In the context of Basel II, credit migration matrices have become major components in credit risk management. This thesis is an empirical investigation of various issues that arise in the analysis of credit rating migration. Using the unique and rich internal rating data of a Canadian SME loan portfolio, the thesis investigates credit rating migration from different perspectives. More specifically, the thesis compares and analyzes three multi-state Markov chain estimation methods of migration matrices to accommodate the special features of the internal rating data. The drivers of differences among the three competing methods are investigated theoretically. The statistical and economical differences are examined through non-parametric bootstrap and credit VaR techniques respectively. The underlying assumptions of the three competing methods, time homogeneous first-order Markov chain, are then examined. In the final chapter, the thesis adopts a one-factor model and applies it to our unique internal rating data to forecast migration matrices conditioning on macroeconomic variables. The forecasts are based on different estimation methods of migration matrices. We illustrate the extent to which a one-factor migration matrix could improve the accuracy of the credit loss distribution. Then hypothetical scenarios are selected to evaluate stressed migration matrices with corresponding stressed economic capital.


Chardonnet Jean. The Economie Development of Nigeria. Report of Mission organized by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.. In: Revue economique, volume 7, n°6, 1956. pp. 1041-1042.


The invention relates to a method for structuring a silicon oxide layer. According to said method, a substrate comprising a silicon oxide layer with a mask is provided in a plasma reactor. The silicon oxide layer is exposed to a plasma which is produced from an etching gas containing at least one fluorocarbon compound that is selected from the group consisting of compounds of the empirical formula CxHyFz, wherein x = 1 to 5, y = 0 to 4 and z = 2 to 10. The process is optimised by direct switching between the etching and deposition modes, which is achieved by varying the potential difference between the substrate and the plasma.


Most of the current mosquito prevention and treatment of the general population use of mosquito nets, mosquito swatter, mosquito lamp and other tools, This study use the Solar-Powered Outdoor UV LED Mosquito Trapping System. In addition to the use of reflective optics to expand the range of physical trapping mosquitoes and designed to prevent mosquito escape fan, Furthermore, we used a photocatalyst coating (titanium dioxide) on the mosquito trap to increase the C02 concentration to simulate the human living environment and increase the effectiveness of mosquito trapping. Although, in recent years, temperature, airflow and carbon dioxide concentrations have been developed to attract mosquitoes, related products have been lacking in systematic quantitative analysis and because of the location of the power supply, the location of the placement has been limited. Therefore, the research works using the physical properties of the inducing factor, in a simpler and lower cost to capture the effect of capturing more mosquitoes, is conducive to the public use. The inclusion of light, color and photocatalyst at specific wavelengths to enhance the attractiveness of dengue vector mosquitoes and supplemented by solar powered systems can also be used to improve field-based mosquito traps in the future. The purpose of this study is to expand the range of mosquitoes trapping and to further find ways to more effectively capture mosquitoes [1].


Stroke is one of the leading causes of neurological disability worldwide and stroke patients exhibit a range of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments. GPR88 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is highly expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons; its deletion results in poor motor coordination and motor learning. There are currently no studies on the involvement of GPR88 in stroke or in post-stroke brain function recovery. In this study, we found a decrease in GPR88 protein and mRNA expression levels in an ischemic mouse model using Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. In addition, we observed that, among the three types of cells derived from the brain (brain microvascular endothelial cells, BV2 microglial cells, and HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells), the expression of GPR88 was highest in HT22 neuronal cells, and that GPR88 expression was downregulated in HT22 cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions. Moreover, pretreatment with RTI- 13951-33 (10 mg/kg), a brain-penetrant GPR88 agonist, ameliorated brain injury following ischemia, as evidenced by improvements in infarct volume, vestibular-motor function, and neurological score. Collectively, our results suggest that GPR88 could be a potential drug target for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including ischemic stroke.


