carol Levine ("Life But No Limb"), and Michael Rowe ("The Rest is Silence"), of a narrative written by physician David Hilfiker ("Facing Our Mistakes"), and of an error narrative embedded in Anne Fadiman's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I conclude with some preliminary recommendations concerning how these narratives might be used in medical education to improve the care of patients, families, and clinicians touched by medical harm.


Cracks are easily formed in Concrete. Due to the high tensile stresses the cracks may be formed on the concrete surface. As wider the cracks endangers the strength and durability of concrete structures, So that the cost of maintenance to repair may be required. In order to enhance strength and durability cracks should be filled with bonding and inert materials. By repair and maintenance of concrete structure a high economic condition occurs. In this study the BIOMATIC MATERIALS are used to induce CaCO3. Biomatic Materials used was Bacillus subtilis bacteria. Biochemically induced calcite precipitate will help in the healing the premature cracks formed in the concrete structures. By providing self-healing agents 50% of maintenance cost is reduced. This study mainly focus on to enhance the ability of self-repairing mechanism of the concrete by the help of formation of calcite precipitation. It is also an attempt to reduce the burden of frequent maintenance and manual repair works thus resulting in increase of lifetime of the concrete structures. Since the crack formation is major threat for the concrete structures this will study will help to overcome those catastrophic situations. Hence by using this innovative technique of cracking healing in the concrete structures the strength and durability will be increased compared to the conventional concrete.


O ne common misconception about evolution is that individual organisms evolve. It is true that natural selection acts on individuals: Each organism's traits affect its survival and reproductive success compared with those of other individuals. But the evolutionary impact of natural selection is only apparent in the changes in a population of organisms over time. Consider the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis), a seed-eating bird that inhabits the Galápagos Islands (Figure 23.1). In 1977, the G. fortis population on the island of Daphne Major was decimated by a long period of drought: Of some 1,200 birds, only 180 survived. Researchers observed that during the drought, small, soft seeds were in short supply. The finches mostly fed on large, hard seeds that were more plentiful. Birds with larger, deeper beaks were better able to crack and eat these larger seeds, and they survived at a higher rate than finches with smaller beaks. Since beak depth is an inherited trait in these birds, the average beak depth in the next generation of G. fortis was greater than it had been in the pre-drought population (Figure 23.2). The finch population had evolved by natural selection. However, the individual finches did not evolve. Each bird had a beak of a particular size, which did not grow larger during the drought. Rather, the proportion of large beaks in the population increased from generation to generation: The population evolved, not its individual members.


Background/Aim: Little is known on urine biomarkers that are associated with malignant behavior in patients with bladder cancer (BC). Our aim was to identify BC-related factors in urine samples using our original method "immune complexome analysis", based on detecting the immune complex (IC). Patients and Methods: Immune complexome analysis was performed using urine samples from 97 BC patients, including 67 with non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC). Results: Eight IC-antigens were recognized as candidates for BC-related factors from 20,165 proteins. IC-serum albumin, -fibrinogen γ chain, -hemoglobin subunit α, -hemoglobin subunit β, -ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen β chain were significantly associated with either pathological features and/or outcome. IC-ceruloplasmin was most widely associated with pathological features in all BC patients and lamina propria invasion and urinary tract recurrence in NMIBC. Conclusion: Based on detection of IC-antigens it was demonstrated that six IC-antigens, especially IC-ceruloplasmin, are potential urine biomarkers in BC.


Plant oil is one of the most possible substitutes of petroleum to produce polymers,so that it becomes the research hotspot in recent years.The structure and composition of renewable resource vegetable oil,varies of vegetable oil polyols with a variety of hydroxyl values produced by relative vegetable oil and their application in polyurethane industry are introduced.


Enantioselective additions of methallylstannanes to representative aldehydes with four chiral Lewis acid systems afford ee's of 84-99% using 10 mol % of catalyst. In one case, use of (R)-BINOL of 50% ee gave product with 88% ee


Linear-response (LR) theory in combination with the first-principles band structure codes allows to calculate phonons in an efficient way. In this report a formalism which enables us to apply LR theory within an all-electron framework utilizing the relativistic full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (RFLAPW) method is presented. As first part, the equations for the calculations of the atomic forces are given and they are used for the calculation of forces in {alpha}-Pu. As a second step, a complete set of formulaes for the dynamic matrices calculation is presented.


Figure 2: MR images of fluids measured with a T1 FLASH sequence and a Dixon VIBE used for μ-map generation for PET attenuation correction. Measurement of B1-homogeneity (right two columns). B1-maps and flip angle profiles along the vertical center line in transversal orientation show deviation from excited 90° flip angle. Increasing B1-homogeneity when using phantom fluids with decreasing relative permittivity εr according to Table 1 can be observed.


Using molecular-dynamic (MD) simulation, we investigated the mechanical response of faceted silver nanowires (NWs) to tensile deformations. The investigation considers different frustum heights, temperatures and 3D void effects to study the yield elasticity, incipient plasticity and ductility of the faceted NWs. The embedded-atom-method (EAM) potential is employed to describe the atomic interactions. To identify the defect evolution and deformation mechanism, the centrosymmetry parameter is implemented in our self-developed programme. A detailed discussion of surface-dominated deformation behaviour has been presented. It is found that the faceted NWs show brittle breaking behaviour in low temperature, which has never been reported in other NWs. This temperature-dependent breaking mode, as reported in this paper, might be useful in avoiding certain deformation mechanisms of metallic NWs in future.


We study kinematics and dynamics of two lenticular galaxies that possess globular clusters (GCs) which extend beyond approximately seven effective radii. We analyze two nearby lenticular galaxies, NGC 1023 and NGC 4526, based on their GCs. We extract the kinematics of these galaxies and use it for dynamical modeling based on the Jeans equation. The Jeans equation was solved in both the Newtonian mass-follows-light approach assuming constant mass-to-light ratio and assuming a dark halo in the Navarro-Frenk-White form. We find that while the first galaxy, NGC 1023, does not need a significant amount of dark matter, in the other galaxy, NGC 4526, the dark component fully dominates stellar matter in the total dynamical mass. In this paper we also used three different MOND approaches and found that while for both galaxies MOND models can provide successful fits of the observed velocity dispersion, in the case of NGC 4526 we have a hint of an additional dark component even in the MOND framework.


The "false parasol" or "green-spored parasol" mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites) is a poisonous mushroom that is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning in the United States. This mushroom is widely distributed throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. It commonly creates a complete or incomplete "fairy ring" in lawns, grassy areas, and open woods. When mature, the green-spored parasol mushroom has a large cap, a ring around its stem, and a greenish color on the underside of its gills. This four-page fact sheet describes the morphology, ecology, and distribution of the green-spored mushroom as well as its toxicology and how to treat poisoning from this mushroom. Written by Lisbeth Espinoza and Matthew E. Smith, and published by the Plant Pathology department, January 2016.
PP324/PP324: The Green-Spore Poison Parasol Mushroom, Chlorophyllum molybdites (ufl.edu)


Evidence system refers to the system of rules regulated by law on the criterion of competence,collection and judgment of evidence during the criminal procedure,which is a significant part that needs to be perfected urgently in mainland China.In recent years,Taiwan has reformed its criminal procedure system from the inquisitorial system of continental law to the eclecticism system by adopting the achievements of adversary system of the common law.Consequently,its criminal evidence system became both characteristic and mature.Comparative study on the legislation situation,the rules and judgment of the criminal evidence shows that enormous differences are highlighted between Taiwan and Mainland China,which can offer Mainland China a feasible approach on how to prefect the criminal evidence system.


SUMMARY
The growth of the root system of dark grown dwarf-pea seedlings ceases 10–12 days after germination, even though cotyledonary reserves continue to be used for shoot growth. The cessation of root growth was not due to competition between shoot and root for cotyledonary reserves, but appeared to be the result of a depletion of essential factors which are normally supplied to the root by the light-grown shoot. These factors included auxin, the B vitamins (thiamine and nicotinic acid) and adenine. Application of IAA in lanolin to the cut stumps of de-shooted seedlings plus a supply of thiamine, nicotinic acid and adenine in the culture solution substituted to some extent for an illuminated shoot.


Traditional Chinese culture, with its distinctive nationality and regionalism, is a valuable source of creative elements for Chinese architecture, and also an effective weapon to cope with the impact of "internationalization" and "standardization". In this paper, traditional cultural elements are symbolically categorized, dissected and innovated through architectural semiotics to explore the characteristics and application significance of traditional cultural symbols in contemporary architectural design. Moreover, case studies are conducted to derive the correct expression of traditional Chinese culture in contemporary architectural design, with a view to finding out a universal path for applying traditional cultural symbols in architecture.


Considerable effort has been expended in recent years to develop anticipatory crash sensors-effective means of detecting motor vehicle collisions immediately prior to occurrence. If the potential crash is sensed early enough, evasive action may be instituted to avoid the accident. If technical or dynamic considerations limit the warning time to a very short interval, benefits can still be obtained through initiation of passive restraint deployment significantly earlier than would otherwise be the case, extending the effectiveness of such systems to higher impact speeds than are now tolerable. The latter case-restraint system deployment- is more readily defined, and is discussed here in terms of research directed toward delineation of operational requirements, optimal means of realization, and performance characteristics. Research which has been reported by a number of investigators will be described. Collision avoidance is a more complex topic, in that no consensus yet exists as to explicit performance objectives. Research into possible operating modes and technical realizations will be discussed, with emphasis on inherent sensor requirements in each case. Topics appropriate to future research will be indicated. /Author/


Abstract A theoretical discussion is given of the sharp drop in the Knight shift observed by Sasaki, Ikehata and Kobayashi (1973) at the metal-insulator transition in Si: P. It is suggested that a drop of this kind is to be expected in solids, but not in liquids, at any metal-insulator transition of Anderson type due to disorder. Some discussion is also given of the negative magneto-resistance in this system.


