As the notion of context-awareness evolves in different paradigms, the development of context-aware systems involves several processes. These processes include, inter alia, context modeling and reasoning as well as adaptation. In [1], we presented an approach that consists of context modeling and reasoning hand in hand based on relational concept analysis and descriptive logic, respectively. An essential aspect that is often neglected in context modeling and also triggers adaptation is the context variability. In this paper, we propose an approach that lies to answer this matter based on software product line. Our approach creates a semantic link between a context RCA-based model and a feature model, and uses the MAPE-K adaptation loop to determine the appropriate SPL configurations to deploy with regards to context changes. Thus, we used ontology to represent a combined context and feature model. Thereafter, the reasoning is done via descriptive logic. We also defined context rules based on SWRL and applied them to valid SPL configurations. Furthermore, we implemented the MAPE-K adaptation loop with Prolog.


This study aims to research the content and meaning of communication that exist in the intercultural exchange program with 5-year-old children. To do so, intercultural exchange content among children from Puerto Rico, Japan, China, Africa, and Thailand were reviewed for a year as a part of a qualitative case study with two classes of children and two homeroom teachers. The study presented the following results. First, the communication content that existed in the intercultural exchanges were "listening: listening to friends" "saying, understanding differences," "speaking: speaking words with consideration," "reading: reading after waiting," and "writing: various representation playing." Second, the meaning of communication that existed in the intercultural exchanges were "understanding of multicultural languages by listening," "children as the subjects of communication," and "with experiences: making relationships in the world." The implications of this study showed that sufficient communication with multiple forms should be offered as the subjects in the intercultural exchanges and the childrens' emotions, cultural recognition, cultural competency should be improved through these experiences.


The preceding set of papers has explored various aspects of the role of language in mathematics education. The papers reflect the work of individual contributors. An important part of our collaboration, however, has been the conversation between us. This paper reflects on aspects of that conversation, as we draw together some of the themes that have emerged during our work. In particular, we discuss some of the implications of our analyses for theory, policy, practice and inter-disciplinarity in mathematics education and applied linguistics.


Conductive ink was printed on various microstructured substrates to measure the printing quality. Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates were used to test the printability of the hydrophobic surface material. Microstructured arrays of 10 µm regular PDMS cubes were prepared using the MEMS fabrication technique. The gap distance between the cubes was varied from 10 to 40 µm. The printing wettability of the microstructured surfaces was determined by measuring the contact angle of a droplet of silver conductive ink. Screen-printing methods were used in the conductive line printing experiment. Test line patterns with finely varying widths (30–250 µm) were printed repeatedly, and the conductivity of the printed lines was measured. The printability, which was defined as the ratio of the successfully printed patterns to the total number of printed patterns, was analyzed as a function of the linewidth and the gap distance of the microstructured surfaces.


Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a fingerprint recognition home key of an external member bonding type, capable of obtaining a high fingerprint recognition rate, reducing manufacturing time, and improving the finishing of an external appearance by manufacturing the fingerprint recognition home key by bonding an external member with a high dielectric constant to a film of a fingerprint recognition sensor. The method for manufacturing the fingerprint recognition home key of the external member bonding type according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing the fingerprint recognition home key with the fingerprint recognition sensor; coating the upper side of the film of the fingerprint recognition sensor with adhesive or bonding materials; and bonding the prepared external member to the upper side of the film of the fingerprint recognition sensor on which the adhesive or bonding materials are coated. [Reference numerals] (AA) Start; (BB) End; (S100) Prepare a home key injection product including a fingerprint recognition sensor; (S200) Coat the upper side of the film of the fingerprint recognition sensor with adhesive or bonding materials; (S300) Bond the prepared external member to the upper side of the film of the fingerprint recognition sensor on which the adhesive or bonding materials are coate


We describe the design of a synthesized local oscillator for a rubidium [Rb] passive frequency standard pumped by radiation from a diode laser. The design goals for this new oscillator are: 1) To operate at room temperature,


Providing an all-in-one reference for IT managers, network administrators, researchers, and students, this text presents a broad working knowledge of all the major security issues affecting today's enterprise IT activities.


Background: Hepatitis B is a major health problem in India. To prevent transmission and progression of the disease in the community, proper community awareness about the disease, including prevention, is necessary. Our objective was to study the awareness amongst the general population about hepatitis B virus, including knowledge regarding vaccine. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Department of Gastroenterology of SCB Medical College. The patients attending the OPD and their attendants were subjected to a questionnaire about different aspects of hepatitis B. Binary logistic regression analysis (SPSS 16) was employed to assess the statistical importance of the observations. Results: In all, 682 individuals (65% patients, 35% non-patients) were studied; 78% were males while 22% were females. Majority were in the age group of 31-40 years. 65% hailed from rural area; 65% were poor. About half of the subjects attended state run medical centers for medical attention; only 17% preferred medical colleges. Awareness about the disease and the vaccine among the subjects was 38% and 32%, respectively. 50% of those who were aware had no knowledge about route of transmission, infectivity, or importance of vaccination. Educated individuals were more aware about hepatitis B vaccine (P Conclusions: Only about one-third of the population in coastal Eastern India are aware about hepatitis B and its vaccine. Less than a third of the population are vaccinated for hepatitis B. The educated, especially those who read newspapers and listened to radio, were more aware about the disease/vaccine. The government health agencies and physicians should work together to educate the masses about hepatitis B and its vaccine.


In this paper,the almost periodic solution for a class of two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillating systems is studied by using the Leray-Schauder fixed point theorem and the method of Liapunov function.The sufficient conditions which guarantee the existence of the almost periodic solution of the oscillating systems is obtained.


This article proposes a novel numerical approach to reduce scattering echoes in the front area of dielectric objects using a Gaussian radio pulse covering a frequency range of 6-12 GHz. The approach optimizes the dimensions and dielectric permittivity of an elliptical cylinder to ensure the incident pulse create practically no echoes in the front region. A newly developed user-friendly graphical user interface program package facilitates the optimization process, allowing to explore different geometries and permittivity configurations with the slider in its interface and achieve minimal echo in the front region, thus enhancing the invisibility or reduced detectability of dielectric objects in various scenarios.


Many bacteria spread over surfaces by "swarming" in groups. A problem for scientists who study swarming is the acquisition of statistically significant data that distinguish two observations or detail the temporal patterns and two-dimensional heterogeneities that occur. It is currently difficult to quantify differences between observed swarm phenotypes. Here, we present a method for acquisition of temporal surface motility data using time-lapse fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging. We specifically demonstrate three applications of our technique with the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa . First, we quantify the temporal distribution of P. aeruginosa cells tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the surfactant rhamnolipid stained with the lipid dye Nile red.


The excitation temperature of the sun's photosphere is determined from the lines of even-odd and odd-even NiI transitions. It is found that the excitation temperature determined from the lines of odd-even transitions is somewhat higher than that determined from the lines of even-odd transitions. The mean excitation temperatures for even-odd and odd-even transitions are T/sub e/(T..-->..T/sup o/) =4850degreeK and T/sub e/(T/sup o/..-->..T) =5600degreeK, respectively. The mean exciation temperature determined from the lines of both transitions proved to be T/sub e/(T..-->..T/sup o/, T/sup o/..-->..T) =5100degreeK. Then a curve of growth is constructed for the center of the sun's disk from 229 NiI lines for the Milne-Eddington approximation for three cases: 1) from lines of even-odd transitions; 2) from lines of odd-even transitions; 3) from lines of both transitions. It is shown that in contrast to the case of FeI no clearly expressed difference between the curves of growth for lines of even-odd and odd-even NiI transitions is observed. This is connected with the fact that the lines of these transitions are concentrated in different sections of the curve of growth.


The Watson integral for the d-dimensional hypercubic lattice and the associated logarithmic integral are investigated. In particular, a new method is developed which enables one to calculate the numerical values of {Ld : d = 1,2,...} and {Wd : d = 3,4,...} with extremely high precision. The asymptotic behaviour of Ld and Wd as d→∞ is also determined. Finally, some generalizations of the results are briefly discussed.


Policymakers have responded to the need to facilitate farm succession by providing targeted programs, particularly for beginning farmers; however, information is needed on the obstacles and attractions perceived by the older generation of producers who are nearing retirement to target succession programs more effectively. A mail survey was designed to obtain information from Iowa cowcalf producers and feedlot operators. The comprehensive survey included questions regarding various aspects of cattle production, including demographics and current production and marketing practices as well as questions regarding succession planning and what existing producers saw as the greatest obstacles and attractions for the state's cattle sector. Interested readers may ind the full set of survey questions and responses in Schulz (2014a,b).  GIVEN THE current demographics of beef cattle producers in the United States, a signi icant turnover of productive assets will likely occur in the industry over the next decade. The 2012 Census of Agriculture reported that 35 percent of US beef cattle and ranching and 28 percent of US cattle feedlot principal operators are over the age of 64 (USDA NASS 2014). An additional 27 percent of beef cattle and ranching principal operators and 28 percent of cattle feedlot principal operators are between 55 and 64 years of age (USDA NASS 2014). Yet, according to the 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, among farmers who plan to retire in the next ive years, only 55 percent have identi ied a potential successor (Arbuckle and Baker 2015). Ensuring the transfer of economically viable farms to the next generation has implications for the future size and structure of the industry as well as for the rural economies that depend on agriculture. Succession Planning, Perceived Obstacles, and Attractions for Future Generations Entering Beef Cattle Production By Lee Schulz, Georgeanne Artz, and Patrick Gunn firstname.lastname@example.com; email@example.com; email@example.com


ABSTRACT Salinity gradient technologies generate electricity from the chemical pressure differential created by differences in ionic concentration between freshwater and seawater. Seawater has a higher osmotic pressure than freshwater due to its high concentration of salt. Two main technology types, Reverse Electro-Dialysis (RED) and Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO), make use of semi-permeable membranes which generate an osmotic potential that can be used to generate electricity using turbines in deltas, estuaries, fjords or hyper-saline lakes. In PRO, semi-permeable membranes placed between the two streams of solutions allow the transport of water from low pressure diluted solution to high-pressure concentrated solution. RED requires two alternating semi-permeable membranes that allow the diffusion of the ions but not the flow of H2O. An exergy analysis of an SGE system of estuary-river can be applied to calculate the maximum potential power for electricity generation. Seawater is taken as reference environment for calculating the exergy of water since the seawater is the final reservoir. In this work, an aqueous sodium chloride solution (NaCl) model is used of the selected estuary (i.e. Sebou estuary (Morocco)) to calculate the thermodynamic properties of seawater in the estuary. This model does not consider seawater as an ideal model and provides accurate thermodynamics properties of sodium chloride solution. The chemical exergy analysis considers sodium chloride (NaCl) as main salt in the water of Sebou estuary. The sodium chloride concentration (SCC) is more than, ∼0.3 mol/L in the estuary. The flow exergy and the power potential calculations of the investigated system ranged from ∼3.5 to ∼8.6 kJ/kg and ∼65 to ∼1303 MW respectively, thereby exposing the opportunity for power generation in Sebou estuary.


