Reformers suggest that parental choice will improve equity by making it possible for parents to select better schools for their children. A key assumption behind this claim is that parents choose from a set of schools that range in quality. Data from this longitudinal interview study suggest this assumption may be false. In one Midwestern city, parents of different social class backgrounds did not consider schools of similar quality. The set of schools considered by parents, called the choice set, differed; though parents' choice processes and reasoning were remarkably similar. These data suggest that in addition to the well-documented constraints of income, information, and transportation, the resources used to construct choice sets may further constrain the schools parents consider. These findings raise questions about the ability of current choice policies to deliver the equity outcomes reformers suggest.


Abstract. Hall current variations in different time sectors during six magnetic storms
from the summer seasons in 2003 and 2005 (Ritter, 2018) are examined, namely three storms in the
day–night meridional sector and three storms in the dawn–dusk sector. The
sequence of the phenomena, their structure and positions, and the strength of the
polar (PE) and the auroral (AE) Hall electrojets were investigated using
scalar magnetic field measurements obtained from the CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) satellite in
accordance with the study of Ritter et al. (2004a). We analyzed the correlations of
the PE and AE as well as the obtained regression relations of the magnetic
latitude MLat and the electrojet current intensity I with auroral and ring
current activity, the interplanetary magnetic field, and the Newell et al. (2007)
coupling function for the state of the solar wind. The following typical
characteristics of the electrojets were revealed: The PE appears in the daytime sector at MLat ∼80∘–73∘, with a westward
or an eastward direction depending on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component (By < 0 nT or By > 0 nT).
Changes in the current flow direction in the PE can occur repeatedly during the
storm, but only due to changes in the IMF By orientation.
The PE increases with the intensity of the IMF By component from
I∼0.4 A m−1
for By∼0 nT up to I∼1.0 A m−1 for By∼23 nT.
The MLat position of the PE does not depend on the direction and intensity
of the By component. There is no connection between MLat and I in the PE and the symmetric part
of the magnetospheric ring current (index SymH).
There is a correlation between I in the PE and the AsyH index, but only a very weak
interconnection of this index with the MLat of the PE. Substorms occurring before the storm's main phase are accompanied
by the appearance of an eastward electrojet (EE) at MLat ∼64∘ as well as that of a westward electrojet (WE).
In the nighttime sector, a WE appears at MLat ∼64∘.
During the main phase both electrojets persist.
The daytime EE and the nighttime WE shift toward sub-auroral latitudes of
MLat ∼56∘ and grow in intensity up to I∼1.5 A m−1.
The WE is then located about 6∘ closer to the pole than the EE during
evening hours and about 2∘–3∘ closer during daytime hours.


The creativity is expressed in all individuals, but it manifests itself in different proportions and it may be carried out at different levels. Development levels of this attribute depend on the teacher's mediation in the process of learning. Creativity can be a challenge for most teachers, since they are unaware of its importance and unwittingly they inhibit by teaching methods that are not aimed at instigating the potential of students. Thus, this article aims to highlight the importance of teacher training for the development of gifted creativity. In conclusion, the mediation of teachers makes the difference in gifted education. As Vygotsky explains, it is precisely through the mediation that it is possible to develop the creative potential. In this sense, the training of the teaching staff reflects in how the mediation will take place during the process of teaching and learning. Therefore, it is essential that teachers are prepared to create a stimulating environment of potential and talents, as well as in performing a work with creativity of their students.


Based on the theory of continuous constant beamwidth beamforming, the weighting process is equivalent to two steps of filtering. The first filter is related to the desired aperture distribution, and the second to the dimension of the sensor array. Design of the FIR filter is also considered. To avoid complicated frequency decomposition, beamforming is implemented in the considered. To avoid complicated frequency decomposition, beamforming is implemented in the time domain by filtering and summation. Therefore computation complexity is reduced significantly. The method can be applied to one-, two- and three-dimensional sensor arrays, and is suitable for arbitrary bandwidth. Simulation based on an unequally spaced array is presented to verify the method.


Abstract Disclosure: K. Kethireddi: None. S. Jhetam: None. S.B. Parthasarathy: None. Background: Nivolumab is an anti PD-1 mAB (Programmed Cell Death protein) used in the treatment of melanoma, renal, head & neck and other cancers. Use of Nivolumab either as a single therapy or in combination with other immune check point inhibitors (CPI) like Ipilimumab, Pembrolizumab often results in immune mediated endocrinopathies. Existing literature on Nivolumab indicates median time to the onset of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and hypophysitis as 1.5 months, 2.9 months, 4.4 months and 4.9 months respectively. Our objective is to add to the existing body of knowledge, compare local data on presentation and other variables of these endocrinopathies with recommendations to improve diagnosis and access to treatment of these endocrinopathies. Design: It is a retrospective analysis of the patients who received Nivolumab (single or combination therapy) between 2019 and 2022 in our hospital. Methodology: A total of 83 patients were treated either with single therapy Nivolumab (n=44) or combination therapy (n=39) and were screened for immune endocrine toxicities. Data was collected mainly from hospital based clinical software for routine use. Data was also collected on prior endocrine tests such as Hba1c and Thyroid function, if done prior to commencement of immunotherapy. Major results: Nineteen patients (23%) developed immune related endocrinopathies which included Thyroiditis/hypothyroidism (n= 12) followed by adrenalitis (n= 6), Type 1 Diabetes (n=1) and hypophysitis (n=3). Onset of thyroid dysfunction occurred between 4 to 8 weeks, adrenalitis between 8 to 32 weeks, hypophysitis between 4 weeks to 12 weeks and 24 weeks for type 1 diabetes mellitus. All patients were appropriately counselled and were provided with Patient Information leaflet. Regular screening bloods (Hba1c, Glucose, Cortisol and Thyroid function tests) were requested in most patients. Emergency presentations of Diabetic ketoacidosis (n=1) and Adrenal insufficiency (n=2) were noted with no mortality. Conclusion: 23% of the patients on Nivolumab had immune mediated endocrinopathy with Thyroiditis/Hypothyroidism being the commonest and the earliest endocrine abnormality. A Standard Operating Procedure for acute endocrine emergencies post Immunotherapy based on Society for Endocrinology guidance, needs to be implemented with education to create greater awareness given the expected high prevalence of these endocrinopathies post Immune CPI therapies. We recommend oral steroid (prednisolone/hydrocortisone) rescue pack and patient education on SMBG (Self-monitoring of blood glucose) as a part of sick day rule management in these patients and we believe this to be lifesaving and resource saving measure given the critical nature of these endocrine emergencies post immune CPI therapies. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023


At present, the attention of many countries is directed to the Arctic. Many politicians argue about the boundaries in the circumpolar region. The problem is that the Arctic is very rich in hydrocarbons. Since there is practically no land in this region, it is necessary to produce hydrocarbons on the Arctic Ocean's sea shelf. For this, offshore platforms are used. It is complicated for a person to work on an offshore platform since the Arctic has shallow temperatures with extreme winds. At the same time, natural gas may appear inside the platform. Natural gas at specific concentrations mixed with oxygen can be explosive, increasing the risk of a person being on the platform. Therefore, to monitor the concentration of natural gas on the platform, special sensors register the gas level and give a control signal of danger. These sensors are not installed at all points. For those places where sensors are not installed, we have developed a particular mobile device that can determine the natural gas concentration and transmit it to the control device.


Mass media concept in relatively new accepted term. It includes three powerful means of information, press, radio, and television. Being one of the means of mass information and propaganda, press is also a very powerful weapon of political struggle.


The article aims to determine the way in which contemporary literature represents work as an object of fiction by means of studying a corpus of novels that includes Francois Bon's Daewoo (2004), Jean Rolin's Terminal Frigo (2005), Delphin de Vigan's Les heures souterraines (2009) [ Underground Time ] and Nathalie Kuperman's Nous etions des etres vivants (2010). With the purpose of answering questions regarding the relation between the experience of the present and the transformations it causes on current poetics of novel, it is purported to identify the most relevant features of the writing of the real, which has established itself as an aesthetic trend with a nature of its own within French current literary scene.


Abstract
Purpose
This conceptual chapter explores the role of embodiment in phenomenological experience of lived time, and the implications it may hold for studying consumption.

Methodology/approach
Conceptual chapter.

Findings
We argue that though consumer research scholars have become increasingly cognizant of the embodied foundation of temporal experience, the relation between embodied experience of time and consumption activity still remains under-theorized and researched. Through a phenomenological perspective we are able to understand the consumer as temporally directed toward the world where value is realized emergently through embodiment of affordances.

Originality/value of chapter
We build an existing work in consumer research to open up a possibility for a phenomenological experience of consumption that is, to a great extent, precognitive, temporal, and based on the ability to experience lived time.


Despite our best efforts to foster classrooms where tolerance, objectivity, and lack of prejudice are the norm, there occur instances where students make comments that are racist, sexist, classist, and so forth. The authors call these comments "groupist." They argue that learning can take place in the classroom as a result of these remarks-if the instructor is properly prepared. This article provides this preparation by examining the reasons for groupism, clarifying types of groupist remarks, formulating a refram- ing approach for instructor and student learning, and identifying ineffective and effective methods for responding to groupist remarks.