In the aim of association study of different genetic variants' of αs1-casein gene (csn1s1) and their association with lactation length (days) fat (%) and protein (%), the analysis of variance for different genotypes in four breeds of cattle has been observed that the effect of genotypes was found significant74.31** (P<0.01) for lactation length (LL) trait. Significantly higher LL (Days) was recorded in AA genotype of HF crossbred 329.70±8.93 while the lowest LL was noticed in AA genotype of Nimari202.42±3.67. The mean LL between AA and AB genotype of Malvi, Sahiwal and HF crossbred cattle showed non-significant difference. The higher mean Fat (%) was noticed for AA genotype than AB genotype of Malvi and Nimari however in HF crossbred higher Fat (%) was observed for AB genotype. The mean Fat% between AA and AB genotypes showed non-significant difference in Malvi, Sahiwal and HF crossbred cattle but the mean protein per cent was significantly higher in Malvi3.36±0.05 and Nimari3.74±0.07 and non-significantly higher in HF crossbred for AB genotype as compared to AA genotype. Among the different genotypes of all four breeds of cattle, significantly higher protein (%) was recorded in Nimari for AB genotyped animals.


At present, the internet of things has no standard system architecture. According to the requirements of universal sensing, reliable transmission, intelligent processing and the realization of human, human and the material, real-time communication between objects and things, the internet needs the open, hierarchical, extensible network architecture as the framework. The sensation equipment safe examination platform supports the platform through the open style scene examination to measure the equipment and provides the movement simulated environment, including each kind of movement and network environment and safety management center, turning on application gateway supports. It examines the knowledge library. Under this inspiration, this article proposes the novel security model based on the sparse neural network and wavelet analysis. The experiment indicates that the proposed model performs better compared with the other state-of-the-art algorithms.


This paper introduces the development and application of the new mould. The largest -section 280mm×380mm bloom tubular mould with high efficiency, has been developed and put into operation due to the defects of heavy rail bloom produced with the conventional combined - plate mould. It is currently the largest - section bloom tubular mould in China.


For several years regulatory advisers have been engaged in controversy about the propriety of integrating energy conservation measures into the total resource planning processes of electric utilities, and of proposed methods of doing so in the competitive supply procurement programs which have been initiated by some utilities. Two prominent economists conceived a method for doing this in competitive bidding programs and at the same time overcoming objections to previous proposals which were based on perceived violations of basic economic principles. They explained their concept and its operation in an article published here in June of last year. In this article another economist subjects the concept to further analysis, identifying its essential elements, and point to inevitable results of their application.


While not previously well known as a convention center, the opening of the new Salt Palace should skyrocket the city to the forefront of many meeting planners minds. Located in a prominent downtown location across from the Mormon Temple and adjacent to the existing Arts Center, the dramatic new center features a 270'x450' exhibit hall, 36,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, and 54,000-sq.-ft. of meeting rooms. Innovative Design and Excellence in Architecture with Steel Regional Winner


The different camera has different use method.For exempla,SONY DXC-637 and JVC KY-27.The writer has more experience in ordinary camera's use.This article introduce the use method of the professional camera camcorder's power,filter,white balance,black balance,v scan,microphone etc.


Drain static current (I_(DDQ)) test method for detecting defects of CMOS integrated circuits is summarized, along with its applications and future development. Unlike other test techniques for logic functions of IC's, I_(DDQ) test is used to detect physical defects and process defaults of the circuit. As an important supplement of logic function test, it can improve the testability of IC's and defect coverage, further enhancing the reliability of IC's.


This study assessed the creative thinking abilities of high-IQ and average students on fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Seventeen high-IQ fifth and sixth graders and 20 average fifth and sixth graders were given 4 batteries of Torrance's Verbal and Figural Tests (A and B) as pretests and posttests and three Future Problem Solving tasks to assess their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. A significant interaction between performance and IQ over time was demonstrated for verbal fluency. The high-IQ students scored low and finished higher over time. The average students scored high on the pretest, but dropped over time. The interaction for figural elaboration indicated little difference between the groups at pretest, but there was an increase for the average students and a decrease for the high-IQ students at posttest. Variability in performances of both high-IQ and average students suggests the need for training in creative thinking skills.


The limited efficiency of contact insecticides on adult mosquito has led to further studies on the ecology of Culex pipiens autogenicus in the larval stage. The formation of larval clusters and methods of control are analyzed, emphasizing especially the importance of good housekeeping.


A patient with triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency exhibited worsening of abnormal involuntary movements of the dystonic type and developed psychiatric symptoms while on selegiline. When selegiline was stopped after 9 years of treatment, abnormal involuntary movements improved to pretreatment level and psychiatric behaviour returned to normal. Monoamine oxidase‐B platelet activity was low in this patient. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society


Throughput analysis is important for the design, operation and management of manufacturing systems. Due to the large state space, exact analytical results only exist for two-machine serial lines. To analyse longer lines or more complex systems, the two-machine line model becomes the building block for further development. Therefore, many two-machine line models have been presented in the literature. A thorough understanding of the nature and differences of the various two-machine line models is critical for future analysis and development. In this paper, we study eight different two-machine models, categorized by synchronous and asynchronous lines with both time-dependent and operation-dependent failures, respectively. For each model, we introduce and compare the assumptions, calculation formulae, and their performance in system throughput. The results show that all the models exhibit similar performance with small differences, comparable to (or less than) the accuracy of data collection on the factory floor.


Complexities of the near surface and the varying acquisition-surface topography have degrading effects on land seismic images. This is because of trapped Rayleigh waves in the near-surface, and the distortions occurring to the body waves while passing through the complex near-surface. Removal of these two effects depends on the acquisition design and the preprocessing method. The acquisition design proposed in this thesis includes two phases. The first phase involves selecting initial parameters based on wave sampling theory. In the second phase, the subsurface model is incorporated. The main objective of this phase is to evaluate and update the initial design parameters. In this thesis the evaluation is based on the quality of pre-stack imaging results. These results are obtained using the concept of focal beams which allows assessing the effects of an acquisition geometry on the image quality without going into explicit modelling of seismic data. The results obtained in this thesis demonstrate that the complex near-surface causes the seismic wavefronts to be distorted without causing major shadow zones. This is principally different for the situation where the complexities of the underlying macro-model are relatively close to the target. The proposed method of removing the signal distortions is based on wavefield redatuming. This is carried out using one-way focusing operators that are obtained without knowledge of the underlying macro-model. This thesis introduces the estimation of the 3D one-way focusing operators using cross-spreads without a need for trace interpolation. In addition, a method for estimating 2D focusing operators in one-step is introduced and applied on a complex 2D synthetic and field data set. This method is based on global non-parametric inversion of tracked two-way reflection traveltimes in the common source gathers, using Fermat's principle as a constraint.


Indolocarbazoles are a family of natural alkaloids characterized by their potent protein kinase and topoisomerase I inhibitory activity. Among them, staurosporine (1) has exhibited promising inhibitory activity against parasites. Based on new insights on the activity and mechanism of action of STS in Acanthamoeba parasites, this work reports the isolation, identification, and the anti-Acanthamoeba activity of the minor metabolites 7-oxostaurosporine (2), 4′-demethylamino-4′-oxostaurosporine (3), and streptocarbazole B (4), isolated from cultures of the mangrove strain Streptomyces sanyensis. A clear correlation between the antiparasitic activities and the structural elements and conformations of the indolocarbazoles 1–4 was observed. Also, the study reveals that 7-oxostaurosporine (2) affects membrane permeability and causes mitochondrial damages on trophozoites of A. castellanii Neff.


Abstract To characterize packing columns in high performance liquid chromatography, the retention indices of ten fat-soluble vitamins were systematically measured using binary solvents each containing ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran and 2-propanol in n-hexane for silica gel chromatography. A linear relationship between the logarithm of the capacity ratio and that of the concentration of the polar solvents was confirmed. The retention sequence of the solutes was determined as follows: retinol > ergocalciferol = cholecalciferol > δ- > γ- > β- > α - tocopherol > menadione > phylloquinone. The retention behavior of retinal was similar to that of tocopherol derivatives, but varied depending on the polar solvent used. Such a retention sequence of fat-soluble vitamins may be explained on the basis of hydrogen bonding interactions between the active functional group on the solute molecules and silanol groups on the silica gel surface. Based on the adsorption selectivity given by the phase systems used, the resolut...


In this paper, we first propose an attractor point to accelerate the convergence rate of particle swarm optimization (PSO). Second, for enhancing the global search ability of PSO, we introduce a new operator based Gaussian distribution function into PSO algorithm. It helps the particles not only have more exploration ability but also focus on searching on the local area of the attractor point. Nine benchmark functions are used to test the performance of the proposed PSO algorithm. The results show that MDPSO performs much better than the other algorithms in terms of the quality of solution.