This work was conducted by the individuals noted and cannot be construed to represent the opinions of the federal government or any of its agencies. The opinions and conclusions are solely those of the authors. Objectives: • Describe a " Comprehensive Health Home " using the " Expanded Care Model " • Describe details of the Expanded Care Model framework via an analysis of how insight on how this model combines lessons learned from the " Chronic Care Model, " the " Planned Care Model, " the " Patient‐Centered Medical Home Model " and other recent discussions of the " Medical Home. "


In electron optics, the design of electron lens systems is still a challenge. To optimize such systems, the objective function which should be calculated, depends on the electric potential distribution in the space created by the lenses. To obtain the electric potential, the existing methods are generally based on some mathematical techniques which need to mesh the space of the lens system and derive the electric potential at all mesh points. Hence, calculation of the objective function for such systems are computationally expensive. Therefore, applying a fully automatic optimization routine has not yet been feasible, especially for lens systems with many free variables. Hence, the study of objective-function landscape of such problems has not yet been performed. One of the questions of interest for optical designers, that has not been studied in the literature, is whether this problem can be solved by a local optimizer or is it necessary to apply a global optimizer. Recently we succeeded in implementing a method (based on a so-called SOEM (Second Order Electrode Method) technique) which calculates the electric potential in a fast and reasonably accurate way. In this paper, that method, is implemented to perform the study of local versus global optimization for electron lens design. The global optimization method here is performed by GA (Genetic Algorithm). The objective function is taken to be the probe size of the electron beams at the image plane. The results of our study show that the objective function of this problem has many local minima and the optimization of such problems cannot be handled by a local optimizer. GA is shown to perform well by overcoming these multiple-local minima to arrive at a global minima.


Preface to the 2007 Update.Preface to the Second Edition.Acknowledgments.Part One: ELEMENTS OF THE TAILORED DESIGN METHOD.1 Introduction to Tailored Design.2 Writing Questions.3 Constructing the Questionnaire.4 Survey Implementation.5 Reduction of Coverage and Sampling Errors.Part Two: TAILORING TO THE SURVEY SITUATION.6 Mixed-Mode Surveys.7 Alternative Questionnaire Delivery: In Person, to Groups, and through Publications.8 When Timing Is Critical: Diary, Customer Satisfaction, and Election Forecast Surveys.9 Household and Individual Person Surveys by Government.10 Surveys of Businesses and Other Organizations.11 Internet and Interactive Voice Response Surveys.12 Optical Scanning and Imaging, and the Future of Self-Administered Surveys.References.2007 Appendix: Recent Developments in the Design of Web, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys.Appendix References.Index.


Increasing numbers of Americans are challenging the purposes of basic education, the recurring academic processes, and the faltering achievements of our nation's public school systems. Agencies at the fed eral, state, and local levels are pressing meaningful reform with in creasing intensity. School improvement plans in the 1970s and 1980s, intensified by the rhetorical gauntlet hurled down in A Nation At Risk, called for higher educational outcomes without general agreement on specific proposals for correction. Lacking discernable success, scholas tic critics then moved to improve scholastic conditions by seeking to de centralize control of public school policy. Sensing futility in reform efforts at this point, some applied direct pressures on public school dis tricts by championing the "natural right" of parents to choose the school perceived to be best for their children. This latest ground-swell belief centered on the adoption of consumer values to improve Ameri can education. To many, the notion of competition between public and private schools for pupil enrollment had the positive potential of re warding exemplary programs, highlighting promising community in novations, and forcing alterations in undesirable operations. Dr. Myron Lieberman, in his well-reasoned and thoroughly engaging text, Privatization and Educational Choice, examines the reasons for reform failure and proposes an array of detailed plans to improve education. He cites the growth of unions in education as the greatest single obstacle to reforming educational services. Since unions have the power to thwart personnel issues perceived to have an adverse ef-


The work detailed in this thesis represents an experimental contribution to the development of a new magnetic random access memory (MRAM) in which the main element is a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Interfaces play a crucial role in determining the transport properties and magnetic coupling in these systems, which consist of layers having thicknesses on the order of nanometers. As such, investigation at the nanometer or even atomic scale is rnandatory. This is achieved here using spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (BELS), the dominant technique in this study. The purpose of the investigation on ALTIS Semiconductor functional industrial systems is to evaluate their stability over time as well as during the steps involved in their production. This work highlights effects restricting their industrial production and suggests solutions to counteract them. In parallel, in order to better understand the importance of the MTJ interfaces themselves, a monocrystalline Co₀,₆Fe₀,₄ / MgO / Co₀,₆Fe₀,₄ (001) system, deposited using molecular beam epitaxy, was also investigated. The Co₀,₆Fe₀,₄ alloy exhibits a half-metallic character with regards to the symmetries of the Bloch states which lead to strong spin polarization. The very high quality of the crystalline structure at the interfaces offers the possibility to consider the sample as an ideal system, allowing a detailed analysis of the fine structure of the transition metal L-edges and the oxygen K-edge. These experimental spectra can thus be simulated using multiple scattering calculations in order to test the influence of the local environment and to characterize the p-d hybridization effects at the interfaces.


Based on associative learning theories it is hypothesized that pain might be a conditioned response. In people with musculoskeletal pain, the occurrence of movement‐induced pain might be a protective response, influenced by visual cues suggesting that the person is approaching a painful position. This study aimed to determine (1) whether the pain‐free range of motion (ROM) increased and decreased when visual feedback understated or overstated true rotation in people with neck pain and (2) whether this effect was more pronounced if pain was chronic.


The conflict in Darfur has been altered by new dynamics, which present a challenge as well as an opportunity to secure peace through a sophisticated and well coordinated effort. Such an approach will focus not only on negotiations, but also on a broad developmental program and consultations that will incorporate the concerns of the Darfur community, helping lead to a comprehensive, sustainable and forwardthinking resolution.


Frost events and extreme weather phenomena greatly affect several characteristics of the olive fruit. This study evaluated the impact of frost on the morphology, composition (moisture, fat, fatty acids, tocopherols, and total phenolic contents), and antioxidant activity of olives of cv. Santulhana. A total of 14 trees from the same geographical region (Santulhão, northeast of Portugal) were chosen, including trees subjected or not subjected to frost conditions (n = 7 each). The results showed that frost led to morphological changes in olive fruits, particularly in terms of weight and diameter, which were imposed by a huge decrease in the moisture content (−20%). Fat relative content increased as a consequence of the water loss (+29% in fresh pulp weight), with a slight reduction of the relative abundance of saturated fatty acids (−4%) and tocopherol contents in the fat (−17%). However, the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity were severely affected (−70% and −42%, respectively), with potential consequences for the olive oil stability and sensorial attributes. Principal component analysis showed that both morphological and chemical parameters could be used as biomarkers to identify olives subjected or not subjected to frost. The overall negative impact of frost on the minor antioxidant contents of cv. Santulhana olives may anticipate a quality loss of olive oils extracted from olives affected by frost.


Here, we report the unusual behavior shown by the PbS samples prepared using a multilayer deposition approach by chemical solution deposition method. Thin samples were prepared by depositing several films at different deposition conditions on glass substrates. X-ray diffraction showed that final multilayer samples showed a peculiar variation. Even when they showed well defined structure the intensities of the peaks do not correspond to those of the initial films.


Two broad frameworks are used to describe and analyse the mobility of academic staff. The first, and dominant, framework focuses on flows from the 'periphery' to the 'core', although that 'core' is also evolving (and is no longer dominated by North America and Western Europe but is increasingly likely to embrace dynamic East Asia systems). This first approach is labelled 'hegemonic internationalisation'. The second framework focuses instead on issues of development, the emergence of global communities and social movements. This is labelled 'fluid globalisation'. The article argues that the latter may be more useful for understanding trends in academic mobility.


Inspired by the solar‐light‐driven oxygen transportation in aquatic plants, a biomimetic sustainable light‐driven aerogel pump with a surface layer containing black manganese oxide (MnO2) as an optical absorber is developed. The flow intensity of the pumped air is controlled by the pore structure of nanofilbrillated cellulose, urea‐modified chitosan, or polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) aerogels. The MnO2‐induced photothermal conversion drives both the passive gas flow and the catalytic degradation of volatile organic pollutants. All investigated aerogels demonstrate superior pumping compared to benchmarked Knudsen pump systems, but the inorganic PMSQ aerogels provide the highest flexibility in terms of the input power and photothermal degradation activity. Aerogel light‐driven multifunctional gas pumps offer a broad future application potential for gas‐sensing devices, air‐quality mapping, and air quality control systems.