This study analyzes a Japanese mobile phone e-mail data corpus (created by the researcher) of 43,295 Keitai-mail exchanged for the purpose of personal communication by 60 young people aged 18 to 30 who are familiar with Keitai-mail practices. The result shows that the Keitai-mail analyzed consists on average of approximately 40 moji (symbols) including 3 emoticons per message, showing that composition is short but not overly abrupt – generally Keitai-mail does not finish in the middle of a sentence. Non-standard textual elements, language plays (LP) such as emoticons, long vowel symbols, irregular use of small moji, and non-standard use of each type of script (e.g., use of Katakana instead of Kanji) are found to be governed by the conventions of Standard Japanese and are not totally random occurrences.


This study investigates the relationship between acoustic parameters utilized in the formant‐based ARX (autoregressive with exogenous input) speech synthesis model (J. Acoust. Soc. Jpn., 58, 386–397) and perceived voice qualities of synthetic speech. The acoustic parameters manipulated were F0 baseline, F0 range, spectral tilt of glottal flow (TL), formant scaling parameter (FS), and speaking rate (SR). Japanese expressions associated with voice qualities were high‐pitched/low‐pitched, masculine/feminine, hoarse/clear, calm/excited, powerful/weak, youthful/elderly, thick/thin, and tense/lax (Proc. ICSLP‐98, No. 1005). A sentence utterance of an average speaker selected from a database of 109 male speakers was analyzed using the ARX method. Each of the five acoustic parameters of the utterance was manipulated at three levels, producing 243 samples of synthetic speech (3×3×3×3×3). Ten subjects evaluated the voice qualities of each of the 243 synthetic stimuli with regard to the eight Japanese expressions. M...


A novel wavelet-based multi-scale Harris corner detection algorithm is proposed. It can detect image feature points in different scales and overcome the drawbacks of the traditional Harris corner detector, which often miss significant corners or extract false corners due to noise factor. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has a high corner detection rate and a good anti-noise performance. Moreover, comparing with the traditional algorithms, it has a higher repeatability of detected feature points.


This paper is concerned with the design and development of a low-cost system for applying product information to a target area on the top of a carton passing through a cartoning machine at, typically, 60 cartons a minute. A prototype was designed and built which prints high-quality preprogrammed characters on to a range of carton sizes, can be adjusted in the x, y and z planes and can be fitted to a variety of existing packaging machines.


The paper examines the practical usefulness of information technologies in business reviewing electronic business concepts provided in science literature and also the newest tendencies of electronic business development. The paper offers a review of various authors works on e-strategies and IT influence on companies' functionality. An analysis of disadvantages in various electronic business development models is provided. On the basis of analyses done on the theory of electronic business development and on disadvantages of e-business models, the main aspects of e-business development as sustainable competitive advantage are identified. A fully – formed model of electronic business development as sustainable competitive advantage is presented. Conclusions are provided. Article in Lithuanian


In this paper,we discuss a critical elliptic equation with singular coefficients by variational methods and Hardy inequality,obtain some existence results of solutions under certain conditions.


The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Council of Europe have developed a number of conventions relating to social security standards. As these standards are international conventions they have legal effects. In this article, we discuss the various dimensions of these effects, including interpretation, problems of supervision and the role of the conventions in national courts. The article considers how these legal effects should be assessed, and how to proceed with international social security standards.


The article clarifies the main reasons for land unregulation in Ukraine as the main factors in overcoming the current land crisis. Further development of market land relations and nature management in the agricultural landscapes of Ukraine is possible under the conditions of full institutionalization of constitutional norms on the right of ownership of the Ukrainian people to land and its natural resources as natural objects — the main national wealth under special protection of the state — in the current constitutional field of Ukraine. Five unresolved reasons have been revealed, which have not yet been legally regulated and are not in line with the current «land» norms of Art. 13 and 14 of the Constitution of Ukraine, including with the participation of many «scientists», based on the contrived dualism and stratification of the right of absolute ownership of the Ukrainian people to land and its natural resources as natural objects. The necessity of further institutional development of the legal, economically developed and ecologically stable state, based on the new knowledge of constitutional land pragmatism acquired by us, in the process of land reform in Ukraine as a new paradigm is substantiated. The solution of existing land problems in Ukraine as a crisis will also contribute to the deepening of our research and substantiation of cognitive pathways and mechanisms for formulating new theoretical and methodological foundations for land reform in the space-time sphere of land economy as the latest socio-economic formation of the unitary rule of law. based on the known laws of animate and inanimate nature and society.


Based on the motion principle of a standard crank mechanism,the motion equation of the mechanism is set up by D-H method.The software ADAMS is used to build a three-dimensional model and make a dynamic simulation.The displacement,velocity and acceleration of the standard crank mechanism are gained.The dynamic simulation results show the reasonableness of the standard crank mechanism and the relationship between agencies of operation.Thus we can design standard crank mechanism flexibly to meet the needs of a variety of mechanical devices,and simplify the design of the device.


..........................................................................................viii Declaration.........................................................................................ix Acknowledgements................................................................................x List of Tables......................................................................................xi List of Figures.....................................................................................xii Discourse Symbols...............................................................................xii List of Appendices..............................................................................xiii Chapter 1: Thesis Overview......................................................................1 1.0 Introduction...................................................................................1 1.1 Background to the Current Study.........................................................1 1.1.1 Person Environment Fit Research....................................................1 1.1.2 Levels of PE Fit Research.............................................................2 1.2 Rationale for Focusing on PO Fit.........................................................4 1.3 Justification for the Current Study.........................................................5 1.3.1 An Overview of Existing Approaches to the Study of PO Fit....................5 1.3.2 Conceptualising, Theorising and Examining PO Fit...............................5 1.3.3 Organizational Discourse..............................................................8 1.3.4 Organizational Discourse as a Theoretical Lens to Study PO Fit............... 8 1.4 Research Question...........................................................................9 1.4.1 Research Objectives....................................................................9 1.5 Conceptual and Theoretical Contributions.............................................10 1.6 Methodological Contribution.............................................................10 1.7 Practical Contribution.....................................................................11 1.8 Thesis Structure............................................................................12 1.9 Conclusion..................................................................................13 Chapter 2: Literature Review.................................................................14 2.0 Introduction.................................................................................14 2.1 Reviewing the Literature..................................................................15 2.2 The History of PO Fit Research..........................................................16 2.2.1 Early Influences on PO Fit Research...............................................18


Owing to many subjective and objective causes,there exist many a difference in Chinese scholars' knowledge as to some questions and theoretical viewpoints regarding globalization.Colliding and confronting,different thoughts and viewpoints have gradually reached some basic common view in dispute.A correct knowledge of the existing questions in the theoretical research of our country on globalization will help make clear of the direction for subsequent efforts in the next period.


In Indonesia, education issues continue dynamically increasing following the movement of social, economic, political and cultural changes which forms a new identity that leads the rural community needs educational development. The problem of education in this research focuses on disadvantaged areas in Indonesia, especially in Jeneponto Regency, one of the underdeveloped regencies in Indonesia, which categorized as the lowest human achievement index in South Sulawesi. It also becomes the only one of disadvantaged regencies from 24 regencies in this province in 2017, this based on the data of the central statistical agency, Indonesia which focuses on measuring success in building the quality of human life. Based on this case, through ethnographic approach, I conducted a research on one of the villages in the Jeneponto Regency, namely Pappalluang Village, which is located 70 km from downtown Jeneponto in the mountainous border of three regencies namely Jeneponto, Gowa, and Takalar regency and it is famous as the furthest and most underdeveloped area in Jeneponto. Based on these accounts, this paper investigates by focusing on exploring dipper from the basis of understanding the education paradigm by looking at the perception of people in a rural community in Jeneponto on how they view education and how important is to the community. This study found that the main point on how they interpreted education as an essential thing is that education is for their children's best future life in getting decent jobs because they argued that even as an agricultural region with the majority as farmers, they consider that the work of farmers is menial and puts them in a low social status. I found the ambiguity of the meaning of education by the people of Pappalluang. On the one hand, they consider education to be important. On the other hand, the efforts they have made to support their children's education have not been fully implemented. They only allow being involved in formal education and providing school equipment such as uniforms and stationery, but not by supporting other important things, such as the development of children's potential which these are only given by the teachers in schools due to the fact that parents mostly spend time in rice fields or gardens starting in the morning until the sun sets. There is no deep interaction between parents and children where this is important in developing children's potential.