Certain similarities but also dissimilarities—ancestry, religion, edu cation, vocation, spouse—helped to mold the character and outlook of Bingham and Vallandigham. Each harkened back to ancestral origins in France—Bingham to Normandy and Vallandigham to Flanders, knighthood being in each family. A Bingham accompanied William the Conqueror to England; one of his descendants moved to Ireland; persons of this line fought for William III; in 1736, Hugh Bingham, Sr., left Ireland for Pennsylvania; his namesake was a Revolutionary War veteran; the latter's son, Hugh III, a veteran of the War of 1812, served as a prothonotary and commissioner of Mercer County, Penn sylvania; Hugh III became the father of John Armor Bingham whose maternal ancestry contained Scottish blood. Michael Van Landeghem came to Virginia in 1690; his namesake changed the family name to Vallandigham; this Michael's son, George, was a Revolutionary War veteran and justice of the peace; George's son Clement, a Presbyterian minister, became the father of Clement Laird Vallandigham, whose maternal side possessed Scottish blood. Calvinism permeated the Binghams and Vallandighams. The for mer adhered enthusiastically to the Associate Presbyterian Church, "the Seceders Church," a small, uncompromising sect. The Reverend


This study revisits the long run and dynamic causal linkages between defense spending and economic growth in 15 selected European countries for the period 1988–2010 by utilizing recent developments in non-stationary panel data analysis. To this end, the series properties of per capita defense spending, per capita real capita stocks, and per capita real GDP are investigated by the panel unit root tests with and without breaks that support evidence on unit root. The panel cointegration tests with and without breaks are also subsequently employed to investigate whether there exists a long-run equilibrium relationship between these three variables. Finally, our causality analysis from panel vector error-correction model suggests that there is a feedback relation between real capital stock and real GDP in both short and long run, a one-way Granger causality running from real GDP to defense spending in both short and long run, and defense spending only Granger causes real capital stock in the long run.


With the wide applications of wireless communication in the air inter-face, needs secure connections, efficient decryption and strong authentication mechanisms. In general,authentication procedure adds extra messages to the original message flow and results in throughput reduction/ increase in processing time. Reducing the processing time spent on authentication procedure is very important for a smooth and seamless hand over. However there is a cost ,while deploying security on a network in terms of processing time. Extensible Authentication Protocol –Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) is a robust authentication mechanism used in beyond 3G (B3G) environments and it is seconded by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).EAP-TLS authentication protocol supports a large number of cipher suites. By using Advanced Encryption Algorithm (AES) and Diffie Hellman -RSA key exchanges, a secure communication were established in B3G networks. This paper formally analyzes EAP-TLS message flow with cryptography algorithms and also numerical results are evaluated with the signaling cost. In addition to that PKI based solution has been discussed against Extensible Authentication Protocol –Authentication key Algorithm (EAP-AKA) procedures. The proof result shows that the authentication process of EAP-TLS can guarantee the security of wireless communication


We consider the problem of determining rates for a situation in which services are purchased in bulk but have to be paid for by a large number of small users. The desired rates must be "fair" and they must cover all costs. The problem is formulated as a non-atomic game and solved by using the value of the game. In addition to the general problem, we present a detailed actual case, together with computational methods and results.


A Descriptive Analysis on the Functions of Present Participle on Jakarta Post, is chosen by the writer. The writer would like to know what the functions of present participle and wuld like to see what the functions of present participle is used in newspapers.The problems of this research are: what are the the Functions of Present Participle? and what are the Functions of Present Participle used in newspapers?. The aims of this research are to describe the Functions of Present Participle and to find out what the Functions are used in newspapers. The writer uses the Qualitative Descriptive method and Jakarta Post as the source of the data. From the analysis, it can be concluded that Present Participle has three functions. There are as an adjective, as a verb, and as a gerund. The writer took 100 data of the functions in Jakarta Post. Of the three functions: 1) as a verb 56 sentences or 56%, 2) as an adjective 16 sentences or 16%, and 3) as a gerund 28 sentences or 28%. The writer hopes this research could be used as considerable and useful matter in helping the readers in know the Functions of Present Participle


For 40 years, Craft Australia has promoted the craft and design sector through significant periodicals and publications. The development of the craft + design enquiry journal continues this tradition and draws attention to the increasing academic research undertaken in the field of craft and design. The craft + design enquiry journal is an ERA listed journal. To date Craft Australia has published 3 issues of the craft + design enquiry journal. This month sees the launch of Volume 3, Sustainability in Craft and Design , edited by Kevin Murray.


Abstract A longstanding debate in criminology concerns whether peers influence delinquency or if they are of no significance because criminal propensity develops independent of associations. Matza (1969) criticized these competing perspectives, suggesting instead that the peer–delinquency relationship is nuanced, such that there is both between- and within-person variability in the influence of friends. Drawing on his choice-based perspective, we hypothesize that peers have a stronger influence on the delinquent tendencies of individuals low in criminal propensity. Further, we predict that the influence of peers varies within-individuals across crime types, such that delinquent friends are less influential for behaviors that individuals anticipate more guilt. Using data from the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) evaluation, we find support for these hypotheses. Perceived peer delinquency is a stronger predictor of offending for those lower in criminal propensity. Further, individuals are less susceptible to delinquent peers for acts in which they anticipate higher levels of guilt.


This paper is motivated by the fact that though fuzzy and B-spline techniques are popular engineering tools, their utilisation is being restricted by their exponential complexity property. As a result SVD based reduction techniques have emerged. These methods apply singular value decomposition to the characteristic matrix of the rule base. The maximum size of the rule base taken into consideration is limited by size of operation memory available for singular value decomposition. The method proposed in this paper is capable of applying singular value decomposition step by step to the partitions of the rule base. Therefore, using the proposed extension, there is no limit, theoretically, for the size of the rule bases.


In this study, the authors attempted to produce a medical radiation shielding fiber that can be produced at a nanosize scale and that is, unlike lead, harmless to the human body. The performance of the proposed medical radiation shielding fiber was then evaluated. First, diamagnetic bismuth oxide, an element which, among elements that have a high atomic number and density, is harmless to the human body, was selected as the shielding material. Next, 10-100 nm sized nanoparticles in powder form were prepared by ball milling the bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), the average particle size of which is 1-500 µm, for approximately 10 minutes. The manufactured bismuth oxide was formed into a colloidal solution, and the radiation shielding fabric was fabricated by curing after coating the solution on one side or both sides of the fabric. The thicknesses of the shielding sheets prepared with bismuth oxide were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 1.0 mm. An experimental method was used to measure the absorbed dose and irradiation dose by using the lead equivalent test method of X-ray protection goods presented by Korean Industrial Standards; the resultant shielding rate was then calculated. From the results of this study, the X-ray shielding effect of the shielding sheet with 0.1 mm thickness was about 55.37% against 50 keV X-ray, and the X-ray shielding effect in the case of 1.0 mm thickness showed shielding characteristics of about 99.36% against 50 keV X-ray. In conclusion, it is considered that nanosized-bismuth radiation shielding fiber developed in this research will contribute to reducing the effects of primary X-ray and secondary X-ray such as when using a scattering beam at a low level exposure.


The existing cooling process models lack the methods to compute the heat transfer parameter and the position that strip reaches and cannot be used to compute the strip coiling temperature directly. So a strip coiling temperature model is proposed, which consists of the status of cooling unit valves calculating model, the strip segment tracking model, and the top surface temperature model under different heat transfer conditions. What is more, a rule and data driven hybrid intelligent identification algorithm is developed combining the case-based reasoning, rule-reasoning with the neural network. The tests using real industrial data of a steel plant have been conducted and indicated that the proposed strip coiling temperature model has made a great contribution to the prediction precision of the strip coiling temperature during the laminar cooling process.


We develop a context-sensitive dashboard to assist knowl- edge workers. The term context in our scenario defines explicit categories used to group observed native operations (NOPs) performed, and these NOPs correspond to actions undertaken during work. The dashboard consists of several small applications, widgets, that permit quick access to such entities as files, bookmarks, persons, and notes as well as to a visual backtrack on a per-context basis. The dashboard can be activated on demand. Meanwhile, in background, the user is constantly monitored: a user observation hub records high level user actions, system hooks take screenshots and keystrokes. These can be used by the visual backtrack widget to give a replay and help users to find a way back into the con- text again after some interruption through evaluating similar situations in the past.


The stability of micro-network collection of distributed power supply,load,energy storage device and control device is weak,the current and voltage distortion affect power quality.In view of this characteristics,this papar introduced synchronous phase-locked technology based on instantaneous reactive power theory,it conncect the micro-network and low voltage distribution network public connection point into active power quality regulator by active power quality regulator,to compensate for harmonic current,thus improving stability of the micro-network.The synchronous phase-locked fuction of regulator can further compensate for harmonic current,and effectively control the factors of instability in the micro-network,improve the micro-network power quality,realize the highly effective operation of micro-network.


We introduce a novel approach to narrow and medium band speech coding that can dynamically balance the transmission rate between the excitation and the spectral parameters. The coding algorithm, called multimode coding, operates several coding blocks each of which has a different bit assignment in parallel. and selects the optimum coding block frame by frame based on an evaluation of the reproduced speech quality. This coding algorithm is applied to 4.8 and 8.0 kbps CELP coders, and 2.0-2.4 dB of SNRseg improvement is achieved over conventional CELP coders. Furthermore, the spectral distortion measure is added as an evaluation function, and it successfully improves the subjective quality.