With the coming oceanic century,islands development and utilization activities have been intensified and there is urgent need for legislation on islands.China's islands legislation should be based on the island comprehensive body of law as the law model,achieving the goal model of developing and protecting islands.As China's basic law on islands legislation,The Draft Islands Protection Act,which is under deliberation,exists degrees of deviation from the choices of law model and target mode,and is to be revised and improved.


The Mediterranean flora and fauna seem particularly rich. One of the reasons for this wealth is their high rate of endemism. In addition, the Mediterranean harbours a large variety of communities. Some of them are unique, giving the Mediterranean its touch of originality. A number of these species and communities are threatened by human activities. Until recently, the legal protection of marine species mainly concerned mammals, turtles and birds. Since 1996, 55 species of Mediterranean marine macrophytes, invertebrates and fishes were registered in Appendices I and II of the Conventions of Bern and Barcelona. Of course, the protection of species is intimately linked to the protection of their habitats and resources: a number of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were set up. In addition to the setting up of conservatories for threatened species and habitats, the targets of MPAs are to establish no-take areas where fish density and sex-ratio make spawning possible (which subsequently export eggs, larvae and adults to surrounding non protected areas) and to manage the different uses of the sea (e.g. artisanal fishing, recreational fishing and tourism) in a rational way, so that they do not conflict with each other or with conservation aims. Furthermore, protected areas are no longer seen as "islands" of nature surrounded by incompatible resource uses but are part of a broader regional approach to land and sea management. More than 400 species can be considered as having been probably introduced into the Mediterranean Sea; this represents 4-5% of its known flora and fauna. Since the early 20th century, their number has more or less doubled every 20 years. As a mean, 10% of introduced species are "invasive": they play a conspicuous role in the host ecosystems, they threaten native species of communities and/or they have negative economic consequences (e.g. on aquaculture, public health and tourism). This is one of the most worrying forms of human impact, because it usually does not decrease with distance and time: it is irreversible at human scale (as coastal development and species extinction). From this point of view, introduced species undermine in an irreversible way everything that has been done to protect biodiversity, whether through the protection of species or the protection of habitats. For example, there would no longer be any point in setting up MPAs if it were merely to protect uniform meadows of introduced species, e.g. Caulerpa taxifolia, C. racemosa, Acrothamnion preissii and/or Womersleyella setacea. As far as the economic impact is concerned, it may be greater than the ecological one. This has been largely ignored in the Mediterranean countries, probably because the cost is "externalised", in such a way that those who pay are generally unaware of doing so.


Chicken embryos in fibroblast media exposed to gamma -radiation of Co/ sup 6//sup 0/ show a lowering and at higher doses a complete suppression of mitotic activity. For a detailed study, the growth of the epithelium was investigated, exposing the cultures to gamma -radiation ranging from 100 to 200,000 r at the incubation temperature of 37.5 to 38 deg C. As a result of the radi ation, especially at higher integrated doses, the growth of the epithelium was inhibited and the appearance of non-ho mogeneous growing tissue has been observed. Another effect of the high-level radiation consisted in the dilution of the medium and the breakdown of the integrity of the membrane's cells leading to the loss of their mobility. The behavior of the epithelium was found to be similar to that of intermuscular tissue. (TTT)


First, Soseki creates an air of anxiety increasingly and maximized in the novel, 「The seventh night」. He describes the color change of sea and wave: from blue to violet, and the violet becomes black at the end. Kurosawa shows fear and anxiety and maximized these in the movie, 「Mount Fuji In Red」 through the color change description also. He vividly expresses the color change of flowing lava, from dark red to bright red, at the volcanic outburst process in Mount Fuji. This can be considered that the writer and the movie director have generated the ultimate in artistry because they successfully express emotion and notion(idea), which are hard to draw, through the color change description. Second, characters in 「The seventh night」 and 「Mount Fuji In Red」 share a similarity to attempt to suicide into the sea by feeling severe anxiety. Third, "I" in 「The seventh night」 feel anxiety because modern science civilization and western culture have been flowed in and the conversation with a foreigner on a shipboard is not serious, not even exciting. "He" in 「Mount Fuji In Red」 feels anxiety because he is too concerned and feared of cataclysm and a radiation exposure from the volcanic outburst in Mount Fuji after the explosion of six nuclear power plants. Fourth and last, there is a difference between these two works. Soseki's work, as a novel, 「The seventh night」 in 『Ten Nights of Dream』 represents the anxiety of modern science civilization and western culture in 1908, which is the time of modern civilization flowing into Japan from the West. Kurosawa's work, 「Mount Fuji In Red」 in 『Dream』 is made in 1990 instead, which is the time of Japan has become the greatest advanced in the world in the economy and technology by absorbing the modern science civilization from the West. Kurosawa gets further to make a film representing the anxiety of radiation releases through a 'dream' as a medium.


In cardiac muscle cells of most vertebrates, the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated when agonists bind to adrenergic receptors (Shaw & French, 2018). The  Daphnia magna  heart and the autonomic nervous system of many vertebrates have similar properties; therefore, using  Daphnia magna  as a model organism is justifiable way to determine the effects of stimulants on heart rate. In this investigation, we studied the effects of two central nervous system stimulants, caffeine and nicotine, on  Daphnia magna . For four trials each, we manipulated concentrations of 0.5% caffeine, 1% caffeine, 1 mM nicotine, and 10 mM nicotine in order to measure the effects on  Daphnia magna  heart rate. In the end, we found varying trends in our data. The 0.5% caffeine and 10 mM nicotine showed a positive slope in percent change; on the other hand, the 1% caffeine and 1 mM nicotine showed a negative slope. This is significant because it shows that  Daphnia magna  have inconsistent responses to common stimulants. We expect this experiment to be of interest to researchers and future experimenters who study the excitatory effects of these common stimulants on other organisms.


There is increasing momentum within the construction industry to deploy distributed teams on projects, yet the major challenges that companies face for managing teams in distributed arrangements has yet to be explored in the construction context. Driven by such need, this study is intended to present an account of the major challenges encountered throughout the life cycle of offshore outsourcing arrangements within the South Australian construction industry. To this end, the study describes the observations made within the natural contexts of one construction project in terms of the challenges to the success of deploying distributed teams for outsourcing of works. Discussions remain in dialogue with relevant theories and the pertinent literature to explain the interpretations and lessons learned and to underpin the conclusions made. It is contended that this study contributes to the field by providing an illuminating insight into potential challenges facing distributed teams being implemented in outsourcing tasks in construction projects. Discussions also offer practical guidelines for construction project managers and assist them in dealing with potential challenges of offshore outsourcing through the lenses of distributed team working principles.


The study aimed to research the best extraction process of total saponins from momordica charantia.The absorbance value and total saponins yield as indicators,the effects of microwave power,microwave extraction time,ethanol concentration,ratio of material to liquid on total saponins yield were investigated by single factor and orthogonal design.The optimal conditions were the microwave power 350W,microwave extraction time 10min,ethanol concentration 60%,ratio of material to liquid 1∶ 20.The yield of total saponins from momordica charantia was 0.97%.Compared with traditional extraction methods,The microwave extracting method has the advantages of simple operation,low cost,fast and accurate.


Objective To detect target genes for further study by way of analyzing the gene expression profiles of benzene poisoning induced aplastic anemia by using cDNA Microarray. Methods Peripheral mononuclear cells were isolated from a aplastic anemia patient and an age-and sex-matched normal subject.Total RNA was extracted and purified,followed by reverse transcription to cDNAs with concomitant incorporation of fluorescent dCTP(Cy3 or Cy5).The cDNAs were used as probes in microarray of 2 780 cloed cDNA.Fluorescent signals were scanned to detect genes differentially expressed in patients and normal subjects. Results Among the cDNA microarray of 2 780 tumour related genes, the expression of 4 genes increased,such as LYN、IFITM1、TGFBR3、GRO1,whereas the expression of 7 genes decreased such as DOC1、MCT-1、GR02、DJ-1、FOSB、MAP3K8、IFI30.Conclusion Significant expression of tumour related genes of aplastic anemia patient who were exposed to benzene suggested that they played important roles in benzene-induced aplastic anemia.


In this paper,we analyze the risk and revenue charactristic of venture project and its"twin-security",and find that it's almost impossible to get a perfect "twin-security"in practice,so we suggest that"approximate twin-security"and risk-free security should be used to form asset portfolio to replicate the revenue characteristic of real option,and then project real option can be valued by conducing non-arbitrage analysis.But considering that the internal risk characteristic of real option can't be replicated when manager-related factors are dealt with,we modify the "approximate twin-security"method by using"effective certain equivalent"to make clear internal risk value at last.


WINDING A coating composition (10) comprises a FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING ELEMENT (14) VACUUM FORMED FOR INCLUSION SLOPED (38). A COAT ADHESIVE PRESSURE SENSITIVE (16) EXTENDS ALONG THE inclined side (38) FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING ELEMENT (14). A hydrogel material (12) is placed in the TILT (38) ELEMENT SUPPORTING FLEXIBLE (14) and a release liner (18) extends over the adhesive layer ADHESIVE EXPOSED (16) and the hydrogel material EXPOSED (12 ). The release liner (18) has a SELECTIVE LIBERALIZATION MAY RETIRE TO COATING WINDING, INTACT TO THE PRODUCT (10), leaving a portion of the adhesive AUTOADHESIVO (18) AND hydrogel material (12) in sight.