Background: The present in-vitro study was undertaken to evaluate and compare fracture resistance of weakened endodontically treated premolars with class II MOD cavities restored with different bulk fill composite restorations (EverX posterior, Alert, Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, and SDR). The type and mode of fracture were also assessed for all the experimental groups. Materials and Method: Forty-eight human adult maxillary premolar teeth were selected for this study. Standardized extensive class II MOD cavities with endodontic treatment were prepared for all teeth, except those that were saved as intact control. The teeth were divided into six groups of eight teeth each (n=8): (Group 1) intact control group, (Group 2) unrestored teeth with endodontic treatment, (Group 3) restored with (TetricEvoCeram Bulk Fill), (Group 4) restored with SDR bulk-fill flowable composite, (Group 5) restored with EverX Posterior composite and (Group 6) restored with Alert composite. . All specimens were subjected to compressive axial loading until fracture in a universal testing machine. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA test and LSD test. Macroscopic fracture type were observed and classified into favorable and unfavorable. Specimens in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 were examined by stereomicroscope at a magnification of 20× to evaluate the mode of failure into adhesive, cohesive or mixed. Results: The mean fracture load was (1.2505Kn) for group 1, (0.371Kn) for group 2, (0.512 Kn) for group 3, (0.6435 Kn) for group 4, (0.608 Kn) for group 5, and (0.8315) for group 6. Using one way ANOVA test a highly significant difference (P < 0.01) were found among all groups. The use of Alert composite (which contain micro glass fiber) improved the fracture resistance significantly in comparison to other groups. SDR bulk-fill flowable composite showed better improvement in fracture resistance but with no significant differences in comparison to EverX composite restoration (which contain Short E-glass fiber filler). The type of failure was unfavorable for all the restored groups. Conclusion: All experimental composite restorations showed significant improvement in the resistance to cuspal fracture in comparison to unrestored one (group 2). However, under the conditions of this study, direct composite restorations should be considered as a valid interim restoration for weakened endodontically treated teeth before cuspal coverage


A soil column experiment was carried out to investigate the water and salt distribution of soda alkaline soil with infiltration of melting frozen saltwater in laboratory.The saltwater of one salinity levels(10 g/L),three levels of SAR(5,10 and 30) and one water volume(678.2 ml) were used,and the CK was the frozen freshwater treatment.The results indicated that at the beginning of saline ice water melting,both the salinity and SAR of melted saline water were very high,and then declined extremely,fresh water was melted in the end.At the same melting time,the saline ice water treatments of high level of SAR gained a high value of SAR.In the course of infiltrating to soil,the infiltrating speed and depth of frozen saltwater treatments were faster and deeper than freshwater treatment significantly.the soil water content of 0-10 cm surface layer soil of frozen saltwater treatments were lower than freshwater,while it was higher in the layer of under 10 cm soil of frozen saltwater treatments.The depth of soil desalinization was deeper in frozen saltwater treatments than in freshwater.In the lower level of SAR frozen saltwater treatment,the water infiltrating speed and depth were faster and deeper.The difference of infiltrating characteristic among the treatments,led to the differences of water and salt transportation in soda alkaline soil.The soil water content of 0-10 cm surface soil layer was higher in lower SAR level frozen saltwater treatments than that in higher one,while it revealed reverse results in the 10-40 cm layer of soil.And in the salt leaching layer of soil,the soil salt content was lower in low SAR frozen saltwater treatments than that in high SAR levels,while it was reversed in layer of salt accumulation.The same salt water(S=10 g/L,SAR=10 and V=678.2 ml) was used to compare the effect of soda alkaline soil desalinization with infiltration of melting saline ice water and saltwater.The soil salt leaching depth of the treatment infiltrated with saltwater was 25-30 cm,deeper than 20-25 cm of the melting ice water infiltration treatment.While the average salt content of 0-15 cm layer soil was 0.47% in melting ice water infiltration treatment,lower than the 0.59% of saltwater infiltration in the same layer of soil.As to the surface layer of soil,the effect of soda alkaline soil desalinization was better with infiltration of melting saline ice water than that with salt water in above water quality.


Abstract Purpose: Worldwide, preterm birth annually affects more than 15 million infants. Despite increasing knowledge of the risk factors and mechanisms associated with preterm labor, the preterm birth rate has risen in most industrialized countries. The ability to identify women at high risk for spontaneous preterm birth is crucial yet remains difficult. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of cervical length measurements in combination with sonoelastography and interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations in cervicovaginal secretions to identify women at risk for preterm birth. Materials and Methods: 36 pregnant women with signs of threatened preterm birth were enrolled in our prospective cohort study. Cervical length measurement, sonoelastography, and IL-6 levels from cervicovaginal swab samples were measured. Results: The preterm birth rate was found to be 33.3% in our study cohort. Maternal age did not differ between the preterm and term birth groups. Measurement of the cervical length alone was found to have a sensitivity of 0.7 and a specificity of 0.8, whereas cervical sonoelastography had a sensitivity of 0.66 and a specificity of 0.82. By using a combination of both methods, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. IL-6 levels were not found to differ between women with term deliveries and women with preterm births. Conclusion: Both, cervical sonoelastography and cervical length measurement are valuable tools in identifying women with threatened preterm birth. The highest correlation with the outcome preterm birth was achieved using a combination of both cervical length measurement and cervical sonoelastography.


Background/Aims: Several studies have reported Northern blot data showing that mucin is expressed in a tissue-specific manner. To determine whether expression is limited to specific cell types within these tissues requires histological analysis. Methods: Both immunocytochemistty and in situ hybridization were used to identify cell types expressing the MUC2 and MUC3 mutins in the human small intestine, colon, and colon carcinoma. Results: In the normal small intestine and colon, an antibody recognizing the MUC2 apomucin stained goblet cells. In contrast, an antibody recognizing the MUC3 apomucin stained both goblet and ab sorptive cells. Consistent with this, in situ hybridization showed MUC2 messenger RNA (mRNA) only in goblet cells and Ml/C3 mRNA in both goblet and absorptive cells. In several samples of moderately welldifferentiated colon cancer, Ml/C2 and MUC3 showed distinct patterns of expression, but the expression level of each was reduced compared with levels in normal tissue; there was considerable tumor-to-tumor and cell-to-cell variability using both mucin antibodies and complementary DNA probes. Conclusions: Individual mucin genes have distinct patterns of expression within mucin-producing tissues, suggesting that the various mucin gene products play distinct functional roles.


Abstract Background Deficits in auditory-verbal memory have been reported by the vast majority of published research in schizophrenia and also detected in first episode psychosis (FEP), confirming they are already present at the early stages of the illness. However, the specific neurocognitive constructs underlying defective verbal memory and their neuroanatomical correlates remains poorly understood in schizophrenia spectrum disorders patients. Methods Data on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), a widely used verbal memory measure that provides a range of performance indexes to evaluate distinct memory processes including: a) acquisition/learning b) sensitivity to interference c) retrieval; d) retention or rate of forgetting; e) and retrieval efficiency was available for 388 FEP patients and 184 healthy controls (HC). In 218 FEP patients and 146 HC, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analysised using Voxel based morphometry (VBM) toolbox. Results The FEP group showed significantly lower results on acquisition/learning, delayed recall as well as higher rates of forgetting. They also exhibited a significant sensitivity to retroactive but not proactive interference. We also found significant correlations between bilateral frontal lobe morphometry and proactive interference as well as between right frontal lobe morphometry and retroactive interference. Rate of forgetting was significantly correlated with right occipital cortex morphometry. Those with higher rates of forgetting and proactive and retroactive interference demonstrated further gray matter reductions in frontal and occipital cortical areas. Discussion The application of a process oriented approach to the neuropsychological evaluation of verbal memory allows a finer-grained analysis of the neurocognitive constructs underlying defective verbal memory in FEP. The results suggest specific relationships between different neuroanatomical structures and discrete memory processes with these structures playing an important role in verbal memory deficits found in FEP.


The recent increase in philosophy of science articles in strategic management reflects researchers' rising concerns with understanding and securing the field's intellectual foundations. This article argues for a proactive approach to the philosophy of strategy, and for the rejection of conventional, 'off-the-shelf' philosophies that neither contemplated, nor can assimilate, the epistemological messiness and action-connectedness of strategic management. The article responds to Rodolphe Durand's critique, revisits the logic of competitive advantage, and makes the case for a pragmatist philosophy of strategy.


ABSTRACTBidara leaves (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) are one of the traditional plants that contain antibacterial compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phenols. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of bidara leaves (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) against several test bacteria using the agar diffusion method. This test begins with a screening test using 10 test bacteria and the result is inhibiting the growth of bacteria at a concentration of 0.1%. Then the MIC test was carried out and the result was that a concentration of 0.1% could inhibit and kill the growth of the test bacteria. Then the KBM test was carried out and the results obtained at a concentration of 12.8% could inhibit and kill Eschercia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, a concentration of 6.4% could inhibit and kill Staphylococcus epidermidis and Vibrio cholerae bacteria, a concentration of 3.2% could inhibit and kill bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sublitis and Streptococcus mutans, a concentration of 1.6% can inhibit and kill Salmonella typhi and Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, and a concentration of 0.8% can inhibit and kill Shigella dysenteriae bacteria. Then, the antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of bidara leaves (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) was tested using the agar diffusion method and the results showed that the ethanolic extract of bidara leaves (Ziziphus mauritiana L.) had strong potential as an antibacterial against test bacteria with the largest diameter of the inhibition zone at a concentration of 12 ,8% by 15.64 mm.Key Words: Antibacterial, Bidara Leaf (Ziziphus mauritiana L.), Agar diffusion


The purpose of this research is to find out the income analysis of forage slaughterers in the Kebayakan sub-district, Central Aceh district (Case Study of Happy Business in Paya Tumpi Village)". The sampling method used is the case study method (focused on a case). The data analysis method uses income analysis and B/C ratio. The results showed that the forage cutting business in the village of Paya Tumpi, Kebayakan District, Central Aceh Regency was feasible and feasible to be developed. This is based on the value (B/C Ratio) of B/C > 1, namely the value of the B/C ratio of 4.2.

Keywords: Forage, income analysis, feasibility study.