The limitations of soft sound module are introduced.A new sound module system in network environment based on VST/VSTi architecture is proposed.The principle and implementation of this system are detailed.The usage of the system in handheld software is presented.The feasibility of the system is discussed.The advantages and prospects of network sound module are summarized.


We analyze a minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) taking a minimal flavor violation structure at the GUT scale. We evaluate the parameters at the electroweak scale taking into account the full flavor structure in the evolution of the renormalization group equations. We concentrate mainly on the decay B{sub s}{yields}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -} and its correlations with other observables like BR(b{yields}s{gamma}), BR(b{yields}sl{sup +}l{sup -}), {delta}M{sub B{sub s}} and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We restrict our analysis to the regions in parameter space consistent with the dark matter constraints. We find that the BR(B{sub s}{yields}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}) can exceed the current experimental limit in the regions of parameter space which are allowed by all other constraints thus providing an additional bound on supersymmetric parameters. This holds even in the constrained MSSM. Assuming a hypothetical measurement of BR(B{sub s}{yields}{mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}){approx_equal}10{sup -7}, we analyze the predicted MSSM spectrum and flavor violating decay modes of supersymmetric particles which are found to be small.


A method of operating a catalytic converter (110) adapted nitrogen oxides contained in an exhaust stream (120) (121) to reduce by means of a urea-containing solution (122), the at least reacts in the exhaust stream to ammonia comprising: - introducing an amount of the urea-containing solution (122) up- stream of the catalytic converter (110) to an ammonia slip by the catalyst converter (110); - determining a first actual value (123) of the loading state of the catalytic converter with ammonia at the time (T - determining a first Schatzwerts (124) of Beladungszustands at the time of the slip (T - The following emptying of the ammonia from the exhaust gas catalytic converter (110); - determining a second actual value (126) of the loading state of the catalytic converter with the urea-containing solution (122) when the catalytic converter (110) is deflated specified; - determining a second estimate (127) of the loading state by means of the dynamic model for loading when the catalytic converter (110) is emptied; - adjusting at least one parameter of the dynamic model as a function of the two actual values (123; 126) and the two estimated values (124; 127).


This work identifies a new enzyme, guanosine deaminase, which is specific for nucleoside catabolism of plants and not found in other organisms, outlining a plant-specific metabolic route. Guanosine deaminase exclusively generates xanthosine in the model plant Arabidopsis. In coffee, xanthosine is the precursor for caffeine production, which possibly requires guanosine deaminase as well. Purine nucleotide catabolism is common to most organisms and involves a guanine deaminase to convert guanine to xanthine in animals, invertebrates, and microorganisms. Using metabolomic analysis of mutants, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis thaliana uses an alternative catabolic route employing a highly specific guanosine deaminase (GSDA) not reported from any organism so far. The enzyme is ubiquitously expressed and deaminates exclusively guanosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine but no other aminated purines, pyrimidines, or pterines. GSDA belongs to the cytidine/deoxycytidylate deaminase family of proteins together with a deaminase involved in riboflavin biosynthesis, the chloroplastic tRNA adenosine deaminase Arg and a predicted tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase 2 in A. thaliana. GSDA is conserved in plants, including the moss Physcomitrella patens, but is absent in the algae and outside the plant kingdom. Our data show that xanthosine is exclusively generated through the deamination of guanosine by GSDA in A. thaliana, excluding other possible sources like the dephosphorylation of xanthosine monophosphate. Like the nucleoside hydrolases NUCLEOSIDE HYDROLASE1 (NSH1) and NSH2, GSDA is located in the cytosol, indicating that GMP catabolism to xanthine proceeds in a mostly cytosolic pathway via guanosine and xanthosine. Possible implications for the biosynthetic route of purine alkaloids (caffeine and theobromine) and ureides in other plants are discussed.


It has never been easier for interested parties in many different fields to collect and store data, but the challenge has become to utilize this now accessible data to enhance knowledge. Data mining has been defined in many ways, but generally refers to the use of pattern recognition technologies and statistical and mathematical techniques to make the data more useful and understandable to its owner (Larose, 2005). There is little question that the use of data mining is growing and that the nature of the data to which these techniques are applied is evolving (Berry & Linoff, 2004). Bozdogan's edited book is a compilation of presentations that were given at the C. Warren Neel International Conference on Statistical Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery that took place in 2002 and represented the state of the art of data mining across a wide variety of applications. It must be noted that, whereas some of the works contained in this book will be easily understood by anyone with an interest in data mining, others will be difficult to understand for those without a strong theoretical background in data mining techniques to follow. This book includes 34 chapters and provides the reader with tremendous insights into theoretical issues pertaining to the analytical techniques used in data mining and the wide variety of applications in which data mining techniques are used. The chapters presented in this book cover a myriad of topics, making them quite difficult to classify and organize into topics or themes, and the editor has not attempted to impose a structure to categorize the work. For this review, the chapters are not discussed in the order presented in the book but by the topics they cover. Chapter 1 is an introduction. Chapters dealing largely with the technical and theoretical issues of data mining methods are discussed as a group. These chapters are 2, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28. Chapters 18, 19, 22, and 25 cover statistical issues related to principal component analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Health care is a common theme for chapters 5, 6, and 29. Chapters 3, 14, 23, and 31 delve into economic issues. Chapters 4 and 12 deal with issues related to military operations. Application of data mining to government operations is demonstrated in chapters 4, 7, 12, and 32. Data mining applied to business management is discussed in chapters 11, 15, 24, and 30. Chapters 16, 17, and 26 demonSTRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING, 13(4), 649–652 Copyright © 2006, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.


Sub-Saharan Africa is endemic for Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and there is a high rate of early childhood infection; however, the transmission sources are not well characterized. We examined household members as potential KSHV transmission sources to young children in the KSHV-endemic country of Zambia. To this end, we enrolled and followed Zambian households with at least one KSHV-seropositive child and collected longitudinal buccal swab samples. KSHV burden was evaluated and K1 sequences from the children were determined and analyzed for differences to K1 sequences from household members. The K1 sequences were also analyzed for evolution over time. We generated K1 sequences from 31 individuals across 16 households. Nine households contained multiple KSHV-positive members, including at least one child. In 6 of 9 households, the child had 100% sequence identity to all household members. However, in two households the child and mother had distinct K1 sequences. In the remaining household, the children were the only KSHV-infected individuals. Furthermore, we report that 1 of 18 individuals had K1 sequence variation within the timespan analyzed. In the present study, we provide evidence that (1) early childhood KSHV transmission occurs from both within and outside the household, (2) intra-household transmission can occur The present study is the first to describe a molecular analysis of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transmission to children in a longitudinal cohort of KSHV-positive children and their entire households in Zambia—a country endemic for KSHV and Kaposi's sarcoma. Our results have important implications for the development of strategies to prevent KSHV transmission to young children and reduce Kaposi's sarcoma incidence in endemic areas. individual did not rapidly evolve over time. These results are important for developing KSHV intervention strategies.


The higher‐level phylogeny of Pentatomomorpha, the second largest infraorder of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), which includes many important agriculture and forestry pests, has been debated for decades. To investigate the phylogeny and evolutionary history of Pentatomomorpha, we assembled new mitochondrial genomes for 46 species through next‐generation sequencing of pooled genomic DNA. Based on a much broader taxon sampling than available previously, Bayesian analyses using a site‐heterogeneous mixture model (CAT+GTR) resolved the higher‐level phylogeny of Pentatomomorpha as (Aradoidea + (Pentatomoidea + (Coreoidea + (Lygaeoidea + Pyrrhocoroidea)))). There was a transition from trnT/trnP to trnP/trnT in the common ancestor of Pyrrhocoroidea, which indicates that this gene rearrangement could be an autapomorphy for Pyrrhocoroidea. Divergence time analyses estimated that Pentatomomorpha originated c. 242 Ma in the Middle Triassic, and most of the recognized superfamilies originated during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. The diversification of families within Pentatomomorpha largely coincided with the radiation of angiosperms during the Early Cretaceous.


With the rapid development of hydropower exploitation in China, changes in runoff and sediment transport have become a significant issue that cannot be neglected. In this study, the Han River was selected as a study case, where the runoff variation and changes in sediment load at the Baihe, Huangjiagang, Huangzhuang, and Xiantao stations were analyzed in different time periods. The results indicate that impact of cascade hydropower exploitation on runoff and sediment transport is significantly different even during the same time periods. After reservoir regulation, the decreasing of sediment load is faster than that of runoff. Strong positive correlation between runoff and sediment load exists during different time periods, while reservoir operation leads to different turning points at the Baihe, Huangjiagang, Huangzhuang, and Xiantao stations in the middle and lower Han River. As a key driving factor, runoff variation contributed to sediment transport with different impact index . The impact index before and after the first change point at the Baihe, Huangjiagang, Huangzhuang, and Xiantao stations is 43.35%, −3.68%, 11.17%, and 30.12%, respectively. This study helps us understand and evaluate the hydrological changes under cascade hydropower exploitation in the middle and lower Han River.