This analysis aims at contributing to the debate by exploring recent changes in French public hospitals. It will try to show how a new financing system can entail deep changes inside the management architecture. The structuring of the management control function is still in gestation. In most hospitals surveyed, this function is still at its early stages. There is still a long way for management control in acquiring a real legitimacy, especially from professionals. A key to success lies in the ability of institutions to recruit (and retain) a staff up to the current stakes, both able to overcome technical difficulties of the hospital management (including the T2A) and place themselves in intermediation between medical and management logics.


This paper develops support vector based fuzzy linear and nonlinear regression models and applies it to forecasting the exchange rate. We use the result of Tanaka(1982, 1987) for crisp input and output. The model makes it possible to forecast the best and worst possible situation based on fewer than 50 observations. We show that the developed model is good through real data.


Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of transvaginal Doppler velocimetry measurements in uterine arteries were assessed by two observers in 20 postmenopausal women. In addition, the agreement between the observers regarding the detection of an ovary as well as the presence or absence of intraovarian arterial blood flow was documented.


The primary objective of the firm is to earn maximum profi or to maximize shareholder wealth. Profit, in accordance with the principle of going concern, was required to maintain firm's existence and, in turn, firm's expansion and development.


The last two decades have witnessed an immense growth of globalization activities, making the study of multinationals a very popular one. However, most of these studies have focused upon the use of socio-cultural variables to support the divergence theory or upon contextual and organizational variables to support the convergence theory. In the present study, it is debated that both sets of variables must be used in combination to develop a comprehensive understanding of various issues that multinationals face. A sample of five multinationals operating in Pakistan is analysed and classified as per the various modes of convergence-divergence proposed by McGaughey and De Cieri (1999) after an investigation of organizational, socio-cultural and contextual variables. The conclusion drawn is that both convergence and divergence issues may occur simultaneously in the process of human resource management (HRM) change; and that the variables used to explain them are, in fact, not immutable in nature, as has been assumed by many.


Resveratrol, a natural product most famously present in red wine, has been in the headlines for a decade, ever since scientists reported that it activates a pathway linked to antiaging effects. Whether and how the molecule elicits those effects is a controversial topic, however. And as efforts progress to make drugs that mimic resveratrol's actions the, debate has heightened. A new study shows that a much-maligned approach for finding resveratrol mimics—an essential task for confirming the antiaging mechanism—actually does work (Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1231097). The study was carried out by researchers with a significant financial stake in making resveratrol-like drugs, a group led by David A. Sinclair of Harvard Medical School. Coauthors include researchers from Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, the company Sinclair cofounded to combat cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and other diseases of aging, and from GlaxoSmithKline, which bought Sirtris for $720 million in 2008. Sinclair and others believe resverat...


Cellulosic biomass is an ideal renewable feedstock for the production of ethanol fuels. A Saccharomyces yeast has been genetically engineered to ferment xylose, a constituent of biomass. Results are described and compared with other natural xylose-fermenting yeasts.


In this paper, the effect of additive Fe on Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for CO2 methanation was studied. A series of bimetallic Ni–Fe catalysts with different Ni/Fe ratios were prepared by impregnation method. For comparison, monometallic Fe-based and Ni-based catalysts were also prepared by the same method. The characterization results showed that adding Fe to Ni catalyst on the premise of a low Ni loading(≦12 wt.%) enhanced CO2 methanation performance. However, when the Ni loading reached 12 wt.%, the catalytic activity decreased with the increase of Fe content, but still higher than the corresponding Ni-based catalyst without Fe. Among them, the 12Ni3Fe catalyst exhibited the highest CO2 conversion of 84.3 % and nearly 100% CH4 selectivity at 50000 ml g-1 h-1 and 420 °C. The enhancement effect of adding Fe on CO2 methanation was attributed to the dual effect of suitable electronic environment and increased reducibility generated by Fe species.


The invention provides a bearing supporting seat structure. The bearing supporting seat structure can realize the automatic adjustment of the concentricity of a bearing and a transmission shaft when the bearing is pressed into the transmission shaft, effectively avoids the damages to the bearing or the transmission shaft in the bearing installing process, and guarantees the bearing installing quality. The bearing supporting seat structure comprises a bearing supporting seat body, the bearing supporting seat body is provided with a semispherical supporting seat, a bearing jig is movably connected with the semispherical supporting seat through a positioning sleeve, the positioning sleeve is fixed on the bearing supporting seat body, there is a gap between the positioning sleeve and the bearing jig, and the bearing jig can rotate around the semispherical supporting seat within limits relative to the positioning sleeve.


A method constructing vacuum servo control system with a combined vacuum generator is proposed and the single neural adaptive PID control strategy is also proposed due to the inherent defects of the vacuum servo system in this paper. The influence of the system parameters to the characteristics of the vacuum servo system is analyzed and discussed. The simulation and the experiment show that the kind of vacuum servo system has the characteristics of faster response, higher control accuracy and stronger robustness. The control strategy presented can improve the static and dynamic behavior of the system effectively.


Complement-mediated lesions developed in myxovirus membranes in the presence of antibody to host antigens. Intact virions reacted with antibody to the keratosulphate-like host antigen present in the spike layer. Spike-deprived influenza virus reacted in the same way when an antiserum to the Forssman glycolipid was used. The holes in the membrane varied considerably in size, but were otherwise similar to those found in erythrocyte membranes. This immune electron microscopy method proved useful for the localization of host material in viral membranes.


To confect diet formulation of ruminant accurately three steers fitted with permanent ruminal cannulas and duodenal cannulas were used to investigate degradation characteristics and apparent small intestinal digestibility of crude protein(CP)and amino dry matter(DM) by in situ method. The result was shown that, ranking of the rumen effective degradability of dry matters from high to low was: Wheat bran(WB),alfalfa hay(AH), soybean meal(SM), DDGS, beer lees(BL), rice bran(RB), linseed cake(LC), whole-plant corn silage(WCS), Chinese wild rye(CW), distiller's grains(DG); ranking o f the rumen effective degradability of crude protein from high to low was: WB, AH, BL, DDGS, SM, RB, LC, WCS, CW, DG; Ranking of small intestinal digestibility of dry matters from high to low was: SM, LC, DDGS, RB, WB, DG, BL, WCS, AH, CW;Ranking of small intestinal digestibility of crude protein from high to low was: SM, LC, DDGS, RB, WB, BL,WCS, DG, AH, CW. We can see that the rumen effective degradability of the feedstuff with different kinds was dissimilar, and the potential that can provide for small intestine with the crude protein was different.


The Rancho La Brea (RLB) fossil collection housed at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, California, is one of the richest collections of carnivoran fossils in the world. The collection is also particularly well known for the preservation of rare and understudied bones in the tar, including the small bony apparatus that is of particular interest to this study, the hyoid. The La Brea collection houses hyoids from several extinct carnivoran species, some of the most common being those of Canis dirus (the dire wolf) and Canis latrans (the coyote). In this study, we compare fossilized hyoid elements from these two canids to samples from modern large congeners, namely: Canis lupus (the gray wolf), Canis rufus (the red wolf), and modern C. latrans. Seven or nine measurements were taken on each bone of the hyoid apparatus, and principal component analyses were performed in order to determine statistical significance between species. For most of the bones, the majority of the variation was driven by size. Dire wolves could be clearly differentiated from all other canids for all elements; the hyoid apparatus of C. dirus is larger and more robust than that of C. lupus. Most of the bony elements could not be distinguished between red wolves or modern coyotes. However, there are enough, complete fossil coyote basihyoids to compare with those of their modern relatives, and in several metrics (both PC shapes and overall size), RLB and modern C. latrans are significantly different. As larger hyoids have been associated with a lower vocal frequency, this distinction would have resulted in the vocalizations of C. dirus occurring at a lower frequency than those produced by C. lupus and perhaps lower vocalizations in ice age coyotes than their modern relatives.


Abstract : The fundamental concept of orthogonality of mathematical objects occurs in a wide variety of physical and engineering disciplines. The theory of orthogonal functions, for example, is central to the development of Fourier series and wavelets, essential for signal processing. In particular, various families of classical orthogonal polynomials have traditionally been applied to fields such as electrostatics, numerical analysis, and many others. This thesis develops the main ideas necessary for understanding the classical theory of orthogonal polynomials. Special emphasis is given to the Jacobi polynomials and to certain important subclasses and generalizations, some recently discovered. Using the theory of hypergeometric power series and their q -extensions, various structural properties and relations between these classes are systematically investigated. Recently, these classes have found significant applications in coding theory and the study of angular momentum, and hold much promise for future applications. orthogonal polynomials, hypergeometric series.


This paper considers port infrastructure, in terms of the physical limitations placed on vessel size, at the major cruise ship ports in northern Europe. Physical design characteristics and vessel size restrictions common to these ports are identified. The same physical design charactersitics and vessels limitations are considered in the context of a port with cruise ship ambitions, viz. Leith. The subsequent analysis suggests that infrastructure design weaknesses at a given port, in this case the presence of an entrance lock and tidal delay, may act as a deterrent to cruise ships. Primary data gathered from cruise lines and from observation of cruise ship activity at Leith supports this hypothesis. These findings have implications for both seaports and cruise lines.


Roland Barthes' cultural semiotics emphasizes not only the meaning-making process but also what the final meaning is, which paved the way for the development of mass media studies. The paper focuses on advertising and finds that advertisements try to create myth today to influence readers' value and consumption viewpoints, which confirms Barthes' claim that the creation of myth or final meaning is the essence in mass media.