Identification of scientific data in the systematic reviews required for the rational decisions on health policy is an important tool in determining the validity of the financing of treatment from public funds based on the health technology assessment (HTA). The primary source of scientific medical evidence are randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but their features markedly reduce the possibility of the transfer of the results to the routine practice. In this situation an important role begin to play pragmatic randomized controlled trials (pRCTs), providing highly reliable information about drug effectiveness in contrast to observational studies or registries. Here, we described three suitable universal tools, which can be used during the designing or evaluation of reliability of pRCTs: PRECIS, PR-tool and Pragmascope


This article sets forth the particle conception of strengthening regional autonomy starting with the theory analysis of regional autonomy .That is to say we should strengthening the theoretical research of regional autonomy, construct the renew frame, base on primary autonomous organization of a mass ,develop the superiority of organs of state's double rules and creat a new situation in regional autonomy further.


In order to solve the safety problem of disassembling the ground wire temporarily for line maintenance, this paper proposes a new detection method to prevent transmission lines closing with ground wire, and invents a portable detector to detect the status of ground wires by making full use of modern power electronics and digital signal processing technology. Finally this paper developed the corresponding portable ground wire state detector. Descriptions of the use of detector, design ideas of hardware and key algorithms are represented. The detector designed in this paper is simple-operated, low cost, highly reliable, easy to promote, etc. and it also can effectively prevent human-induced accident which is caused by transmission lines closing with ground wire.


The paper describes the issue of wear of shears in shearing tools. It is pointed out to theoretical knowledge from the issue and also in experimental, or the practical part contains specific knowledge about the wear of the active surfaces of shearers.


Wireless Sensor Communication Networks have more concern on its routing techniques. Since the WSCNs nodes are battery powered, routing algorithms should assure the concept of energy saving without affecting the other performance metric like Throughput, Delay and Packet delivery ratio etc. The modified AOMDV called as Enhanced Energy Efficient Multipath Routing Protocol (EEEMRP) is a proposed algorithm with the concept of crossbreed the AOMDV routing with the Cuckoo Search algorithm. In this paper, we compare the QoS parameters such as Throughput, Average Delay and Packet Delivery ratio with Traditional Flat Routing Protocols such as DSR, DSDV and with AODV. Simulation is performed using NS2 and the results show that the proposed EEEMRP routing protocol is better than DSR, DSDV and AODV.


beFoRe the FAll oF the neoAssyRiAn empiRe in 612 BCE, Assyria's royal capital had moved between at least five different cities. The last three of these cities were made capitals within a relatively short time frame that spanned about two hundred years. These massive capital cities were the seats of Assyria's imperial power as the main residence of the reigning king, as well as the centers of an expanding empire. Unlike Babylonia, whose royal capital was consistently located at Babylon, at least after the second millennium BCE,1 Assyria is unusual for the very fact that the kings moved the imperial center so frequently during a relatively short period of time, particularly during the NeoAssyrian phase: from Assyria's longstanding center at Assur, the capital moved to KārTukultīNinurta (in the Middle Assyrian period), back to Assur, to Calah, to DūrŠarrukīn, and finally to Nineveh.2 While these cities have been studied individually, little attention has been paid to the ideological implications of moving capital cities


A low noise InGaP/InGaAs pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (PHEMT) with high IP3 was developed. The device utilises InGaP as the Schottky layer to achieve a low noise figure and uses AlGaAs as the spacer to reform the electron mobility and contains dual delta doped layers to improve the device linearity.


Electroporation of Euplotes crassus: conditions that allow for the uptake of DAPI. Forked from Electroporation of Euplotes crassus: conditions that allow for the uptake of DAPI. In 1 collection Lawrence A. Klobutcher , Larry Klobutcher University of Connecticut Health Center, University of Connecticut, School of medicine Works for me dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.2angade Angela Piersanti University of Camerino Apr 24, 2019 1 2 1 2 Protist Research to Optimize Tools in Genetics (PROT-G) The electroporation procedure and conditions described allow for the entry of DAPI into the cell, resulting in nuclear staining. We have not yet been successful in using these conditions for transformation of Euplotes crassus, but only a couple of constructs have been tried to date. 1 Grow a 600 ml culture of Euplotes crassus using Dunaliella salina grown in artificial seawater as the food source until all the algae is eaten, and then allow the Euplotes culture to starve an additional 24 hours. 2 Collect and concentrate cells down to ~40 ml by pouring the culture through a 20 um Nitex membrane. Photo of 20um Nitex membrane and a frame constructed by cutting out the top and bottom of a Tupperware container. 1 1 04/24/2019 This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited 3 Transfer the concentrated Euplotes cells to a 50 ml screw cap centrifuge tube and pellet cells by centrifugation at 1,000 rpm (~200 x g) for 1.5 min in a clinical centrifuge. 4 Remove all but the last 10 ml of the supernatant, resuspend cell pellet by gently flicking tube, and transfer resuspended cells to a 15 ml centrifuge tube. 5 Centrifuge cells at 200 x g for 1.5 min, remove all but the last ~100 ul of supernatant, and resuspend pelleted cells by gently agitating tube. 6 Add 1 ml of freshly prepared 0.3 M glucose to the tube of cells and gently mix. 7 Allow cells to equilibrate for 15 min at room temperature. 8 For electroporation, transfer 300 ul of cells to a 0.2 cm electroporation cuvette. 9 Add 3 ul of a 10 mg/ml solution of DAPI (or DNA) to the cells and gently agitate to mix. 10 Place cuvette in BTX ECM 630 electroporation device and electroporate using either 150 volts, 25 ohms, and 50 uF or 250 volts, 25 ohms, and 50 uF. Allow cells to recover for at least one min. 11 Transfer electroporated cells to a 15 ml screw-cap tube containing either 10 ml of a Dunaliella algae culture grown in artificial seawater to a low-moderate density or 9 ml of 0.3 M glucose + 1 ml of a moderate-high density algae culture. 2 04/24/2019 This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited 12 Examine a sample of cells using a fluorescent microscope equipped with a DAPI filter. About 50% of cells are killed using these electroporation conditions, but a high percentage of the remaining cells should be motile and have brightly staining C-shaped macronuclei. Control, non-electroporated cells will have very dim macronculear staining, with the exception of any dead cells present in the culture. 13 NOTES: The electroporation procedure and conditions described allow for the entry of DAPI into the cell, resulting in nuclear staining. We have not yet been successful in using these conditions for transformation of Euplotes crassus, but only a couple of constructs have been tried to date. In step 11, the 0.3 M glucose + algae solution should be used if subsequent selection of transformants with a drug will be attempted, as we have found that this increases the sensitivity of E. crassus to at least some selective agents (e.g., G418 or paromomycin). 3 04/24/2019 This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited


The class I chitinases are the vacuolar proteins capable of degrading the cell walls of invading phytopathogenic fungi and they have been implicated in the defense of plants against fungal pathogens. In the present study, class I rice endochitinase gene was introduced into eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under the control of a constitutive CaMV 35S promoter by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Molecular analysis of putative transformants revealed the presence of transgene and its expression in several transformants of eggplant. The transgenic lines also showed higher chitinase activity as compared to the untransformed controls. Fungal resistance assays of transgenic lines against the wilt causing fungi, Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum, exhibited the delay in the onset of disease by 5-7 d as well as enhanced resistance against wilt diseases.


The diseased plants of Pachira macrocarpa showing symptoms of phytophthora blight were collected from Zhanjiang,Guangdong Province from 2008 to 2009.This study proved that the pathogen was a kind of fungus by test of Koch's postulates.The pathogenic fungus was identified as Phytophthora palmivora based on pathogenicity and morphology,host range and sequence analysis of rDNA-ITS.


A method for simulating time series in shallow water using ray theory has been extended to an isovelocity wedge with a penetrable bottom. Beam displacement at the water‐bottom interface is included, and the resulting caustics are treated with correction factors. Simulated time series compare favorably with time series measured in an experimental, scale model tank using an 80‐kHz pulse as a source signal. Mode extraction from sets of time series at different water depths works well on both simulated and experimental data. Phenomena such as wave front curvature, upslope mode cutoff, and downslope mode capture are investigated using the ray model. [Work supported by Independent Research and Development, Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin.]


The article deals with the issues related to school writing in the intermediate grades of elementary school (third, fourth and fifth grade) in Argentina in the period between 1930 and the present. The focus is on the traditional written tasks known as composition or essay, analyzing the notebook as medium and format for school writing. Into this specific framework a mayor emphasis is given to some personal expressions shown. To this aim, the documentary source considered were the school notebooks collected in the Museum of the School (Buenos Aires, Argentina), both from public and private schools, and newspapers, magazines and publications that included students' written productions.