Zelmanowitz [12] introduced the concept of ring, which we call right zip rings, with the defining properties below, which are equivalent:
(ZIP 1) If the right anihilator X^ of a subset X of R is zero, then X1^ = 0 for a finite subset X1 I X.
(ZIP 2) If L is a left ideal and if L^ = 0, then L1^ = 0 for a finitely generated left ideal L1 I L.
In [12], Zelmanowitz noted that any ring R satisfying the d.c.c. on anihilator right ideals (= dcc ^) is a right zip ring, and hence, so is any subring of R. He also showed by example that there exist zip rings which do not have dcc ^.
In paragraph 1 of this paper, we characterize a right zip by the property that every injective right module E is divisible by every left ideal L such that L^ = 0. Thus, E = EL. (It suffices for this to hold for the injective hull of R).
In paragraph 2 we show that a left and right self-injective ring R is zip iff R is pseudo-Frobenius (= PF). We then apply this result to show that a semiprime commutative ring R is zip iff R is Goldie.
In paragraph 3 we continue the study of commutative zip rings.


1 Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Banha University. Egypt. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com ARTICLE HISTORY Received: / / 2009 Accepted: / / 2009 ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of coagulation/flocculation treatment process on upgrading wastewater treatment plant. A comparison between two different coagulants (alum – ferric chloride) with different dosage and pH values were applied to the coagulation processes. The experiments were performed in a conventional jar-test apparatus in El Berka wastewater treatment plant in El Sallam district, Cairo, Egypt. The results reveal that pH values (7–8), enhance removal efficiency of the COD, TSS and total phosphorous (TP). Percentage removal of 25.7%, 52.6% and 16.7% of COD, TSS and TP, of the blank sample while the removal efficiency increased to be 55.2%, 84.4% and 64% of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, by the addition of 80 mg/L alum and 66.1%, 91.6% and 89.5% removal of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, were achieved with the addition of 100 mg/L ferric chloride to the wastewater samples. The optimum pH value for alum was 7 and 8 for ferric chloride.


We calculate the scattering cross section between $0^{++}$ glueballs of the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory on lattice using the indirect (HAL QCD) method. We employ the cluster-decomposition error reduction technique and use all space-time symmetries to improve the signal. The relation between the interglueball cross section and the scale parameter $\Lambda$ is determined as $\sigma_{\phi \phi}$ = (3.5 - 8.0) $\Lambda^{-2}$ (stat.+sys.). From the observational constraints of galactic collisions, we obtain the lower bound $\Lambda$ > 60 MeV. We also discuss the naturalness of the Yang-Mills theory as the theory explaining dark matter.


Ankle injuries in the presence of neuropathy have potential to cause deformity in the ankle, which can in turn cause ulcerations and infections leading to significant morbidity including loss of limb or even life. These injuries although devastating can start off innocuously and may not be immediately apparent to the patient because of lack of pain. This can lead to a late presentation. Often, the main concern is swelling, for which the patient seeks attention. And even when medical attention is sought, unless the physician is vigilant, the condition can potentially be missed or misdiagnosed as deep vein thrombosis or cellulitis. A sprain or even a fracture in the ankle is not sus pected as the patient retains the ability to walk. This condition and its true nature further escapes detection if, as often is the case, a nonweight-bearing radiograph is obtained. Radiographs obtained without the weight-bearing or other stress modality may not reveal the instability at the ankle joint due to ligament damage. A thorough clinical evaluation including assessment for neuropathy and weight-bearing radiographs are neces sary for diagnosis. Stable fractures and ankle sprains can be managed conservatively in a cast or boot. Unstable ankle following ligamentous disruption and/or fractures in the vicinity of the ankle needs internal or external stabilization. The stabi lization in the presence of neuropathy should be stronger and the protection from weight bearing last longer and twice that used for patients with similar condition but without neuropathy.


For a number of years, ALFT Inc. has developed a laboratory soft X-ray source for the many analyses that are now being carried out at synchrotron locations. It is a Vacuum Spark source (VSX). The source is a pulsed point plasma emitting pulses of soft X-rays around 1 keV or 10 Angstroms wavelength. The average power is 728 mW in the VSX 700 machine. In terms of photon flux, it emits an average of 1015 photons/sec, with peak flux of 1018 photons/sec. Being a thermal source, the radiation is divergent. Because of its divergence, the source can be used along different directions, 4 beams being now part of the present commercial machine. This laboratory tool has been thoroughly developed to the point that it reliably runs continuously without deterioration of power or spectral purity. The plasma can be generated from among many elements, copper and tungsten being two of the presently used. A more powerful source, the VSX Z10, of 10 Watts average power, has been also developed by ALFT Inc. and has now reached the prototype stage. It is again a thermal divergent plasma source emitting in excess of 1016 photons/sec with peak flux of 1024 photons/sec. Sources in the 50 Watts range are now being considered for further development.


A small portable forage crop chopper, constructed from the reel and cutterbar assembly of a power lawn mower, is described. The unit is powered by the engine originally used on the power lawn mower. It has been designed for chopping forage plot material required for sampling purposes. The low cost of construction, compactness, weight, and size makes it well suited and easily transported for the conducting of regional tests.


Complex syntax production emerges shortly after the emergence of two-word combinations in oral language and continues to develop through the school-age years. This article defines a framework for the analysis of complex syntax in the spontaneous language of preschool- and early school-age children. The purpose of this article is to provide practitioners with an overview of complex syntax that advances their ability to assess and intervene in the preschool- and early school-age years. Supplemental Digital Content provides (a) tables that provide additional detail and explanation on the complex syntax types (available at: http://links.lww.com/TLD/A15, http://links.lww.com/TLD/A16) and (b) practice exercises in classifying complex syntax tokens (available at: http://links.lww.com/TLD/A17).


To develop a printed classifier instrument to guide geriatric emergency care for caregivers of the elderly. This is a literature review of the last 10 years, aiming to elucidate the theme and thus, based on the information obtained, build the printed instrument for the geriatric public. Therefore, this work took place in two stages, the first being the search for articles on online search platforms and the second the construction of the proposed technology. The applicability of educational instruments in health is of paramount importance, even for those who do not have training in the area, as is the reality of many caregivers in the country, so the instrument built was based on colors already used for a better understanding of the tool. It is concluded that the applicability of the tool is easy to understand and can help in the assessment and decision-making of caregivers, thus favoring care, adequate prognosis and in a timely manner for the elderly.


Рассмотрено решение задачи расчета европейского опциона с квантильным критерием на неполном рынке с дискретным временем. Обоснована методика расчета европейского опциона с квантильным критерием относительно любой меры из класса эквивалентных. Приведен иллюстрирующий пример.The paper considers solution of the European option calculating problem with quantile criterion in incomplete market with discrete time. The method of calculating of European option with quantile criterion with respect to any measure from the class of equivalent measures is justified on the basis of S -expansion of the two payment obligations.


This paper firstly introduced the LTE heterogeneous network and LTE multilayer network technology,and then focus on LTE coverage technology for high-speed rail and dense urban areas. Where need to consider how to solve the problem of the Doppler shift effect of LTE coverage of HSR,the paper gave suggestion for LTE coverage networking for HSR line and tunnels environments. And discussed how to use the LTE heterogeneous networks and multilayer network technology to solve the LTE issue of capacity-limited and depth coverage on dense urban environment in a reasonable network layout.


Dorothy Hoffman, plant manager for the Clarksburg, Virginia, location of Fisher Manufacturing Company (Fisher), had a problem: her plant was repeatedly failing to improve its dismal performance when it came to meeting shipping dates. Only 60% of its June shipments had met the well-established four-week service standard of the coated-abrasives industry. She knew that an investment of $8 million in new equipment would provide a significant reduction in setup times for a major portion of Fisher's production process, but she also knew that the board of directors would need more than just her faith that the investment was worthwhile. She needed hard numbers to justify a recommendation.The case can be used to show the benefits of production flexibility through an increase in capacity by setup-reduction efforts. By reducing setup time, smaller batches may be produced, allowing Fisher to be more responsive to the market while lowering its inventory investment. Excerpt UVA-OM-1598 Jul. 5, 2018 Fisher Manufacturing Company (A) Dorothy Hoffman, plant manager for the Clarksburg, Virginia, location of Fisher Manufacturing Company (Fisher), angrily tossed the monthly shipping report back onto her desk and swore under her breath. The Clarksburg plant had again failed to improve its dismal performance when it came to meeting shipping dates. Only 60% of its June shipments had met the well-established four-week service standard of the coated-abrasives industry. Hoffman knew that prompt customer service was necessary to maintain Fisher's competitive position in the industry, but so far, she had seen little improvement in this aspect of the plant's performance. Hoffman was considering the possibility of replacing some of the plant's equipment in hopes of meeting the customer-service targets. An investment of $ 8 million would provide a significant reduction in setup times for a major portion of Fisher's production process. Hoffman knew the board of directors would need more than just her faith that the investment was worthwhile. She needed hard numbers to justify a recommendation. Company Background Fisher was a leading producer of abrasives, including such products as sandpaper and grinding wheels. Industrial firms were the company's primary market. Fisher had four manufacturing plants in the midsouthern and southeastern United States. Fisher's Clarksburg plant produced all of the company's coated-abrasive products—a line consisting of approximately 5,000 finished items in numerous grades, shapes, and sizes. The Clarksburg plant had $ 126.5 million in annual sales, giving it an 18% share of the US coated-abrasives market and making Fisher the third largest of the four major domestic producers. . . .