The article presents the research results related to the influence of turbulence on the efficiency of the combustion chamber of gas turbine. An artificial increase in the intensity of turbulence is considered as a way to improve the formation of a fuel-air mixture. Turbulent flow is formed due to the installation of guide swirlers at the entrance to the device for creating a fuel-air mixture a micro module. The angle of rotation of the swirler blades is selected. Theoretical research, mathematical software modeling, as well as an aerodynamic experiment have been carried out. As a result, design solutions are provided that significantly increase the efficiency and reliability of the gas turbine combustion chamber. In the course of the study, guide vanes were selected, and their design was established. The recommended swing angle of the swirler guide vanes is 40. The recommended depth of the fuel injector inside the chamber is 1.0 gauge.


With the ever shrinking dimension of a chip on a die, it is evident that the channels of on-chip networks (NoCs) are often exposed to logic level manufacturing faults such as stuck-at faults. The faults coercively put the networks into miscellaneous system level failures like packet corruption, misrouting, and dropping. Thus, the reliability has become a special interest. Additionally, the performance of the NoCs is somewhat deviated. This paper proposes a distributed and time-efficient on-line test model that addresses stuck-at faults in interswitch and local channels of NoCs as well as analyze the effect of the faults on various performance metrics. Fault simulations achieve 100% coverage metrics and show that the proposed test model takes same test clocks to detect the faults in larger NoCs. Further, online evaluation of the proposed test model reveals that it speeds more than 16 times up on a set of NoCs. Simultaneously, we observe packet latency is improved to 20.17–44.45% while energy consumption by a packet flit is reduced to 16.96–39.40% on these NoCs. The improvements may grow with NoC size.


The histories of software systems hold useful information when reasoning about the systems at hand or when reasoning about general laws of software evolution. Over the past 30 years, research has been increasingly spent on understanding software evolution. However, the approaches developed so far do not rely on an explicit meta-model and, thus, they make it difficult to reuse or compare their results. We argue that there is a need for an explicit meta-model for software evolution analysis. We present a survey of the evolution analyses and deduce a set of requirements that an evolution meta-model should have. We define Hismo, a meta-model in which history is modeled as an explicit entity. Hismo adds a time layer on top of structural information, and provides a common infrastructure for expressing and combining evolution analyses and structural analyses. We validate the usefulness of our meta-model by presenting how different analyses are expressed on it. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


AIM: To establish an orthotopic tracheal transplantation model with inbred mice. METHODS: Weight-matched inbred mice with different germlines were randomly assigned to 2 experimental groups: A,C57BL/6(donator) → BALB/c(receptor)(n=10 pairs); B, BALB/c(donator) →BALB/c(receptor)(n=10 pairs). Weight-matched Kunming(KM) mice were assigned as a control group C: KM(donator)→ KM(receptor) (n=10 pairs).The orthotopic tracheal transplantations were performed according to the designed groups and the transplanted trachea was coated with the anterior cervical muscles for revascularization.Tracheal graft rejection was monitored by daily clinical airway assessment, histological examination using HE staining and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: All the mice in group A and B were living until they were sacrificed, while 6 mice kept alive in group C. Tracheal autografts in group A and C had notable rejection reaction,but group B did not.In the 3 groups, the epithelial scores were 1.094±0.120,2.872±0.059 and 0.995±0.444; the numbers of lymphocyte were (20.18±1.31) /HPF, 5 /HPF and( 22.55±4.87) /HPF; the ratios of anuclear chondrocyte/osteocyte were (27.22±1.09)%, (10.60±1.01)% and (31.40±6.43)%. Various cellular indexes such as the epithelial score, the number of lymphocyte and the ratio of anuclear chondrocyte/osteocyte in group A and C showed marked statistical difference when compared with those of group B, but no statistical difference was found when group A was compared with group C. CONCLUSION: A C57BL/6(donator) → BALB/c(receptor)orthotopic tracheal transplantation model has been established successfully.Various pathophysiological changes in the tracheal transplantation would well be reflected in both the inbred and closed population mice.The inbred model seems to be more stable than the closed population.


Abstract Disclosure: N. Arora: None. C. Maxwell: None. J.M. Kim: None. Introduction: Metastases to the pituitary gland are a rare phenomenon only accounting for 1% of surgically treated pituitary tumors. The majority of cases, approximately 60%, in reported literature of hypopituitarism related to metastatic malignancy are associated with metastatic breast and lung cancer. These cases typically involve loss of posterior pituitary function rather than anterior. More specifically, the reported cases of panhypopituitarism related to melanoma have been associated with treatment with check point inhibitors with resultant hypophysitis. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of panhypopituitarism from direct infiltration and destruction of the pituitary gland from metastatic melanoma. Case Description: This was a 56-year-old post-menopausal female with a past medical history of Diabetes Mellitus type II who presented with a four-week history of generalized malaise, headache, dipoplia, and right eye ptosis. On physical exam, she was found to have right periorbital swelling, proptosis, and absent extraocular movement with right cranial nerve six palsy. MRI with pituitary protocol demonstrated a destructive, infiltrative process involving the pituitary, sella turcica, and cavernous sinus suggestive of either fungal infection or malignancy. Labs were indicative of panhypopituitarism including central hypothyroidism (TSH 0.008 uIU/mL, FT4 0.82 ng/dL), hypogonadism (FSH<17 mIU/mL; LH 0.3 mIU/mL), and low prolactin (0.3 ng/ml). Labs were also notable for a random low cortisol at 11AM (1.6 ug/dL, n>2.7ug/dl) and hyponatremia (125 mmol/L, n 135-146 mmol/L). A cosyntropin stimulation test failed to stimulate appropriately and stress dose steroids were initiated. A biopsy of the mass invading the pituitary gland was performed with pathology revealing metastatic melanoma with lymphovascular invasion. The patient's hospital course was further complicated by multiple cerebral vascular infarcts, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response, and heparin induced thrombocytopenia with rapid decline in functional status and patient soon passed. Post-mortem autopsy demonstrated friable hemorrhagic tissue (6.0 x 5.0 cm) involving the sellar and parasellar regions with diffuse lymphadenopathy consistent with metastatic melanoma. Discussion: This is a rare case of infiltrative metastatic melanoma with resultant panhypopituitarism. Although rare, metastatic disease should be considered when evaluating loss of pituitary function. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023


Cerebellar liponeurocytoma is an extremely rare cerebellar neoplasm of adults, which is characterized by astrocytic and lipomatous differentiation, with a low proliferative potential. Until now, there are only 31 reports of cerebellar liponeurocytoma. Neurosurgeons are not familiarized with this entity. It is not a part of the tumor repertoire that is dealt with in daily practice. Despite its rarity, it is mandatory to distinguish it from medulloblastomas. Cerebellar liponeurocytoma usually has a more favorable prognosis and does not require chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this study, we describe a 62-year-old woman harboring cerebellar liponeurocytoma, and briefly review the existing literature.


Abstract : The CO2 absorbent canister duration of the MK-15 closed-circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA) was evaluated using a resting diver scenario in 13 C water at 65 FSW. The Passive Diver Thermal Protection System (PDTPS) was worn during the study. Results demonstrate that the safe operational limit of the MK-15 UBA for a diver mainly at rest in 13 C water is 321 minutes. (Author)


Studies show that people with a learning disability (LD) are stigmatized. The study adopts the major tenets of the "Attribution Model of Reactions to Stigmas" (AMRS), which postulates that causal attributions to disability ("stigmas") are associated with affective responses that lead to behavioral outcomes. Adopting a multidimensional approach to attributions, we examined the applicability of the AMRS among Arab-Israeli mothers. A convenience sample of 122 mothers of elementary school children, who were diagnosed with LD, completed self-reported, closed-ended questionnaires. The AMRS was only partially supported by our findings. However, we found that four of the five types of reported causal attributions were significantly and negatively associated with maternal rejection. We also found high levels of maternal rejection, in addition to high levels of positive affective reactions. Attributing the child's LD to a medical condition at the time of the mother's pregnancy or the child's birth was associated with lower positive affect.


Objective: We examined the associations among the circadian rhythms of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and left atrial function in essential hypertensive patients. Methods: The study included 237 essential hypertensive patients who completed 24-h ambulatory BP, HR monitoring and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). The strain and strain rate images were studied, and the following parameters were measured: left atrial reservoir strain and strain rate (LAS-S and LASR-S), left atrial conduit strain and strain rate (LAS-E and LASR-E), and left atrial booster strain and strain rate (LAS-A and LASR-A). The left atrial stiffness index (LASI) was identified as the ratio of E/e' to LAS-S. All participants were divided into three groups according to the percentage of nocturnal BP dipping (dippers, nondippers and reverse dippers). Results: The LASI was significantly higher in BP reverse dippers than in dippers and nondippers. LAS-S, LAS-E and LASR-E were significantly lower in BP reverse dippers than dippers and nondippers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, night-time mean SBP and the percentage of nocturnal HR decline were independently related to an increased LASI. Conclusion: Impairment of the left atrial reservoir and conduit functions was correlated with abnormal BP and HR circadian rhythms in hypertension. Increased left atrial stiffness was associated with night-time SBP and the percentage of nocturnal HR decline.


In recent years, engineering constructions increase rapidly in western and central areas of China, where expansive soil widely distributes. Since expansive soil is sensitive to water content, the characterization of its shear strength should be carefully conducted. For simplicity and ease of use, the Mohr-Coulomb criterion is often adopted to describe the shear strength of expansive soil. In this paper, the physical meaning of the cohesion and frictional strength of expansive soil are explained, and the variations of the strength parameters with water content are investigated. By fitting to the experimental results from direct shear test and triaxial tests, the changing characteristics of cohesion and friction angle with water content are obtained.