We modeled multi-layered photosynthetic mat formation at Fairy Geyser, Yellowstone National Park by suspending sterile glass rods in the thermal run-off. Population dynamics were assessed by comparing biofilm populations from replicates at 1, 2.5, 2.5 and 13 months using microscopy, pigment assessment, and bacterial 16S rRNA gene analysis (both general bacterial and Chloroflexi-targeted). To address potential dispersal mechanisms for mat and biofilm formation, we also assessed geothermal vent water from Fairy Geyser. Initial biofilm colonization appeared to be by Thermus-like bacteria and Synechococcus-like Cyanobacteria, although green Chloroflexi were detected using a targeted strategy. For the next two months, Cyanobacteria were the dominant member of the biofilm, with notable increases in chemotroph diversity. At 13 months, mats with outer green layers and inner red layers had fully developed. The green layer was composed of at least 2 different Cyanobacteria, Synechococcus and Fisherella. The red layer was more diverse in terms of both phototrophs and chemotrophs, with Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, and red Chloroflexi sequences representing the highest portions of the retrieved 16S bacterial population. Fairy Geyser vent source water contained predominantly Deinococcous/Thermus, as well as Chloroflexi using a targeted approach. However, we were unable to detect Cyanobacteria or intermediate biofilm chemotrophs, leaving open the possibility that something other than water (e.g. air, soil) is seeding mat communities. Although our initial aim and hypothesis for this study regarded the specific development of red Chloroflexi layers, we gained insight into several comparable portioning events, including early transitions from chemotrophs to Cyanobacteria-dominated biofilms, and green layer transitions from mostly Synechococcus to Synechococcus/Fischerella. Taken together, these community changes reflect new niches being established, likely defined by different temperature, light, and nutrient conditions.


The culture medium and fermentation conditions of nattokinase from Bacillus subitilis natto preserved in our laboratory was first optimized through Plackett-Burman experiments to explore the effects of three major factors such as tryptone addition amount,magnesium sulfate addition amount and fermentation temperature on the yield of nattokinase.The optimal fermenation medium was composed of 26.6 g/L tryptone,10.0 g/L lactose,5.0 g/L Na2HPO4,1.0 g/L NaH2PO4,0.2 g/L CaCl2,and 1.35 g/L MgSO4.The optimal fermentation condtions were inoculation age of 12 h,inoculum size of 2%,fermentation temperature of 33 ℃,fermentation duration of 56 h and liquid-loading volume of 50 mL/250 mL.Under the optimal conditons,the activity of nattokinase revealed an enhancement by 1.5 fold.


After the IAEA's Board of Governors meets in the week beginning 6 March and discusses the latest report on Iran by Director General Mohammed ElBaradei, the report will be sent without further ado to the UN Security Council for deliberation. The 4–6 February Board meeting put into operation the two-stage strategy decided by the permanent members of the Security Council when they met in London on 30 January – reporting the Iran file to the UN in New York, but giving an extra month for further diplomacy before the Security Council takes action. Iran has not used that month to help its case.


Food order from mobile application is popular nowadays, this way can help customers order food effectively and faster. It also can offer maximum benefit for suppliers and customers. So, the customer can get the value of onlinefood order delivery. This research used quantitative approach with 187 respondents to see what stimulus factors that make people interest in online order for food delivery. Research questions that need to be answered: which stimulus factors that make people interest to do online order for food delivery? There are 6 (six) hypotheses for this research and the answers to these questions are privacy factor and informativeness factors as the stimulus to make the customer order online food delivery. The SOR model is used in this research. The SOR model instead of Stimulus Organism Response Model is a framework that used to find out how the human process receives a stimulus factor.


This paper studied the influence of the exogenous androgen on the gonad developmental process of female and intersexual Monopterus albus after being treated with large dosage of methyltestone(MT),by the method of gonad biopsy.We dissolved the exogenous androgen with salad oil,and then injected them into the abdominal cavity of female and intersexual Monopterus albus.The influence of the exogenous androgen on the gonad developmental process of the female and intersexual Monopterus albus was studied by light-microscope.The conclusion might lay the foundation for further revealing mystery of the sex-reversal,and we found some interesting structures in histology,although we could not get the sex-reversal male of Monopterus albus by inducing artificially.The results were as follows:① MT could promote the degradation of the oocyte of the female Monopterus albus,but it could not make the ovarian tissue of the female Monopterus albus degenerated completely.② MT could promote the enlargement and extension of the epigynum of the female and intersexual Monopterus albus,but it could not make the interstitial cells of the female and intersexual Monopterus albus proliferated.③ MT could promote the appearance of the "hollow lobules" on the epigynum of the female and intersexual Monopterus albus.These "hollow lobules" could be divided into two types,the Hollow lobule type Ⅰ("HL-Ⅰ") and the Hollow lobule type Ⅱ("HL-Ⅱ").And the Hollow lobule type Ⅱ may be the seminiferous lobules,which were produced under the abnormal development.④ MT could promote the development of male reproductive cells in the early period of the intersexual Monopterus albus.And it could even promote the excreting of male reproductive cells in seminiferous lobules in the late period of the intersexual Monopterus albus,with the emergence of the other type of the "Hollow lobule".⑤ The influence of MT on the gonad developmental process of the intersexual Monopterus albus was better than that of the female Monopterus albus.


The goal of this paper is to derive a modeling approach in the frequency domain for pulse-width modulated voltage-source inverters with closed-loop control. The feedback loop of a closed-loop control introduces a harmonic content into the input signal of the modulator. Based on models for pulsewidth modulation with multiple-frequency input signals presented in previous publications, the incorporation of the feedback loop became feasible. However, the pulse-width modulator models are unidirectional and do not cover the reaction of the plant through the feedback control loop. This paper develops an analytical nonlinear model for voltage-source inverters with closed-loop control for steady-state operation, based on Fourier coefficients. The model of a digital control system including the feedback of the dc-link voltage and the feedback of the ac-side current is created, incorporating the influence of the analog-to-digital conversion and the discrete-time control. The nonlinear equation system is numerically and simultaneously solved and validated with time-domain simulations and measurements on a converter prototype.


Abstract. In this paper, a figure-8 laser based on a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) for generating dark pulses is proposed. By adjusting the polarization controller, dark pulses with repetition frequency from 9.10 to 33.44 MHz are generated. The pulse widths are from 74.26 to 19.96 ns. The laser consists of an SOA asymmetrically placed in a short fiber loop. Its switching time is determined by the off-center position of the nonlinear element within the loop. Pulses transmitting in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions have the same widths. Then, the two pulses with the same widths overly together and form the dark pulse.


In the method of this invention is to approach the guide table entry and automatic control methods that five pairs ruffles 3, the coil guide table entry (A) to (4) fixed to on the apparatus, The coil 4 is measured in the front-end outside diameter (Φ1000 ~ 2150) value of the PLC (20) by using the program Coils (4) to obtain the correlation between the tilt cylinder (1) amounts relationship according to the change in the outer diameter value; and I the coil measured in the process (4) the outer diameter (Φ1000 ~ 2150) value of the PLC (20) by using the program coil 4, the slide cylinder (2) the amount of correlation between the change in phase and calculated to obtain due to changes in outer diameter value depending on the value of the output value in accordance with the advance length of the tilt cylinder (1) and the slide cylinder (2) when working, position sensors (10-1,10-2), a tilt cylinder (1) and the slide cylinder (2) through analysis step of when the amount of change of phase, and detects a tilt cylinder (1) and the slide cylinder (2) for detecting a change amount group to match the set value, stops the operation of the tilt cylinder (1) and the slide cylinder (2) fixed co the tilt cylinder and the slide cylinder composed by the five pay ruffle By automatic access to the work and to attract the strip through the guide table entry skin pass mill smoothly. Entry guide, a skin pass, slide, temper rolling, the tilt cylinder, the slide cylinder


The work overload permeates as constant subjects of debates, causing damage to both professionals and assisted patients. In view of the relevance of the theme, the work aims to: reflect and discuss current perspectives in the context of the assessment of the burden on the nursing team and the impact on the quality of care provided to patients. Theoretical-reflective, descriptive study with a qualitative approach, which was built through the bibliographic exploration of the theme. After reading, two guiding axes were designated to reflect on the theme. It is observed that there is the implementation of health policies related to the theme, as well as instruments that can assist in the assessment of the burden, but it appears that there is a need for a look directed at the worker and his needs, because the burden is associated with losses in terms of patient safety and quality of care. Therefore, it is observed that for a good assistance, with the minimum acceptable errors, it is necessary to hospital institutions that promote working conditions, with efficiency in physical and human resources and cohesive institutional processes for a safe exercise.


28 Gbaud Square 16QAM transmission is experimentally demonstrated, for the first time using a transmitter with real-time signal processing. Eight WDM channels were transmitted over a distance of 480 km with BER < 2⋅10<sup>−3</sup>.


The gas flow facility is mainly used to calibrate the indication error of the gas flow meter, A dual-standard gas flow facility with a parallel structure was developed. The bell jar and the gas standard flow meter can be used in parallel as a standard facility. The design principle, structure and calculation formula of the facility are described in the article. This facility can be used as a parallel dual-standard gas flow facility, and can be used as a back-blowing bell-jar gas flow standard facility or a back-blowing standard meter method gas flow standard facility, it only needs to switch the valve. The research and development of this facility enriches the detection means, expands the flow range, and reduces the pressure loss. It is verified by experiments that the detection results are reliable, the process operation is easy to apply, and it has a good promotion prospect.


In a platform inertial navigation system,damping network is applied to damp the gyro's drift.For strap-down inertial attitude and heading reference system(SIAHRS),gyro's drift error can also be suppressed by the information from accelerometers.This paper proposes the idea of calculating vehicle attitude by both gyros and accelerometers,and designs a damping Kalman filter to integrate this information.However,only when the vehicle was moving without acceleration can one use the output of accelerometers to calculate its attitude.For this reason,the residual chi-square test is employed in the Kalman filter to detect vehicle movement in real-time.Besides,effects of outliers from measuring sensors are also considered in order to enhance system's fault tolerant ability and sensitivity.Results of static and dynamic experiments are carried out.