This research focuses on the establishment of the relationship between composition-structure-properties of nanocomposite Ti-Zr-C coatings. The coatings have been deposited by the dual-target magnetron sputtering on Si substrates and explored with the atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation. It has been found that the coatings have a nanocrystalline microstructure, are sufficiently textured, and represent a solid solution of the fcc-phase. The atomic concentration of elements in the initial target affects the structure and composition of the resulting coatings. It is shown that Ti-Zr-C coating with the lowest surface roughness (0.8 nm), the stoichiometric composition by carbon (50 at. % C) and the coarsest crystalline structure (15 nm) has the maximum values of the hardness of $\sim 35$ GPa and Young's modulus of $\sim 310$ GPa.


This paper shows electronic approach to an explanation of the step-like character of the discharge/charge curve of Na/Na+/NaxCoO2-y battery. On a basis of comprehensive experimental studies of physicochemical properties of NaxCoO2-y cathode material (XRD, electrical conductivity, thermoelectric power, electronic specific heat) supported by calculations performed using the Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker method with the coherent potential approximation to account for chemical disorder, it has been shown that the observed step-like character of the discharge curve reflects the variation of the chemical potential of electrons (Fermi level) in the density of states of NaxCoO2-y, which is anomalously perturbed by a presence of the oxygen vacancy defects and sodium ordering.


This study examines the correlation between first year engineering students' use of supplemental instruction and their performance in a required general chemistry course at Northeastern University. Research has shown that supplemental instruction is positively correlated with measurable factors, such as higher grade point averages and timely graduation rates, as well as less-easily measured factors, such as long-term retention of course material, teamwork, communication skills, information processing skills, and motivation. Previously we examined what grade level triggered students to seek out supplemental instruction in a required general chemistry course and what factors affected whether a student used a form of supplemental instruction. However, data were unavailable to correlate with grades. In order to understand a student's pre-disposition and ultimate choice to participate in supplemental instruction as well as to determine correlations with grade distribution, honors and non-honors students in a required general chemistry course were given pre-surveys at the beginning and post-surveys at the end of the semester. Analysis of pre-surveys allowed identification of a student's predisposed "trigger point" at which s/he decides to seek extra help upon entering college. The availability of data for different types of course assessments, including exams, homework, and class participation, enabled correlation among individual trigger points, grades, and the use of different forms of supplemental instruction. Previously we had investigated how important convenience factors are to students in their decision to use supplemental instruction. This year's study examined this question further to determine what factors deter students from using specific resources for supplemental instruction. An overarching intent of our study was to identify how females and males differ in their use and attitudes towards supplemental instruction. Using this study based on a freshman general chemistry class as a model for student behavior in freshman courses, this paper presents the survey results, methodology used, conclusions, and recommendations for increasing the usage of supplemental instruction by first year engineering students.


With the development of mobile communication technology, the traditional single network model has been unable to meet the needs of users, and the demand for differentiated services is increasing. In order to solve this problem, the fifth generation of mobile communication technology came into being, and as one of the key technologies of 5G, network slice is the core technology of network virtualization and software defined network, enabling network slices to flexibly provide one or more network services according to users' needs[1]. Each slice can independently tailor the network functions according to the requirements of the business scene and the traffic model and manage the layout of the corresponding network resources, to improve the flexibility of network services and the utilization of resources, and enhance the robustness and reliability of the whole network [2].With the development of mobile communication technology, the traditional single network model has been unable to meet the needs of users, and the demand for differentiated services is increasing. In order to solve this problem, the fifth generation of mobile communication technology came into being, and as one of the key technologies of 5G, network slice is the core technology of network virtualization and software defined network, enabling network slices to flexibly provide one or more network services according to users' needs[1]. Each slice can independently tailor the network functions according to the requirements of the business scene and the traffic model and manage the layout of the corresponding network resources, to improve the flexibility of network services and the utilization of resources, and enhance the robustness and reliability of the whole network [2].


Micron-sized polystyrene(PS) two-dimensional colloidal crystals with highly ordered were fabricated quickly by vortical surface method by controlling lifting rate.The effect of lifting rate on microstructures of colloidal crystal was investigated by SEM and UV-vis spectrometer.It was found that there existed an optimum lifting rate,which decreased with the increase of the diameter of PS microspheres.Theoretical studies showed that capillary force and hydrostatic pressure were obviously affected by lifting rate.When lifting rate was optimal,capillary force would achieve a balance with hydrostatic pressure and electrostatic repulsion force,and at this time the crystalline quality of PS two-dimensional colloidal crystals was optimum.


A BSTRACT . We provide topological obstructions to the existence of orbit cylinders of symmetric orbits, for mechanical systems preserved by antisymplectic involutions (e.g. the restricted three-body prob-lem). Such cylinders induce continuous paths which do not cross the bifurcation locus of suitable GIT quotients of the symplectic group, which are branched manifolds whose topology provide the desired obstructions. Namely, the complement of the corresponding loci consist of several connected compo- nents which we enumerate and explicitly describe; by construction these cannot be joined by a path induced by an orbit cylinder. Our construction extends the notions from Krein theory (which only ap- plies for elliptic orbits), to allow also for the case of symmetric orbits which are hyperbolic. This gives a general theoretical framework for the study of stability and bifurcations of symmetric orbits, with a view towards practical and numerical implementations within the context of space mission design. We shall explore this in upcoming work.


Nano-Cu additive is prepared by using KBH_4 reduction process in liquid phase.The nano-Cu additive is characterized by TEM.The wear resistance and antifriction performances of nano-Cu additive to four different roughness surfaces are tested with friction wear test machine.The different worn surfaces are analyzed in terms of OM and EDS.The results indicate that nano-Cu additive is about 20 nm globular-shape particle with good wear resistance and antifriction performance.Compared with base lubrication oil,the friction coefficient can be reduced by 24% on smooth surface.Nano-Cu additive has good self-repairing performance too and it can form a self-repairing film with high elasticity and low hardness in frictional process.The self-repairing effect is more remarkable to smooth surface.


Deviant behaviour among secondary school students is exhibited in all schools across the world. Being adolescents, secondary school students tend to experiment a lot and as a result they often find themselves on the wrong side of the law sometimes not knowing how. A child's behaviour is modeled at home by the parents or the primary caregivers whose parental behaviour also depends on other factors. Some of these factors include family socioeconomic status. Parents who experience a lot of economic strain find it difficult to create a friendly parenting environment at home and consequently the attachment between the parent and the child is ensnared and this further contributes negatively to the behaviour of the child. The consequences of deviant behaviour may be devastating. They may include; destruction of property, early pregnancy, HIV and aids infection, school dropout and even death. The objective of this study was; to determine the mediative role of family socioeconomic status in the relationship between parental attachment and deviant behaviour among secondary school students in Homa bay County. The study was guided by parental attachment theory by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth which provided a conceptual link between parental attachment and deviance together with structural strain theory by Robert Merton which provided a conceptual link between socioeconomic status and parental attachment. The study used a correlational design and the target population included all the form two students from Homa bay County. From a population of 20,160 students a sample of 512 students was randomly selected to take part in the study. The principals, deputies, HODs, and PA representatives were purposively sampled. Data was collected through questionnaires, structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and analysis of documents. The validity of the instruments was ascertained by experts and through piloting while the reliability was tested using the split half method and the level of confidence was α ≤ 0.05. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings revealed a very strong significant correlation between SES and parental attachment (r =.714). The study recommends that the County government of Homa bay should come up with effective poverty eradication measures in order to improve the living standards of the families in Homa bay County. The study also recommends that the county government of Homa bay should introduce free and active adult education in the County and build such centers within the county.


An NHS trust in West Yorkshire has seen staff sick leave rates fall by around 50 per cent after levels were displayed in staff areas.


Oceanic circulation patterns shape both the distribution of species and spatial patterns of intraspecific genetic variation by influencing passively dispersed marine invertebrates. In the northwest...


The article provides a comparative analysis of organizational change management models, the applicability of which in real conditions may differ under the influence of various factors of the external and internal environment of the company. In addition, the assessment of the impact of these factors on management decisions about which model should be followed when implementing a business transformation project is made.


The purpose of this paper is to study a cla ss of implicit variational inequalities. Compactness conditions on domain of def inition are weakened. As applications, we utilize our results to study Nash limi tations equilibrium problem in economic mathematics.


This article discusses the configuration of the subway cable in core selection,sheath selection and in-sulation selection.In this article,the actual effects on the selection of configuration are also thought about .Then the generally probable type of the selection is found for Urban Rail Transit.


A major concern regarding avian influenza A (H5N1) in humans has been the high mortality rate — 58.6% among WHO-confirmed cases. Noting that most of the known avian H5N1 infections in poultry and in humans have occurred in geographic regions with limited resources for …


(57) Abstract: Performance regulating program (22 in FIG. 1), when executed on a digital computer (10 in FIG. 1), the performance level of the application program (21-i in FIG. 1) to achieve to monitor in real time, to control. In this performance regulation program, (11, 12 in FIG. 1) which external unit coupled to a computer overloading due to the performance of the application program becomes excessive can be prevented. Also in this performance regulation program, several models of the application program (21-i in FIG. 1) to achieve different performance levels, can be easily manufactured.