Two facilities, A and B, were subjected to heat treatments using forced-air gas heaters that were fueled by propane. At facility A, two separate rooms were heated for ~28 h. Temperature sensors and insect bioassay vials with 20 young larvae (first instars) or 20 adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were placed in 20 or 28 locations. Temperatures reached 50°C from the ambient temperature of 23 to 27°C in 5 to 6 h. Temperatures above 50°C were held for 22 h, and the maximum temperatures did not exceed 58°C. Mortality of young larvae and adults was 90 to 96% about 12 h into the heat treatment and reached 100% at 20 h. Little or no progeny was produced 42 d later in vials exposed to the heat treatment for 12 to 28 h. In facility B heated for 24 h, time to reach 50°C from the ambient temperature of 34°C took 1.5 h, and temperatures above 50°C were held for 23 h, and the maximum temperature observed was about 60°C. Mortality of T. castaneum eggs was 100% in vials exposed to heat for 3 h whereas that of adults was 57% with 100% mortality occurring at 24 h. A thermal death kinetic model predicted time to 99% mortality (LT99) of T. castaneum young larvae, which is the most heat tolerant stage, as a function of time-dependent temperature data at each location. The LT99 values were positively related to time to 50°C, but inversely related to time above 50°C and the maximum temperature. Observed temperatures, insect responses in bioassays, and thermal death kinetic model predictions confirmed that successful commercial heat treatments can be conducted in 24 to 28 h. No adverse effects to the electrical or structural components of the facilities occurred during the two heat treatments.


The assumptions of statistical procedures are enforced more rigorously in some disciplines than in others. Previous research into the accuracy of predictive modelling techniques has provided examples where models based on data that violate the relevant assumptions is greater than that of models where the assumptions were satisfied. The purpose of this investigation was to develop two sets of 4 models; one set being based on untransformed data that violated the assumptions of the modelling techniques and a second set where the data were transformed in order to satisfy the assumptions of the modelling techniques. Data from 153 pool matches and 54 knock out matches from international soccer tournaments from July 2006 to February 2010 were used to produce predictive models of match outcomes (win, draw or lose) or goal difference with respect to the higher ranked teams within matches according to the FIFA World rankings. The independent variables used were difference between the teams FIFA World ranking points, difference between distance from capital city to capital city of the host nation and difference in recovery days from previous match within the tournament. The two sets of models were used to predict the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 119 human predictions and 20 weighted random predictions were also produced. An evaluation process marked the predictions with respect to the actual outcomes of matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup out of a total possible score of 64 points. The mean accuracy of the models where the assumptions were satisfied was 33.50 points which was similar to the 35.13 points for those where the assumptions were violated. The accuracy score of the 8 model based predictions was 34.31+2.70 compared to 33.75+3.86 for the human predictions and 35.55+2.50 for the weighted random predictions. There was no significant difference in the accuracy of the three types of prediction (p = 0.116). These results provide evidence that challenges the value of satisfying the assumptions of discriminant function analysis, binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression.


ABSTRACT Numerous eligible German students do not apply for heavily subsidized student aid (BAföG). Our theoretical model shows how imperfect information, risk aversion, debt aversion, and student income can incentivize rational students to abstain from an application. We use GSOEP data from 2001 to 2013 to simulate BAföG eligibility and find that in particular risk averse students with low income are discouraged if they have little information about the application procedure. Moreover, debt-averse students are more reluctant to apply. This suggests that a non-transparent and complicated student aid system disproportionally discourages poor students with little experience with the BAföG system.


This article aims at bringing together various lines of analysis that have been kept more or less separate until now, that is, studies on the body, motricity, perception, agency, material culture, the subject, unconscious drives, and power systems. By drawing on the work of Mauss, Schilder, Tisseron, Parlebas and Foucault, it discusses how the subject and its drives are invested in sensori-motricity in a material world. When it is socially validated and coded, such an investment amounts to what Foucault called the 'techniques of the self'. The subjectivation thus achieved may be consistent or at odds with corresponding representations. The notions provided by praxeology, the science of sensori-motricity, may help in producing an ethnography of subjectivation in a material world.


6082Background: Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated definitive radiotherapy (RT) with different sequencing (induction (I+RT), concurrent (CRT), adjuvant, induction + concurrent ...


The use of cosmetics exposes consumers to mixtures of ingredients, many of which are potential allergens. Ultraviolet (UV) filters are used not just in sunscreens, but also in other products. Many UV filters are known contact allergens and photoallergens.


We study the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distributions in the newly proposed quasi-parton distribution function framework in Euclidean space. A soft factor subtraction is found to be essential to make the TMDs calculable on lattice. We show that the quasi-TMDs with the associated soft factor subtraction can be applied in hard QCD scattering processes such as Drell-Yan lepton pair production in hadronic collisions. This allows future lattice calculations to provide information on the non-perturbative inputs and energy evolutions for the TMDs. Extension to the generalized parton distributions and quantum phase space Wigner distributions will lead to a complete nucleon tomography on lattice.


Rapid-solidified ferromagnetic shape memory Fe-30.2 at. %Pd alloy ribbon has a large magnetostriction more than 1.0 x 10 - 3 (= 1000 μ-strain). This type of magnetostriction is caused by the re-arrangements of martensitictwins (i.e., variants) by the applied magnetic field, therefore, it is generally very sensitive to the crystalline texture and twin's morphology of material. In order to develop a more high performance magnetostrictive actuator material driven by smaller magnetic field, the effect of grain and twin boundary microstructures on megnetostriction was studied by changing the condition of heat treatments. For the sample with strongly (100) textured grains after oil-bath quenching, a steep increment and large strain of 0.7 x 10 - 3 was induced at a fairly low magnetic field of 35 k A.m - 1 (= 1.5 kOe) when the magnetic field was applied normal to the ribbon surface. On the other hand, for the sample with randomly oriented grains and excessive existence of twin boundaries by ice-water quenching after long time annealing, the induced strain was initially small and then it gradually increased up to 0.6 x 10 - 3 at 70k A.m - 1 This difference of sensitivity in magnetostriction behavior is discussed from the viewpoint of magnetic domain mobility in connection with grain and twin boundary microstructures.


A B S T R A C T The Mehlich‐3 extraction reagent recommended for use on a wide range of acid soil types was utilised for extracting in a simple step, both major elements (P, Ca, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn,). The study area was an elementary agricultural catchment of about 25 ha, located in the Mabegondo Experimental farm, near A Coruna, where soils develop over a basic schist underneath, referred to as Ordenes Complejo. 65 punctual soil samples were taken for nutrient determination at 0-30 cm depth. The frequency distributions for each of the seven studied elements were analized. There were wide ranges of variation between maxima and minima. Coefficients of skewness and kurtosis indicate that micronutrient contents can be approximated by a normal distribution. Coefficients of variation were medium to high, ranging from 30% to 62%. Strong correlations were found between extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn. Furthermore, the relationship between the concentration of nutrients and routine analysis of org a n i c matter content, pH and texture was ascertained. The dependence between pH and extractable Ca content was not as high as expected because of the scatter of a few (one or two) individual points. The usefulness of regression analysis between extracted nutrient concentrations and on the other hand between nutrient contents and general soil properties for detecting outliers was discussed.


Objective: Polyphenols in red wine are believed to improve endothelial function. We investigated whether daily consumption of red wine improves in vivo vascular function. After ingestion, red wine components are present for some time in the circulation. Therefore, we also studied whether incubation of porcine coronary arteries (PCAs) with red wine extract (RWE) improves vascular function in vitro. Methods: Eighteen young healthy women drank red wine daily for three weeks. Vascular function was evaluated as forearm blood flow (FBF). For the in vitro study, PCAs were suspended in organ baths in the absence or presence of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME and/or the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor ODQ. In a number of vessels, the endothelium was removed. Concentration-response curves to RWE were constructed following preconstriction with U46619. The effect of RWE incubation was studied by quantifying bradykinin- and S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP)- induced vasorelaxation following acute (0.5 hour and 2 hours) or chronic (16 hours) pre-incubation with RWE. Results: Acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent and sodium nitroprusside-induced, endothelium-independent FBF increases were enhanced after three weeks of red wine consumption, but not acutely after one unit of red wine (corresponding with 10 g of alcohol). In vitro, RWE fully relaxed U46619-preconstricted PCAs. This effect was endothelium-dependent and strongly reduced by L-NAME and ODQ. Acute pre-incubation with RWE blocked bradykinin-induced relaxation, and this effect tended to disappear upon chronic pre-incubation. Similarly, acute, but not chronic, RWE pre-incubation diminished the SNAP-induced response. Conclusions: In vitro, RWE causes endothelium-dependent, NO- and sGC-mediated relaxations of coronary arteries. Pre-incubation with RWE reduces the bradykinin- and SNAP-induced relaxation, possibly via sGC inactivation induced by the high levels of NO generated by RWE. This effect disappears upon prolonged pre-incubation. These data are in line with our in vivo results, where the lack of an acute effect of red wine may be attributed to sGC inactivation, whereas the improved effect after prolonged wine exposure may reflect sGC upregulation and/or structural vascular alterations.