A galvanically bonded wheel comprises a metallic carrier (4), which is formed into a disk shape and an axis of rotation (3) around is rotationally driven, and a Superabrasivkornschicht (6) which is so formed to numerous Superabrasivkorner (8) which are fixed by means of coating on a belt portion (18) extending in a predetermined width on an outer circumferential portion of the metal support (4). In the galvanically bonded wheel, a plurality of masking sections (12) on which no Superabrasivkorner are angalvanisiert formed of gel adhesive (20) through a dispenser at intersections of a plurality of concentric array circles (14), the imaginary concentric with the axis of rotation (3) are drawn to divide the band area (18) at equal intervals, and a plurality of width direction of arrangement of lines (16), the imaginary from one end (50) to the other end (52) of the band portion (18) drawn to the split band region (18) in the circumferential direction at equal intervals, is fixed as dots that are larger than the Superabrasivkorner (8).


Tracking students' attendance is an essential part of the educational process as attendance directly affects students' academic performance. Despite the many advances in education technology, attendance checking is still primarily done using manual methods like calling student names or passing around an attendance sheet. These solutions can be time-consuming, distracting and insecure. Technological methods, such as ID card scanning, can also be time-consuming for large classes. In this paper, we propose a Bluetooth-based system that uses the proximity of each student's personal phone to a classroom's Bluetooth beacon throughout a class period to automatically check attendance. We suggest that our solution is simple, inexpensive, requires minimal student and instructor involvement, and increases the security of the attendance-checking process. The novel features of our system, a quick assessment at the end of each lesson and a real-time feedback mechanism for students, provide instructors with richer data than simple attendance metrics. We present the main components of the system of the Automated Attendance-checking System using Bluetooth (AASB) and describe them in detail.


The objective of this research was to study the effects of postactivation potentiation (PAP) on the acceleration of some young Colombian sprinters, in order to propose different training methods, aiming to enhance their performance. Nine athletes from the Colombian national youth team participated in the study. (4 men: age= 16,9±.3; body weight 63,0±6,6kg; height 171,5±6,6cm; and, 5 women: age 17,1±.4 years old, body weight 63,0±6,7kg, height 174,2±8,5cm). Bosco Protocol was applied (Abalakov drop jump and repeat-jump in 15s) with the purpose of determining the booster stimulus and also the 30m test with static start pre and post booster stimulus. A t Student test was conducted for samples in relation with a significance of p<.05 to evaluate the effect of the booster stimulus in the results of the Abalakov test and the 30m acceleration test. The normality in the variable's behavior was proven through the Shapiro Wilk test, applied to samples fewer than 30 individuals. Every single athlete showed signs of improvement after the booster stimulus was applied both in the Abalakov test and the 30m acceleration test; presenting significant differences in the average of the sprinters results in the Abalakov test (p=.000) and the 30m acceleration test (p= .002) before and after the booster stimulus.


Although there are various parameters which put effect on welding of steels but in Gas Metal Arc welding heat input and shielding gases are major concern. The soundness of welding is measured by its mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength and impact strength. But, there is big impact of microstructure on all mechanical properties. Present work is focus on effect of welding variables such as heat input and shielding gas on microstructure of 2.25 Cr-1Mo steel. A copper coated solid wire is used to weld V-groove but joint by varying current and voltage. The further variation in input are by taking two mixture of shielding gases, 90% Argon, 8% Carbon dioxide, 2% oxygen and 90% Argon 10% Carbon dioxide. Samples for microstructure testing were taken from four different welding joints, polished and examine under optical microscope (AXIO) at 100x. Results shows coarse bainitic structure formed at high heat input while presence of oxygen in shielding gas increase tendency of ferrite formation.


One of the most important tasks for a modern enterprise is the task of identifying, identifying and stoppingpotential threats, which implies a set of actions from setting goals, tasks, monitoring the structural elements ofeconomic security to developing variable tools for ensuring the economic security of an enterprise and adjustingbusiness development strategies. The article discusses the theoretical foundations of potential threats to theeconomic security of an enterprise, methods of analysis, main goals, objectives, information support, content andmethodological approaches to evaluation.


By analysis of AC charging pile monitoring and information, according to IEC61850 standard and UML modeling method, the AC charging pile logic device, logic node, data information model are built in communication manager at spacer layer to achieve standardization management of charging station supervisory and control system. Report and information exchange of control models between communication manager and monitoring host at control layer are discussed. The dataset/report control block, control property and service procedure of AC charging information exchange are presented. The application shows that the study can improve the interoperability of electric vehicle charging station monitoring system equipment and efficiency of management.


In this article,basic formula and process flow of industrial producing steamed pork with rice were introduced.Using this technique,original savory and taste of the curing product were rarely lost,and the product was convenient to eat,healthy and safe.


In a search for cement and aggregate materials low in radioactivity for low-background shielding concrete, substantial data were accumulated on the natural radiation environment. Methods used incorporate field measurement of the gamma radioactivity of various rock types by means of a portable scintillation counter utilizing a 3- by 3-in. NaI(Tl) crystal. Rock and soil samples were collected and, upon return to the laboratory, their gamma activities were studied with a 100-channel pulse-height analyzer (PHA). Mathematical techniques in the form of IBM-7090 computer codes were applied to the PHA data, yielding the concentrations of K, U, and Th in the analyzed samples; in addition, the contribution of fissionproduct fallout to each gamma spectrum was obtained. Correlation between field measurements and laboratory analyses are discussed; the serious complications to both posed by recent fallout are described. Results of K, U, and Th analyses are given for basaltic, ultramafic, carbonate, and quartziferous rock types. The results of a study of the radioactivities of portland-cement raw materials and finished products, and a possible correlation between the radioactivities of cements and their source limestones in the U. S. are discussed. A knowledge of K, U, and Th concentrations can be of great value to themore » earth scientist; proposed applications include determining the flow of heat in the earth's crust, establishing the temperature conditions at which rocks have undergone regional metamorphism, and determining possible correlations between the amount of K-feldspar and the concentrations of U and Th in Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstones in California. (auth)« less


Multiple impact models to examine the effect of stress interference are proposed and investigated. The single shot model analysis, which used various shot ball conditions, was carried out to compare with multiple impacts analysis. Then the multiple impact analysis were performed to predict the effect of the shot ball distances. The results showed that the stress interference in the multiple impact model significantly reduced the maximum value of the compressive residual stresses. The residual stress profiles were strongly effected by the shot ball distances. The multiple impact model can simulate a realistic shot peening process rather than a single shot model does. It is concluded that the proposed model predicts the real process more accurately.


Optogenetic Control Fluorescent proteins are widely used as optical sensors; however, optical control of protein activity remains challenging. Zhou et al. (p. 810) describe an approach that allows both sensing and control. Domains of the fluorescent protein Dronpa were designed to dimerize with one another and were fused to each of the termini of an enzyme domain. In the dark, the domains dimerized and inhibited the enzyme. However, exposure to light induced Dronpa dissociation and activated the enzyme, allowing optogenetic control. Shining light onto an engineered fluorescent protein controls the activity of domains fused to the protein. Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are widely used as optical sensors, whereas other light-absorbing domains have been used for optical control of protein localization or activity. Here, we describe light-dependent dissociation and association in a mutant of the photochromic FP Dronpa, and we used it to control protein activities with light. We created a fluorescent light-inducible protein design in which Dronpa domains are fused to both termini of an enzyme domain. In the dark, the Dronpa domains associate and cage the protein, but light induces Dronpa dissociation and activates the protein. This method enabled optical control over guanine nucleotide exchange factor and protease domains without extensive screening. Our findings extend the applications of FPs from exclusively sensing functions to also encompass optogenetic control.


This document reports on a series of experimental and theoretical studies conducted to assess the astro-particle physics potential of three future large scale particle detectors proposed in Europe as next generation underground observatories. The proposed apparatuses employ three different and, to some extent, complementary detection techniques: GLACIER (liquid argon TPC), LENA (liquid scintillator) and MEMPHYS (water Cherenkov), based on the use of large mass of liquids as active detection media. The results of these studies are presented along with a critical discussion of the performance attainable by the three proposed approaches coupled to existing or planned underground laboratories, in relation to open and outstanding physics issues such as the search for matter instability, the detection of astrophysical neutrinos and geo-neutrinos and to the possible use of these detectors in future high intensity neutrino beams.


Stacked cone carbon nanotubes (SC-CNT) with a BET surface area of ∼280 m2/g were used as the support medium to prepare Pt catalysts for partial dehydrogenation of tetralin and decalin to produce pure hydrogen and naphthalene. The results show that for dehydrogenation of tetralin at 240 °C, 1.0 wt % Pt/SC-CNT is more active than 1.0 wt % Pt catalyst supported on granular carbon or carbon black (acetylene soot) and more active than 1.0 wt % Pt, Pd, or Rh supported on γ-alumina. HRTEM characterization of the used catalysts established that Pt was more highly dispersed on SC-CNT than on the other supports. At 240 °C, dehydrogenation of decalin produces hydrogen, tetralin, and naphthalene. The small amount of tetralin present in the products compared with the amount of naphthalene produced suggests that the dehydrogenation of decalin to tetralin is slower than the dehydrogenation of tetralin. cis-Decalin exhibits a higher conversion rate than trans-decalin, suggesting that the flexible geometric structure of c...