The purpose of this paper is to assess the capability of an artificial neural network
(ANN) to implement a nonlinear state feedback optimal control law for a double integrator
plant. In this case, the cost function to be minimised is the settling time subject to control
saturation constraints. The reason for selection of this cost function is that the control law is
known in the analytical form and this will be used to form a benchmark. The ultimate aim is
to apply the method to form a new direct state feedback optimal position control law for
mechanisms in which the frictional energy loss is minimised. An analytical solution is not
available in this case so first the time optimal control law is studied to enable straightforward
comparison on the ANN and directly implemented closed loop control laws. Since
Pontryagin"s method will be used to compute the optimal state trajectories for the ANN
training in the future investigation of the minimum energy loss control, this method is applied
to derive the time optimal double integrator state trajectories to illustrate the method.
Furthermore, a modification of the time optimal control law is made that avoids the control
chatter following a position change that would occur if a practical implementation of the
basic control law, which is bang-bang, were to be attempted. Training the ANN with state
and control data could be inaccurate due to the discontinuity of the control law on the
switching boundary in the state space. This problem is overcome by the authors by instead
training the ANN with state and switching function data, as the switching function is
nonlinear but continuous, the control function, i.e., the function relating the switching
function output to the control variable, being externally implemented. The simulations
confirm that the ANN can be trained to accurately reproduce the time optimal control.


This paper addresses the problem of controller design for constrained robots with the consideration of computational efficiency. An adaptive control algorithm, based on the reduced dynamics formulation, is presented for trajectory tracking of an end-effector on a constrained surface with specified constraint forces. It is shown that the control objective can be achieved without exact knowledge of robot dynamics and online calculation of nonlinear dynamic functions. The control algorithm is constructed with at most four control parameters to be adjusted adaptively, and that number is determined independently of the number of degrees of freedom of the robotic manipulators.


The contents of 7 elements in 7 kinds of Chinese traditional medicines which can clear away the heat and toxic material are determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.The correlation of these trace elements is analyzed by factor analysis.The results of factor analysis show that factor model could explain the correlation between the trace element contents and the traditional Chinese medicine curative effect.The factor scores are applied to classify the six samples.This study is helpful for the utilization of Chinese traditional medicines which can clear away heat and toxic material.


This paper investigates the quantum dynamics of a particle on a fermionic surface, e.g., an ion on a metallic surface. The question addressed is whether mapping from a fermion bath to a boson bath can be achieved in this case, as has been shown for several other cases. Using a previously established method, we demonstrate explicitly that in a certain limit, the influence of the coupling between the particle and the bulk fermions is the same as if the particle interacts linearly with an ohmic boson bath, regardless of the coupling strength. The obtained viscosity \ensuremath{\eta} is expressed explicitly in terms of the scattering phase shift at the Fermi surface; in particular, the s-wave scattering has no effects on the dynamics.


The development of improved shunting devices has allowed most children with hydrocephalus to survive, lead normal lives, and be of normal intelligence.1-3 Many different devices incorporating different ventricular ends, different types of one-way valves, and different distal ends all have one common purpose—to divert cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid from within the head into the blood stream or the peritoneal cavity where absorption can take place.
 Despite these advances, complications of shunting procedures remain4 (see also Neuren and Ellison in this issue, (p 90). The prompt recognition and management of these complications should eliminate the mortality and markedly decrease the morbidity associated with shunts.


Scholars who have worked in postcolonial studies for any length of time are familiar with a certain ideological effect, in terms of which cultural works taken to inaugurate new formal and conceptual paradigms are celebrated not for their contestation or reconstruction of received paradigms but for their authenticity. Witness the common reception of Midnight's Children or Things Fall Apart or—more recently—of Patrick Chamoiseau's Texaco or Ben Okri's Famished Road: "A continent finding its voice . . ."; "This is the true Africa . . ."; "The real Martinique . . ." To construe a work in this way is to conjure up the essentialized image of a culture outside history and politics and to propose a unique affinity between the work in question and this culture. Hence the readings of Rushdie's novel that position its representation of India as not only unprecedented but also unprecedentedly true to life, as though the various portraits of India in the works of other writers were all somehow fatally compromised and categorically false. On such readings it becomes imLazarus ❙ Review 689


Recent spectropolarimetric observations of Ap and Bp stars with improved sensitivity have suggested that most Ap and Bp stars are magnetic with dipolar fields of at least a few hundred gauss. These new estimates suggest that the range of magnetic fluxes found for the majority of magnetic white dwarfs is similar to that of main-sequence Ap‐Bp stars, thus strengthening the empirical evidence for an evolutionary link between magnetism on the main sequence and magnetism in white dwarfs. We draw parallels between the magnetic white dwarfs and the magnetic neutron stars and argue that the observed range of magnetic fields in isolated neutron stars (Bp ∼ 10 11 ‐10 15 G) could also be explained if their mainly O-type progenitors have effective dipolar fields in the range of a few gauss to a few kilogauss, assuming approximate magnetic flux conservation with the upper limit being consistent with the recent measurement of a field of Bp ∼ 1100 G for θ Orion C. In the magnetic field‐rotation diagram, the magnetic white dwarfs can be divided into three groups of different origin: a significant group of strongly magnetized slow rotators (P rot ∼ 50 ‐100 yr) that have originated from single-star evolution, a group of strongly magnetized fast rotators (P rot ∼ 700 s), typified by EUVE J0317‐853, that have originated from a merger, and a group of modest rotators (P rot ∼ hours‐days) of mixed origin (single-star and CV-type binary evolution). We propose that the neutron stars may similarly divide into distinct classes at birth, and suggest that the magnetars may be the counterparts of the slowly rotating high-field magnetic white dwarfs. Ke yw ords: stars: magnetic fields ‐ stars: neutron ‐ white dwarfs.


The insider threat has been framed as protection of the network from insiders whose threat level may be unknown to the organization. In this paper, we propose a Budget-Based Access Control Model to mitigate the insider threat. We provide an order of magnitude price for every access right and assign each individual user a risk budget. The price for access is then personalized based on the observed historical behavior of the user. The risk budget represents the amount of risks an organization can tolerate from that employee. Each access right of a user may cost him certain risk points. The incentives come in the forms of punishments and rewards. The punishments are triggered by the risk budget exhaustion. On the other hand, those whose risk behavior is aligned with the organization's risk preferences will be rewarded. The human-subject experimental results demonstrate our model's positive influence on the users' risk behavior. In addition, this work is distinguished from previous risk-based access controls by our modeling of users behaviors, prevention of risk point hoarding and provision of explicit pricing. All risk-based access inherently constrains behavior incentives.


The surface of an asteroid is full of boulders that varies in size. One of the phenomena happening in the asteroid's surface is a tendency for bigger boulders to come up to the surface. This phenomenon is called Brazil Nut Effect (BNE). Some asteroids, like Itokawa and Eros, are known for having that tendency and BNE is supposed to happen in both of them. This study conducts a modelling of the phenomenon happening on the surface of an asteroid for mimicking the concept of BNE. Physical parameters used in this study follow a model of a common asteroid. The very first step of the modelling is to generate an initial condition of particles. Then, these particles are dropped into the surface of an asteroid model. After these particles reached the dynamical relaxation, the additional force will be added into the system which is represented by some sinusoidal oscillation formulas. Modelling the concept of BNE which only involves collisions of inter-particles and gravity factor indicates that the rising of bigger boulders to come up to the surface is likely to occur. Nevertheless, there are many other parameters that have a role in the low-gravity environment and need to be explored more.


This article explores the dynamics and impact of the gender mainstreaming reform conducted within the European Social Fund in Poland in 2007–2013. It is based on qualitative interviews carried out with gender mainstreaming practitioners, both feminists and state administrators. The article examines factors enabling and hindering successful implementation of gender mainstreaming and discusses its potential positive spin-off effects. The analysed case suggests that civil servants' strong professional ethics do facilitate progressive changes, whereas bureaucratic norms and non gender-specific values of particular public policies eventually hinder the effectiveness of the strategy. However, gender mainstreaming reforms, even if limited in time and undertaken in a technocratic manner, may serve for feminists as a unique entry point to state institutions, and further allow for changes to public organizations' gender regimes. Gender mainstreaming may lead to an increase in the number of feminist allies within public administrations and give more legitimization to feminists' demands on the state. Thus, the strategy may produce a destabilizing impact on public administration gender regimes.


ABSTRACT Brief coordinative movement breaks increase student attention and should be implemented by school-based occupational therapists to support the occupational potential of all students. Inattention is one of the most common reasons for student referrals to special education. Decreased physical activity is a contributing factor, yet movement opportunities are declining in schools. Despite these trends and the call from AOTA to support health promotion and prevention for all, 1:1 occupational therapy focusing on students identified with handwriting deficits continue to be prevalent in school-based practice. To remain a relevant service and keep pace with changing trends in special education and best practice, occupational therapists must broaden their scope to address inattention. This study explored Bal-A-Vis-X as an inclusive coordinative exercise intervention and found that 10-minutes of Bal-A-Vis-X twice per week for eight weeks improved attention in sixth grade students from d2 Test of Attention pretest to posttests. Immediate posttest improvements were statistically significant for processing speed (TN, t(27) = −7.27, p <.001), focused attention (TN-E, t(27) = −9.85, p <.001), concentration performance (CP, t(27) = −7.90, p <.001), and accuracy (E%, t(27) = 1.72, p = .048). Delayed posttesting was completed 90-minutes after the intervention with statistically significant improvements in processing speed (TN, t(21) = −10.37, p <.001), focused attention (TN-E, t(21) = −12.59, p <.001), concentration performance (CP, t(21) = −11.28, p <.001), and accuracy (E%, t(21) = 2.62, p = .008).