1 To the editor: We read with great interest the article " Isolated Chorea Associated with LGI1 Antibody " (LGI1, leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1) by Ram-dhani and Frucht. 1 The authors presented an important clinical observation about a treatable etiology of chorea in a 53-year-old male, in whom an underlying tumor could not be detected. By presenting a case vignette of hemichorea associated with antibodies against contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2), we wish to emphasize the relationship between a movement disorder and an autoantibody. In our patient, lung cancer was detected. A 75-year-old female developed choreiform movement disorder, predominantly affecting the left limbs and the left side of the face. She took no neuroleptic drugs and reported that she had been smoking for about 50 years. Her family history was unremarkable. Cranial magnetic resonance images and serum chemistry, including liver enzymes, complete blood count, thyroid function, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were negative. Her creatine kinase level was slightly elevated, due to the movement disorder (325 U/L, normal <140). Systemic lupus erythemato-sus and neuroacanthocytosis were not clinically suspected, and tests for these conditions were not performed. Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed normal background activity without signs of epileptic discharges. As a paraneoplastic process was suspected, 2 computed tomog-raphy-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) was performed and revealed a right-side malignant lung tumor. Based on the patient's history and radiological presentation, it was perceived as smoking-associated lung cancer. Serum analysis for paraneoplastic autoantibodies detected CASPR2 antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence test (titer IgM 1:10; Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany). Tests for the remainder of the autoan- -AMPA-1, and-AMPA-2) were negative. Symptomatic treatment with tiapride (200 mg daily) was introduced and resulted in acceptable symptom control within the following 2 days. Although oncologic therapy was proposed, it was refused by the patient. Through this case vignette, we wish to complement the observations of Ramdhani and Frucht1 and Tofaris et al. 3 for two reasons. First, autoimmune processes (both paraneoplastic and idiopathic) are well-recognized causes of chorea but are relatively rare. 4 In most cases, co-existing neurological findings, such as peripheral neuropathy, cognitive decline, epilepsy, or oculomotor disturbances, are present. 5 In the Ram-dhani and Frucht1 case, and even in our case, isolated chorea and hemi-chorea, respectively, were the index symptom. Whereas an idiopathic etiology was strongly assumed in the case of Ramdhani and Frucht, 1 in our case, an obvious paraneoplastic etiology has to be considered. The Copyright: © 2014 Vynogradova …


This book is a critical investigation of universal natural laws in economic science—the idea that laws in economics are like scientific laws in natural science, such as the laws of Newtonian mechanics. It is both a history addressing whether economists have historically employed the idea of such laws, as well as a philosophical assessment of whether such a natural law-based approach is appropriate for economic science. Although the book is both an interpretative history and a philosophical as...


The invention provides a message reporting apparatus and method as well as a data sending apparatus and method, so as to avoid the problem of resource waste caused by repeatedly sending data by an application server. The method of the invention comprises: when a mobility management entity is triggered by an application server to page a user equipment (UE), the mobility management entity determines that the UE is in an unreachable state, the UE being a receiving end for data sent by the application server; and the mobility management entity reports to the application server a message indicating that the UE is in the unreachable state, the message indicating that the UE is in the unreachable state being used for notifying the application server that the UE cannot receive the data sent by the application server.


The study on the specialty characteristics and training model and teaching reform practice of exploration technology and engineering shows that strengthening the students' engineering ability training is essential in the specialty construction. Therefore, the continuous teaching reform thought of practical ability training from classroom teaching to practical teaching links is carried out, training of the engineering practical ability is strengthened in teaching and learning, the relatively integrated practical teaching system of exploration technology and engineering is established, the engineer cultivation of the specialty teachers should be enhanced. It has laid a solid foundation to meet the requirements of talent training through the establishing of new type platform of engineering practice and systematical training of students' practice ability and basic skills.


Highest frequencies (75%) of friable embryogenic nodular calli were recorded from the root explants in the presence of MS + 4.0 mg/l BAP and 4.0 mg/l NAA. In combinations of BAP and NAA 45.4% callus produced direct plantlets formation and 36.3% only from aerial part of shoots. MS medium with 1.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l Kn produced compact callus where 13.3% produced direct plantlets formation and 45.7% produced only shoot formation. Well-developed globular somatic embryos were found to form when the callus were cultured more than 6 - 8 weeks on MS with 1.0 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l Kn. After acclimatization the well rooted plantlets were transferred to pot and grown successfully in soil.


Two new species of Rhizophydium (Phycomycetes, Chytridiales) are described, both with uniporous sporangia. Rhizophydium annulatum n.sp. is on pollen from northern Florida, the other, R. lenelangei n.sp., was recovered from Guatemalan soil.


Can vocabulary and comprehension assessments be generated automatically for a given text? We describe the automated method used to generate, administer, and score multiple-choice vocabulary and comprehension questions in the 2001-2002 version of Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor. To validate the method against the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test, we analyzed 69,326 multiple-choice cloze items generated in the course of regular Reading Tutor use by 364 students in grades 1-9 at seven schools. Correlation between predicted and actual scores reached R=.85 for Word and Passage Comprehension.


Amales Tripathi was a brilliant teacher at Presidency College and the University of Calcutta. He was academically associated with the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. Tripathi's study deals with Bengal during a period in which the great Presidency served as the political, financial, and commercial base of the East India Company. Tripathi touches on many aspects of the trade, shipping, and finances of the Company in Bengal. His initial research work was in economic history, and the doctoral thesis was published as Trade and Finance in Bengal Presidency, 1793- 1833. The work remains the standard work on agency houses and private trade under Company rule in Bengal. Professor Tripathi was highly influenced by F. P. Braudel's monumental work The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II (translated from French into English in 1972-73). Even he was also influenced by Holden Furber's John Company at Work, the first in-depth analysis of the English East India Company's Asian activities between 1783 and 1793 and by C. H. Philips's The English East India Company 1789-1834(1940) which was based on Namerian philosophy. Professor Tripathi discarded the over simplifying approach and denunciatory tone.
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Hum.), Vol. 68(1), 2023, pp. 134-145


In order to explore the new mutation breeding techniques of ginger,germinal rhizomes of Laiwu ginger and Jinchang ginger were dipped with different concentration solution of DES and NaN_3 for different time,and the growth of VM_1 generation were investigated.The results showed that all the tretments had significant inhibition on VM_1 generation of Laiwu ginger and Jinchang ginger.The inhibition effects increased followed the concentration increased and the dipping time prolonged. And Jinchang ginger were more sensitive to the mutagea The germinal rhizomes of Laiwu ginger and Jinchang ginger were dipped with 0.035 mol/L DES for 50 minute,or dipped with 0.001 mol/L NaN_3 for 180 minute,were the feasible mathod for breeding new ginger varieties.The plant height of VM_1 were reduced over 30%than comparison.


Background: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) represents the most common head and neck malignancy in most Nigerian centers. Although it is uncommon among all cancers, it has significant morbidity and mortality associated with it. There has been no specific study on NPC in our locality. This review, therefore, endeavors to document and evaluate the pattern in our center. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of all nasopharyngeal cases diagnosed at the pathology department of our hospital between 1st January 2005 and 31st December 2014. The biodata and histopathological findings were reviewed. Results: NPC accounted for 1.3% of all cancers during the study period and was twice as common in males than females (M: F = 2.1:1). Patients' age ranged from 16 to 70 years with median of 38 years and bimodal peaks in the 3rd and 5th decades. Squamous carcinoma was the most frequent histologic type (97.1%), followed by adenoid cystic and papillary adenocarcinoma each comprising 1.4%. The prevalent squamous carcinoma subtypes were non-keratinizing (80%) and keratinizing (17%). Conclusion: Our findings were broadly similar to other Nigerian centers, but slightly at variance with other low incidence zones in Western world.


This study is to analyze the intensity of welding part by simulating the dynamic procedure during the fracture of plates with spot welding. The upper and tower plates attached with spot welding can be seen to fall apart at the elapsed time of 0.64 ms after the upper plate is stretched from the lower plate. The maximum von Mises stress is shown at the welding part in the mid of upper and lower plates. The internal energy decreases largely and the kinetic energy increases suddenly near the elapsed time of 0.64 ms when welding part breaks down. The sliding energy decreases with step-by-step style as the time elapses. The value of this energy becomes 0 at the elapsed time of 0.2 ms and on the contrary, two plates stick each other as this value becomes a minus after this time.


Abstract To investigate the efficiency of gemini surfactant based organoclays (OMts) for the stabilization of O/W emulsions, different ammonium gemini surfactants with semi-rigid hydrophobic chains and spacer lengths were used for the modification of sodium montmorillionite (Mt). The composition and morphology of the resulting organoclays were characterized by Fourier transform infraredspectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that these surfactants are more efficient than conventional surfactants and hydrocarbon type gemini surfactant analogous in the modification of Mt. An important increase of the d-spacing values was obtained particularly for long hydrocarbon chains and spacers. The OMt's thermal properties and hydrophobicity were also governed by the structure of surfactants. The stabilizing behavior of gemini surfactants, OMt as well as surfactant/OMt mixtures in oil/water (1:1, v/v) emulsions was investigated by macroscopic and microscopic morphological observations. Better stabilization was achieved by G(10-4-10) surfactant bearing decyl chains and OMts with high surfactant concentration. Graphical Abstract


The invention of the smart mobile device has brought significant transformation in our lifestyles, especially among young people who are keen to adopt new technology. Mobile life has changed the way we communicate. It has added a freedom of movement that provides ease of use and a seamless connection to the social world. The smart communication of the youth represents a modern and fashionable lifestyle. The everyday life of the younger generation is undergoing drastic change. Smart mobile devices have brought us great convenience and have met the demands that other tools have been unable to fulfil. In this study we conduct observations, questionnaires and focus group interviews to collect data, with the aim of understanding Hong Kong young people mobile lifestyle transformation brought about by smart communication. We set up a PSDS (people, society, device and service) model with the purpose to better understand the interactive relationship between people and smart mobile devices. The findings implicate inspiration and direction for better user experience design in smart communication.


Recently, people are becoming more interested in the use of energy and ways to maximize the efficiency of such. In this context, high-density and highly efficient heat exchangers are drawing attention. Various methods have been developed for the optimal design of heat exchangers and many are engaged in the development of such. This research shed lights on the numerical analysis research on the stress distribution of Gasket Plate Heat Exchanger using Chevron-type plate from an array of plate heat exchanger.