What is one to make of the first four texts of Marguerite Duras's La Douleur?l They are presented as autobiographical accounts, as opposed to the two stories following them which, Duras tells us (pp.184 and 198), are pure fiction. But if these autobiographical accounts are textes de circonstance, how is one to explain, other than as barely believable lapses of memory, certain discrepancies between what they contain and what can be credibly established as fact? How is one to take Duras's claim (p.10) that when she came across the manuscript of 'La Douleur' she vividly remembered the detail of its content but had no recollection of where or when it was written, nor even of having written it at all? Duras introduces a note of equivocation on the very first page of the book: 'Ce qui est sur, evident,' she writes of 'La Douleur', 'c'est que ce texte-Ia, it ne me semble pas pensable de l'avoir ecrit pendant l'attente de Robert L. [Robert Leroy, Robert Antelme's war-time code name]' (p.10, my italics). Is one to trust, in the book to come, the assertions of a writer who in this way gives with one hand and takes back with the other? Why is the Duras of 'La Douleur' and 'Monsieur X dit ici Pierre Rabier' transformed into the character Therese of 'Albert des Capitales' and 'Ter Ie milicien' when Duras states in the book (p.134) that Therese is none other than Duras herself? Is this done merely to create a contrast between Duras the powerless victim turned into Therese" the merciless dispenser of retribution at the Liberation? Do the four texts reveal an uncommonly honest Duras, or a vainglorious Duras congratulating herself on her honesty, or an honest but supremely self-conscious Duras whose self-indulgence is part of her honesty? As we shall see, the meaning of Duras's 'douleur' is closely related to these questions.


Multifunctional hybrid glider(MHG) is a new type of platform for ocean observation, integrating the concept of underwater glider and wave glider. With the rubber webbed wings introduced and the structure redesigned, this vehicle can glide on the ocean surface and in the vertical profile. Based on the realization mechanism of MHG, the deformation model of flexible rubber webbed wing is established, and its deformation simulation results is achieved by setting some parameters, which will provide the reference for the design and selection of rubber webbed wing. MHG will be more suitable for large scale, multitasking and long-term three-dimensional ocean observation in the comprehensive and complex ocean environment.


251 how diffuse and politicised they have become of late, due in part to social media and its rampant 'hashtag' campaigns. Offering a glimpse into these debates were video installations, positioned on two adjacent gallery walls, showing, on one, how plus-size models must 'pad-out' their bodies to achieve the exaggerated curves of the 'appropriately' plus-size body, and on the other, an excerpt from the American television show Project Runway in which a plus-size designer won the competition during the 2015 season. Although a whistle-stop jaunt through fashion history — addressing the scattered history of both plus-size fashion and bodies when and where examples cropped up — the exhibition achieves its goal of highlighting and problematising the historical shifts in plus-size fashion discourse. However, the presence of a single garment functioned less to round out the variety of objects on display than to underscore the fact that an explicit examination of plus-size dress would add a welcome level of nuance to what is quickly becoming a rather hackneyed conversation. In this vein, the rose-coloured, belted calico day dress — designed by the American film actress Marie Dressler in the mid1930s and taken from New York University's own costume collection — functioned in the exhibition more as a symbol of Dressler's design practice and her status as an unconventional beauty icon than as an object worthy of study in its own right. Indeed, this peculiar relic left many questions unanswered, chief among them being, if plussize fashion discourse is constitutive of plus-size garments, how are these discourses materialised through sizing, fabrication, cut and construction? While these qualities of fashion are often a rich source of information, the careful analysis of both garments and textiles oftentimes, and unfortunately, falls by the wayside in exhibitions that address fashion as a discursive phenomenon. Nevertheless, although 'Beyond Measure' was almost totally devoid of both garments and textiles, it still illuminated an important and heretofore overlooked fashion history. In this vein, the lone dress ultimately functioned as a powerful symbolic testament to what I described previously as the marginal place that plus-size dress (and women) have held in fashion, both as an industry and as a concern of fashion scholars and curators. Thus, more than anything, this small and timely exhibition should be regarded not as the last word on plus-size fashion, but rather as a jumping-off point for more focused and considered explorations into the rich, if problematic, histories of the fat woman in fashion, and of large-size dress explicitly.1


A quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical aerosol model is developed to describe the interaction between gas phase molecules and atmospheric particles. The model enables the calculation of interaction energies and time-dependent properties. We use the model to investigate how a succinic acid molecule interacts with an aqueous particle. We show how the interaction energies and linear response properties (excitation energies, transition moments, and polarizabilities) depend on the distance between aerosol particle and molecule and on their relative orientation. The results are compared with those obtained previously using a dielectric continuum model [Sloth et al., J. Phys. Chem. (submitted)].


Discussion activities are a way of communication between class members,whose aim is to facilitate understanding,assessment or judgment concerning certain problems.Such activities are helpful in fostering students' judgment and communicative abilities.However,they also have disadvantages, which include difficulties in management,time-consuming,and difficulties in foreseeing discussion re- sults.Therefore,teachers should pay attention to the design of questions for discussion,arrangement of seats,division of student groups,students' opportunities of making speeches,teachers' behavior in class, and evaluation of students' performance.


Rapid advancement in the field of Natural and biomaterial composites have directed in the enlargement of various innovative materials and products which are eco-friendly as well as biodegradable. Importance is being given by many researchers to the natural plant fibers like bamboo, coir, jute, sisal, cotton, wheat straw and wood etc. Here the review based information is pileup to get the wide-ranging information about the Mechanical properties, Physical properties, Thermal properties etc. of Chicken Feather Fiber (CFF) based Composites. Also the application and making of different CFF based composites for industrial application and the use of CFF as a matrix, as a reinforced material and as a particulate. The efforts are made to focus on advanced technology and uplift the use of CFF as a Natural Biomaterial which is at present serve as a waste of poultry industry and to enhance the use of livestock waste in a sustainable growth of the earth and healthy environment. KeywordsComposites, Chicken Feather Fiber, Natural Fiber, Biodegradable, Properties.


This paper introduces the basic concepts of component-based geographic information system and the design for the MapX-based geographic information system,and emphatically discusses the related key technologies,including the acquisition of geographic data,the establishment of informatized map and the development of system integration.Through the exporation of the above-mentioned a relatively complete technological scheme is provided for the MapX-based location geographic information system.


Background: Sleep is a state of reduced consciousness and responsiveness from which an individual can be aroused by external stimulus. In humans, is also associated with reduced movement. It enables to restore energy in the body and initiate neural plasticity for learning and memory. Several studies in the world identified poor sleep quality among nurses and tried to explore associated factors. But there is no any study in Ethiopia on sleep quality and associated factors among nurses. Objectives: the main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sleep quality and associated factors among nurses in Jimma zone public hospitals. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 550 nurses from June 1 to July 1, 2018. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire; sleep quality was measured using PSQI which is standard validated tool. Collected data was checked for completeness, entered Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS Version 20.0. Frequencies, means and percentages were used for the descriptive analysis of data. Bivariate analysis was done to select candidate variables. Variables having p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 528 nurses were included in the study with a response rate of 96%. The mean age was 31.73 7.36 years and 54.7% of nurses were females. Prevalence of poor sleep quality among nurses was 70.6%. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis current khat chewing, BMI in overweight individual, BMI in Obese individual, medium job related stress, high job related stress , and Shift working were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusion: The magnitude of poor quality of sleep among nurses working in hospitals, Jimma Zone was very high. Independent predictors of poor sleep quality as identified by this study were current khat chewing, overweight, obesity, job related stress, and shift work.


Abstract Experimental and theoretical directions of electronic transition moments and the UV spectra of anionic and neutral 5-phenyltetrazole (5-PhTH) have been determined. Based on the correlation between the theoretical and experimental data it has been found that the 2 H-tautomeric form is predominant in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film.


The heat conduction equation of the steel ball was deduced.Using the spherical bessel function,the transient temperature of steel ball was calculated.Tangential and radial stress formula was deduced by the theory of thermoelasticity.The stress distribution of steel ball which radius is 50 mm was analyzed.In the heat treament process,the temperature change is large.The three dimensional tensile stress which result in the crack of the ball is the maxium in the center.The surface of the steel ball is the two dimensional stress state that the radial stress equals zero,and the tangential compressive stress is the maxium.The two dimensional stress results the extension of the ball's crack until the ball is damaged.Refining the grain of the steel ball's center,reducing the crack in the forge process,and slow down the speed of heating of steel ball in the heat treatment process can decrease the crack.


To conduct ergonomic assessments of assembly stations, various methods and tools, especially digital human models, are available. These models are used to evaluate physiological criterias of handling assembly parts, tools and assembly processes. A missing criteria is the human factor on the metal side. The cognitive workload of the assembly worker is an additional criteria to evaluate its workplace. Therefore a method is necessary to evaluate the cog-nitive workload of an assembly task, too. To reach this goal we use cognitive models. These models descripe human cognitive information processing. We implemented such models for the assambly task and connected it to a digital human model. This combination allows an estimation of the mental workload of an specific assembly task.


Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine catecholamine secreting tumours that may vary widely in their clinical presentation. Previous case series describe 12% of PPGL patients initially presenting with cardiac complications. Pheochromocytoma-related Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy has been well described in the literature and may present with primarily basal dyskinesis (inverted subtype), apical dyskinesis (classic subtype), or global dyskinesis. Basal dyskineses has been more commonly described in pheochromocytoma-related Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy. We present two cases of severe cardiogenic shock requiring Extra-Corporeal Membrane Support (ECMO) with Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma at University Health Network, Toronto. In both cases, the pheochromocytoma was incidentally discovered on imaging. Both patients responded favourably to ECMO and alpha-adrenergic blockade with recovery of ejection fraction. Both received adrenalectomy as an outpatient with successful recovery. Although rare, PPGL should be considered in younger patients presenting with severe unexplained cardiogenic shock and Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy.


The present study, using bilingual (English-Spanish) college freshmen as participants, evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Personality Inventoryfor Youth (PIY) that was translated into Spanish. The scales and subscales of the PIY-Spanish Version demonstrated internal consistency and temporal stability estimates comparable to their English counterparts established in both the present sample of college freshmen and in the PIY normative sample of students attending regular education classes ranging from 9 to 18 years of age. Multivariate analysis did not identify a language effect within the four study samples (English-English, Spanish-Spanish, English-Spanish, Spanish-English) for either profile scales or subscales, and the substantial correlations between English and Spanish versions obtainedfrom the same bilingual students approached and occasionally exceeded the limits established for temporal reliability in both English and Spanish translations.


This work describe Information system administration of the courts used by the district courts in the Czech Republic. First define the basic terms about information systems, next processes are mapped at criminal department started the prosecution and ended the judgment. Next describes another information system and in the last part of the work changes are propose that could be made to the system.


This paper presents the results of a study by the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) on potential beneficiaries of the DREAM Act of 2017 (the "DREAM Act" or "Act"). The study reveals a long-term, h...


We study the diffusion of techniques designed to identify causal relationships in corporate finance research. We estimate the diffusion started in the mid-nineties, lags twenty years compared to economics, and is now used in the majority of corporate finance articles. Consistent with recent theories of technology diffusion, the adoption varies across researchers based on individuals' expected net benefits of adoption. Younger scholars, holders of PhDs in economics, and those working at top institutions adopt faster. Adoption is accelerated through networks of colleagues and alumnis and is also facilitated by straddlers who cross-over from economics to finance. Our findings highlight new forces that explain the diffusion of innovation and shape the norms of academic research.


Researchers and lens designers have established the optical performance benefits of gradient-index (GRIN) optics. Refractive index gradient attributes such as depth, shape, and total index change determine the lens aberrations and in some cases the first-order system properties. Gradient-index designs are usually specified by an index polynomial: however, the most widely used index representations do not correlate with the ion exchange fabrication process used to make GRIN glass. A design-for-manufacture process has been developed which uses ion exchange modeling integrated with optical design software to design manufacturable GRIN lenses. This paper introduces time varying boundary condition (TVBC) diffusion as a useful technique for improving the performance of manufacturable gradient lenses. The implementation of TVBC diffusion in OSLOTM lens design software as a user-defined gradient is detailed and some unique aspects of manufacturable index profiles are pointed out in conjunction with design examples. Both axial and radial gradient designs show significant improvement with an increase in the number of TVBC diffusion steps. Finally, an experimental index profile is shown to reasonably match the TVBC diffusion calculated profile.


Objective:Few studies have examined the experience and concerns of the concussed athlete. The purpose of this study was to identify the most pressing concerns of athletes with concussion. Design:Cross-sectional survey of athletes who presented for evaluation of a new sport-related concussion during an 8-month period. Setting:Tertiary-level sports medicine division of a large academic pediatric medical center. Participants:One hundred twenty one patients (67 male, 54 female) aged 8 to 18 years who had sustained a sport-related concussion participated in the study by responding to "What is the worst thing for you about having a concussion?" on the study questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed in the clinic waiting room before the visit with a provider. Intervention:Inductive content analysis was used to identify themes in the responses to the study question. Main Outcome Measures:Age, sex, sport played at the time of the current injury, history of previous concussion, known contacts with concussion, and subjective report of worst aspect of concussion. Results:Seventy respondents (57.9%) cited symptoms, and 68 (56.2%) reported loss of activity as the worst part of concussion, including 17 (14.0%) who listed both symptoms and loss of activity. Conclusions:Over half of concussed athletes indicate that the most distressing part of the injury is loss of activities, which may result from symptoms of the injury itself and/or the prescribed treatment. Clinical Relevance:Health care providers should not underestimate the degree to which symptoms and loss of activities affect young athletes' general well-being. In addition to the negative impact of concussion symptoms, there is an obvious cost of physical, cognitive, and social activity restrictions for patients recovering from sport-related concussions that should be explicitly addressed.


The distillation of the idea into a single choreographic principle, into a single continuous and stagnating scene and an expression of all possible enunciations into a single action is a result of a subtle and well thought-out reflection, which marks Ana Cvelfar's solo debut On
 Empty Spaces.


This study was aimed to find out the among the shelf life of dragon fruit
and the comparison of dragon fruit with ginger extract toward the characteristic
of mix juice that has been produced.The research methodology that is used for
this research are in two phases which are early research and the main research
itself.
The experiment plan that has been used in this study was the pattern of
factiorial (3x3) in disorderd group plan by three times of repetition. The treatment
plan that has been done in this research consisted of two factors, those are the
shelf life of dragon fruit (W) which composed of three levels: w1 (3 days), w2 (6
days), and w3 (9 days) and the comparison of dragon fruit with ginger extract (P)
which consisted of three levels: p1 (1:1), p2 (2:1), and p3 (3:1). Thus, 27 units of
repetition of the experiment have been resulted. The chemistry analysis that has
been done was conducted toward the amount of vitamine C, anti-oxide and
oleorosin. The variable responses of organoleptic consisted of taste, aroma, color,
and viscosity. The physical analysis that has been done was stability test and
microbiological analysis was total of microbe.
The result of this research showed that the selected product of mix juice
are w1p2 treatment with the shelf life of dragon fruit (3 day) and the comparison
of dragon fruit with ginger extract (2:1)based on the response panelist on
organoleptic test; taste's scale are like; odor's scale are rather liked; color's
scale are rather liked; and consistency scale are liked; with high levels of vitamin
C, 26,82 mg/100g, antioxidant activity (DPPH) 11968,37 ppm, and 0,60% of
oleorosin.

Keywords : dragon fruit, gingger extract, shelf life


Data on the U.S. food supply—that is,amounts of food available for consumption—have been maintained by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) since 1909. These data are used to measure time trends in per‐capita food availability, estimate nutrient content of the food supply, and compare American diets to recommendations. USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) annually updates food supply data; the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion uses the data to estimate nutrient availability. Additionally, ERS calculates per capita food servings, as defined by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA's MyPyramid. These food serving data most closely approximate actual intake because they adjust for plate waste and other food losses. However, many of the conversion factors used to account for amounts of food wasted or lost at the farm, retail, institutional, or consumer level are in need of updating and validating. Plans for improvement are underway to refine and restructure the data to more closely estimate actual per capita consumption. Cooperative agreements and grants are in place to refine the conversion factors estimates. These data series are available on the ERS website, which is being restructured to increase usability, via switching to more flexible software and expanding the capability of the custom query options to make a wider array graphs and tables.


Background/Aim. During a progress of addictive behavior treatment, the strategies of coping with stress are engaged, but addicts may continue with self-handicapping behavior which is opposite to changing a problematic behavior. The aim of this study was to examine the stress coping (CS) strategies and self-handicapping (SH) strategies in relation to the process of addictive behavior change. Methods. In the descriptive clinical study, the sample of 200 consecutively recruited inpatient opiate addicts were explored. They underwent methadone therapy. The general information questionnaire, the Indicator of coping strategies (CSI), SHquestionnaire for assessing self-handicapping behavior (SH) and the University Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) questionnaire for the assessment of process of change were completed. The Student t-test, Pearson?s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were applied. The SPSS for Windows was used and the p ? 0.05 defined as statistically significant. Results. Among the CS, there were significant correlations between avoiding problems strategy and all SH strategies (p ? 0.02). The social support was directly proportionate to the process of change (p = 0.03, ? = 0.35). However, the process of change inversely correlated to internal handicaps in interpersonal relationships strategy (IHI) (p = 0.02; ? = -0.54) and strategy of focusing to the problem (p = 0.00, ? = -0.44). Conclusion. The significant positive predictor for the process of addictive behavior change was a strategy of social support, but focusing on the problem and the strategy of internal handicaps in achievement situations were significant negative predictors. The evaluation of motivation process and stress coping strategies could be useful for creation of improved tailored treatment of opiate addiction.


The quality of Vessel Traffic Management and Information Systems depends on the quality of all subsystems, in particular the quality of control centers. The most commonly used quantitative indicators of the control centers' quality are: reliability, availability, safety, and system failure. Therefore, a block diagram of reliability and the model for reliability / availability (Markov model) have been created in this paper and a detailed analysis and calculation of the quantitative indicators of critical components (servers) of the control center have been performed. The quality functioning of the control centers will enable gathering, processing, storing and dissemination of timely, safe, and reliable data and information to the services in charge of monitoring and management of maritime traffic.