Abstract : The nature of deformation in surface layers of thermoplastic amorphous plastics during friction was studied. Friction was cuased by sliding a spherical steel indentor over polymethylmetacrylate at various velocities. At low velocities, elastic and forced-elastic deformations occur in the surface layers and there is roughening of the plastic. The deformed surface layers regain their shape at temperatures corresponding to the highly elastic state. With increased sliding velocity, the forced-elastic deformation is localized in a finer layer. Beginning at some velocity, depending on the temperature and activation energy of the shift in polymer chain segments from one equilibrium position to another, a transition to a purely elastic deformation of the surface layers and roughening of the plastic occurs. Drastic destruction of the surface layer takes place in elastic deformation at pressures above a specified value. Photographs of the effects produced on the plastic are given, some of them made with polarized light.


Tell el-Farkha is one of the few sites in the eastern Nile Delta where continuous occupation from Predynastic until the early Old Kingdom period is recorded. Since 1 998 t he e xcavations a 11his site h ave b een c arried o ut b y the Polish expedition headed by M. Chlodnicki from the Poznan Prehistoric Society and Poznan Archaeological Museum and co-headed by K. M. Cialowicz from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. Their results have been published in prelimi nary reports (Chlodnicki and Cialowicz 1999; 2000; 2001).


The main goal of this study is to evaluate if online recommendations posted on the social network facebook has an effect on its members intention of consumption and the impact of a variety of mediators, noted reputation of information's source, recommended product's noted value, and noted risk of the recommended product. It's a quantitative research that aims to explore the model's structural relation through structural equation molding (SEM). In order to conduct the study, the author's facebook page contacts were asked to utilize a technique demonstration "snow ball." A survey was made available to the contacted people, so they could answer the questionnaire and then post the survey link onto their facebook pages as well, amplifying the possible number of respondents. the data collection was made in between 09/27/2012 and 10/23/2012 gathering a total of 402 respondents. The research presented a significant impact between the variables online recommendation and intention of consumption, with partial mediation of the variable mediators. Among the mediators, noted risk of the recommended product was the one that presented the least total effect on the intention of consumption. The variable intention of consumption was explained by the tested model, presenting a R2 of 47%. The variable intention consumption showed an R2 of 47%, which indicates that the model significantly contributes to explain the influence of the factors tested in intent of consumption of users of facebook, thus enabling organizations to invest time in monitoring these behaviors and proactive actions to encourage consumption.


The Swedish energy power system is in the middle of a paradigm shift where the increased share of intermittent energy sources place higher demand on the ability to regulate and balance the generati ...


Major stressors often challenge emotional well-being—increasing negative emotions and decreasing positive emotions. But how long do these emotional hits last? Prior theory and research contain conflicting views. Some research suggests that most individuals' emotional well-being will return to, or even surpass, baseline levels relatively quickly. Others have challenged this view, arguing that this type of resilient response is uncommon. The present research provides a strong test of resilience theory by examining emotional trajectories over the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In two pre-registered longitudinal studies (total N =1147), we examined average emotional trajectories and predictors of individual differences in emotional trajectories across 13 waves of data from February through September 2020. The pandemic had immediate detrimental effects on average emotional well-being. Across the next 6 months, average negative emotions returned to baseline levels with the greatest improvements occurring almost immediately. Yet, positive emotions remained depleted relative to baseline levels, illustrating the limits of typical resilience. Individuals differed substantially around these average emotional trajectories and these individual differences were predicted by socio-demographic characteristics and stressor exposure. We discuss theoretical implications of these findings that we hope will contribute to more nuanced approaches to studying, understanding, and improving emotional well-being following major stressors.


Title of Document: A STUDY ON THE NEURAL-BASED PERCEPTRON BRANCH PREDICTOR AND ITS BEHAVIOR Priyadarshini Rajakumar, M.S, 2006 Directed By: Associate Professor, Dr. Manoj Franklin, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Branch predictors are very critical in modern superscalar processors and are responsible for achieving high performance. As the depth of pipeline and instruction issue rate of highperformance superscalar processors increase, a branch predictor with high accuracy becomes indispensable. It has been speculated that by 2010 branch prediction will become the most limiting factor in the performance of a processor, than the memory system. Branch mispredictions have heavy penalty, causing flushing of the pipeline and re-fetching of instructions from the correct location. In recent times, neural based branch predictors, like perceptron predictor, are found to have an edge over other popular two-level branch predictors. Branch predictors based on neural learning are the most accurate predictors in the literature as they have sophisticated learning ability to make predictions based on previous outcomes and predictions. However, they are expensive to implement. But perceptron based branch predictors are simple and are easy to implement with less hardware resources. One major advantage of perceptron predictors over the two-level schemes is that we can have longer global or local history length, and


Poster presented at the conference "fishery dependent Information. Making the most out of fisheries information. 23rd to 26th August 2010, Galway, Ireland.


The objective of this descriptive retrospective study is to study cost management of  infectious waste of Ministry of Health Hospitals. Sample in this study consisted of four public  health officers or management officers who were responsible for waste management from 2  general hospitals, Prathumthani Hosiptal and Pranangklao Hospital; 2 community hospitals, Bang  Bua Thong Hospital and Sampran Hospital; and 1 private hospital, Pitsanuvaj Hospital with the disposal of infectious waste collected and disseminated to other agencies removal.   The  sample hospitals were hospitals which had effective environmental management, sanitary, and  \collaborative in every department from the executive to operator of infectious waste.   There  is a waste management model with a way to send off to other disposal agency. The cost of the overall management of infectious waste included material and labor cost, capital cost  and cost per unit cost of labor to the material on the investment. Then this cost was used  to compare with the cost per unit of the general hospitals and community hospital.   Infection waste management cost analysis indicated that hospital's average amount of waste in the  hospital was 9.47 kg/bed/day. 8.14 kg/bed/day, 85.94% and 1.33 kg/bed/day, respectively,  14.06%, respectively. The total cost of hospital waste management in the fiscal year 2016 was  3,762,940.24 baht. This total cost consisted of labor cost 1,248,190.00 baht, 33.38% cost of  materials 2,150,000.24 baht, 57.24% and investment cost 364,750.00 baht, 9.39%. The cost  per unit (Baht/kg) was 28.15 baht/kg, consisted of labor cost, material cost, and investment  cost was 10.51, 13.93, and 3.71 baht/kg, respectively, with a ratio of 2.83:3.75:1.  The lowest  is labor cost and lowest investment cost. This is because material costs are eliminated from  other agencies. The study found that management of solid waste will be effective, if hospitals have  policy formulation, action plan, budget allocation, appointment of board oragency who will be  responsible for determining the process of storing and separating solid waste.  Also, compliance  with the standard guidelines of the Department of Health has determined that solid waste must be strictly separated at source. Finally, effective waste management requires cooperation  between the management and workers in hospital solid waste management and the person   causing the infection in the workplace.  It was found that general hospitals are more cost effective when compared to community  hospitals, which had average cost of infection management 2.23 times higher than the general  hospital. Community hospitals should find out the reasons for high cost of waste management  and reduce the cost of disposal, and optimize the waste management process which does  not pollute the public. They should find the right disposal process and also take into account  the safety of public service recipients, and staff at the hospitals. Therefore, transferring to  other agencies to eliminate waste is an alternative which follows Health Act that requires local  authorities to eliminate such waste.  The results of this study can be used when planning the most cost-effective and  cost-effective contingency plans for managing solid waste. Keyword: Cost, Infection Waste งานวจยเชงพรรณนายอนหลงน มวตถประสงคเพอศกษาตนทนการจดการมลฝอยตดเชอ ในโรงพยาบาล ของกระทรวงสาธารณสขกลมประชากรทใชในการศกษาครงน คอ ผแทนของโรงพยาบาลทเปนนกวชาการสาธารณสข หรอหวหนาฝายบรหารทวไป ทท


Due to large thermal inertia of buildings and flexibility of interruptible loads, smart buildings pose a remarkable potential for developing virtual energy storage systems (VESSs). However, current literature lacks advanced models to quantify and thus properly optimize available capacity of VESS for power system ancillary services, especially frequency regulation services (FRS). This paper, firstly, presents a novel probabilistic model for explicitly quantifying the VESS capacity in charging and discharging modes, which can further be optimized by scheduling building loads. While the optimized capacity is fully available for FRS, building customer economic benefit and comfort could considerably be impaired by various uncertainties including weather and user related parameters, as well as FRS requests. Due to limited information of the uncertainties, common model-based stochastic and robust optimization approaches are inefficient, leading to either poor out-of-sample performance or over-conservative solutions. Thus, secondly, this paper develops a data-driven distributionally robust optimization (DRO) method to robustly optimize the capacity of VESS against the worst distribution of the uncertainties with a finite training dataset. The proposed data-driven DRO-based model can well match modern data-driven operation environment. Numerical simulations validate the high efficiency and out-of-sample performance of the proposed VESS capacity optimization method under the uncertainties.