This paper describes a methodology for the implementation of asynchronous parallel iterative algorithms, which is the domain decomposition method. This approach reduces the cost of synchronization that affects synchronous algorithms. As an application of the proposed approach, the algorithms based on the well-known point-SOR methods are presented in both synchronous and asynchronous forms. Results obtained using the MIMD (Multiple Instruction stream Multiple data stream) superparallel computer are given, for the model problem of the solution of a Poisson equation.


The conical fluid film hybrid journal bearing may be developed as a modification to overcome the adverse effects of cylindrical journal bearing configuration. Hybrid bearing also have a capability to take advantage of simultaneous hydrodynamic and hydrostatic action. This paper aims to study analytically the performance characteristics of a non-recessed, worn hybrid conical journal bearing compensated with constant flow valve as restrictor. The Reynolds equation for conical bearing is developed in spherical coordinate system for governing the flow of iso-viscous incompressible fluid in the clearance space of conical journal and bearing and it is solved by finite element method together with restrictor flow equation. Numerically simulated results indicate that appreciable change in the performance characteristics of worn hybrid conical journal bearing with change in speed parameter and they are expected to be quite useful for the bearing designer.


Prolonged contact with ready mixed cement is a rare cause of severe chemical burns. A 15 year old boy required debridement and skin grafting to a burn on his knee caused by contact with cement. Asa result he lost five weeks from school. We discuss the factors that predispose to this unusual event and pose the question as to why we hear of it so infrequently.


Hydraulic fluids from renewable raw materials are increasingly being used. Besides technical and economical aspects, ecological aspects are in the foreground when using biogenous oils. They are more easily biologically degradable and eco-toxically less harmful than mineral oils. Till now the ecological advantages have not resulted in lower liability insurance rates or in adapted conditions in case of disasters. In order to increase the use of hydraulic fluids from renewable raw materials, research on the appropriate measures to be taken in case of an oil disaster is urgently needed for users, sanitation firms, insurers and legal authorities. Therefore, in this paper, initial results on the environmental effects of hydraulic fluids from renewable raw materials and their effects on the soil (dispersion, degradability and plant toxicity) are reported about.


Abstract Treatment of phosphine, PH3, or bis(pivaloyl)phosphine, (tBuCO)2PH, with {tris[(triphenylphosphine)gold]oxonium} tetrafluoroborate (Ph3PAu)3O+ BF4 − in tetrahydrofuran at −60°C affords small amounts of a tricationic nona-nuclear gold complex {AU[P(AuPPh3)4)2}3 +(BF4 −)3. The low temperature {1H} 31P NMR spectra of this product exhibit an (A4M)2 spin system indicating a highly symmetrical species of D4d or D4h symmetry in solution. The D4h structure, resembling a golden hour-glass, has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction analysis of single crystals (tetragonal space group 14/mmm, Z=2, a=16.878(2), c=30.320(3) A). The trication contains two square pyramidal P(AuPPh3)4 + units P-coordinated to the central Au+ cation.


This paper presents the use of variational geometry theory to calculate the tolerance sensitivities. Due to the lack of mathematical foundation, it has long been a difficult task to calculate how one design constraint variation will affect other constraints (tolerance sensitivity calculations). In the variational geometry–based design environment, design constraints are described with mathematical equations, and tolerances are considered as design constraint variations. Because of the solid mathematical foundation behind the variational geometry, both dimensional and geometric tolerances can be analytically studied, which provides a powerful tool for the variation reduction in vehicle design and manufacturing.


SummaryA controlled randomized clinical study was carried out in ovarian carcinoma stage 3–4 (FIGO) comparing two regimens, HexaCAF (hexamethylmelamine 150 mg/m2 day 1–14, cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 per os day 1–14, methotrexate 40 mg/m2 i. v. day 1 and 8, 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 i. v. day 1 and 8) and HexaCAFt (the same regimen with 5-flourouracil substituted by Ftorafur 600 mg/m2 i. v. day 1–14). Treatment cycles were repeated with intervals of 2–3 weeks up to progression, in responders up to six cycles and succeeding chemotherapy up to one year.HexaCAF used in 29 patients resulted in 10 (34%) complete responses (CR) and 11 (38%) partial responses (PR). HexaCAFt used in 25 patients produced CR in 8 (32%) and PR in 9 (36%) cases. Mean duration of remission with HexaCAF was 17 months, with HexaCAFt 15 months. Gastrointestinal and heamatologic toxicity were similar in both treatment regimens, but HexaCAF required more dose limitations during the course of treatment than HexaCAFt because of increasing haematotoxicity. Thus, substitution of 5-fluorouracil by Ftorafur in the combination studied did not improve the antitumor activity but lowered its toxicity.


BACKGROUND
In vitro analysis has shown that oxidized zirconium on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene has better wear properties than cobalt-chromium on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The purpose of this study was to determine if oxidized zirconium femoral components performed better than cobalt-chromium in vivo and if the use of oxidized zirconium components had clinical adverse effects.

METHODS
Forty consecutive patients (eighty knees) underwent simultaneous bilateral cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis from January 2002 to December 2003. For each patient, the knees were randomized to receive the oxidized zirconium femoral component, with the contralateral knee receiving the cobalt-chromium component. Outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Knee Society score, and British Orthopaedic Association patient satisfaction scale. Radiographic outcomes include the Knee Society total knee arthroplasty roentgenographic evaluation and scoring system and measurement of radiographic wear. Patients and assessors were blinded to the treatment groups and results.

RESULTS
There were no significant differences in clinical, subjective, and radiographic outcomes between the two implants at five days, six weeks, and one, two, or five years postoperatively. At five years following surgery, 38% of the patients preferred the cobalt-chromium knee compared with 18% who preferred the oxidized zirconium knee (p = 0.02) and 44% had no preference.

CONCLUSIONS
Five-year outcomes after total knee arthroplasty with oxidized zirconium and cobalt-chromium femoral components showed no significant differences in clinical, subjective, and radiographic outcomes. Patients had no preference or preferred the cobalt-chromium prosthesis to the oxidized zirconium prosthesis at the time of the five-year follow-up. There were no adverse effects associated with the use of oxidized zirconium femoral implants.


The Protection of fundamental rights is today largely a shared obligation ("obligation partagee") between nation States and supranational institutions. The legal sources on which these institutions operate - the Constitution for national judges and Human Rights charters for supranational courts - differ in their formulation, but aim in substance to the protection of the same interests of individuals, which are conceived as beyond the discretion of public powers within States. The present contribution interrogates the best modalities through which Italian judges - both the Constitutional Court and ordinary judges - can today fulfill this role, in dialogue with European courts and within a horizon of integrated protection of fundamental personal rights in the Italian legal system.


—There are problems of low delivery radio and high transmission delay in Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Networks (a.b. VDTN. To address these problems, this paper proposes a Vehicular Delay-tolerant Network routing algorithm based on Contention (a.b. VDNC). VDTN algorithm consists of three strategies: the intersection selection strategy based on the Manhattan distance and traffic information, the first competitive strategy based on the direction of movement and the second competitive strategy based on the position information. Moreover, traffic light also plays an important role to ease traffic congestion and reduce transmission delay. So an Adaptive Traffic-light Control algorithm based on GreenComputing (a.b. ATCG) is proposed. ATCG algorithm involves the following two parts: the calculation of the optimal sequence and that of the recommended speed. Simulation results show that compared to other traditional DTN (Delay-Tolerant Networks) protocols, VDNC algorithm has a higher delivery rate and lower transmission delay. And meanwhile, ATCG algorithm enables vehicles pass through the intersection with fewer stoppages and shorter waiting time. At the same time, the carbon dioxide emission is also able to achieve a minimum for the purpose of environmental protection. Consequently, the collaboration between VDNC and ATCG can further improve the traffic efficiency in VDTN.


THE roles of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism in the fuel economy of fed, fasting and exercising man1 2 3 have provided an intriguing saga in modern scientific investigation of intermedia...


Introduction Across the globe, many national, state, and district level governments are increasingly seeking to bring about school "self improvement" via the fostering of change, which, at best, is based on or informed by research, evidence, and data. According to the conceptualization of research-informed education as inquiry cycle, it is reasoned that there is value in combining the approaches of data-based decision-making and evidence-informed education. The originality of this paper lies in challenging common claims that teachers' engagement with research supports development processes at schools and pupil performance. Methods To put this assumption to test, a data-set based on 1,457 staff members from 73 English primary schools (school year 2014/2015) was (re-)analyzed in this paper. Not only survey information about trust among colleagues, organizational learning and the research use climate was used (cf. Brown et al., 2016), but also the results from the most recent school inspections and the results from standardized assessment at the end of primary school. Of particular interest was, as to whether the perceived research use climate mediates the association between organizational learning and trust at school on the one hand and the average pupil performance on the other, and whether schools that were rated as "outstanding," "good," or "requires improvement" in their most recent school inspection differ in that regard. Data was analyzed based on multi-level structural equation modelling. Results Our findings indicate that schools with a higher average value of trust among colleagues report more organizational and research informed activities, but also demonstrate better results in the average pupil performance assessment at the end of the school year. This was particularly true for schools rated as "good" in previous school inspections. In contrast, both "outstanding" schools and schools that "require improvement" appeared to engage more with research evidence, even though the former seemed not to profit from it. Discussion The conclusion is drawn that a comprehensive model of research-informed education can contribute to more conceptual clarity in future research, and based on that, to theoretical development.


With the growing importance of GHG reduction, wood pellets are considered as a cheaper renewable energy and carbon neutral. On the other hand, there is a concern that the burning wood pellets may release even more air pollutants such as CO and VOCs. In this study, we analyzed the social costs of bur...


We prove the Faber intersection number conjecture and other more general results by using a recursion formula of n-point functions for intersection numbers on moduli spaces of curves. We also present several conjectural properties of Gromov-Witten invariants generalizing results on intersection numbers.