The main facade of some of the most important palaces built in Venice along the Grand Canal in the 16th and 17th centuries is crowned by two tall obelisks. The rich architectural Venetian historiography considers them as ornaments. Instead, in origin – as is demonstrated in this essay – they were used as chimneys: the shape of an obelisk is the translation into the "all'antica" style of the, well-known, "Carpaccio" chimney. In the development of the Venetian architectural culture referring to "Antiquity", the problem of architectural chimneys developed in two different ways: the first tried, with every artifice, to remove the chimney from the view of the facade; the second conceived an architectural paradigm where the chimney became a fundamental element of the composition. The two opposite solution now face each other on the Grand Canal, and highlight two different ways of conceiving the principles of "utilitas" and "venustas". Key words: Venice, Venetian Palaces, Renaissance, Treatises, Chimney


Purpose – Experienced fire ground commanders are known to make decisions in time-pressured and dynamic environments. The purpose of this paper is to report some of the tacit knowledge and skills expert firefighters use in performing complex fire ground tasks. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilized a structured knowledge elicitation tool, known as the critical decision method (CDM), to elicit expert knowledge. Totally, 17 experienced firefighters were interviewed in-depth using a semi-structured CDM interview protocol. The CDM protocol was analysed using the emergent themes analysis approach. Findings – Findings from the CDM protocol reveal both the salient cues sought, which the authors termed critical cue inventory (CCI), and the goals pursued by the fire ground commanders at each decision point. The CCI is categorized into five classes based on the type of information each cue generates to the incident commanders. Practical implications – Since the CDM is a useful tool for identifying trainin...


The present invention relates to that, in particular, an organic EL device capable of digital driving, and a manufacturing method of the organic EL. The organic EL device according to this manner in the present invention is an organic EL element consisting of a substrate, anode, hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, an electron injection layer, the negative electrode is deposited in sequence, between the anode and the hole injection layer is configured to contain the interface deterioration preventing layer can be minimized and stable light emitting characteristics of a long life and a voltage increase. Anode, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, an electron injection layer, the cathode


ABSTRACT Along with the increase of population, the need will be increasing as well. In order fulfillment and improvement of people's welfare, development plays an important role. The development contains major changes, which include changes in the economic structure, change the physical territory, changing consumption patterns, changes in natural resources and the environment, and so on. Housing and housing is a basic human need and has a very strategic role in the formation of character and personality of the nation, and needs to be nurtured and developed for the continuation and improvement of the lives and livelihood of the people. Housing and settlement can not be seen as a means of life needs solely, but more than that a man in the process of creating space live life to promote himself, and reveal identity. To ensure legal certainty and order in the home construction can only be done on land owned by the rights over the land in accordance with the legislation in force.


Abstract The current building's energy supply chain model has the characteristics of high complexity, time-consuming, poor accuracy, and high pollution coefficient. In this paper, a renewable building's energy supply chain model based on LCA is proposed. Based on the definition of planned supply chain, procurement, construction and delivery process, the operation reference model of renewable green building's energy supply chain is analyzed. According to the analysis of LCA, the life cycle stage set of renewable green building's energy supply chain is obtained. A renewable green building's energy supply chain model with economic and low-carbon comprehensive objectives is obtained by combining the economic goal-oriented model with the low-carbon goal-oriented model and introducing the life cycle stage set. The experimental results show that the modeling complexity of the model is low and the time-consuming is less. The model fits the actual situation well. The pollution coefficient of the model is smaller than that of the current model. It is practical and provides technical reference for the field of green building.


The decay of the 1 HNO/sub 3/. hyperon is studied within the framework of the chirality-invariant four-fermion interaction. It is shown that the branching ratio of the charged and neutral modes, the s- to p-wave emission, as well as the sign and magnitude of the asymmetry parameter of the p + The effects of /sup-/ decay mode, can be understood on the basis of the V-A theory. Improvements upon the Born approximation, using dispersion theory, indicate that these conclusions are not invalidated by taking into account the pion-nucleon interaction. (auth)


Many public cryptography schemes rely on the use of prime numbers like for encryption and decryption. A prime number is one number that is widely used and large and consists of hundreds of digits, so it takes time to test whether the numbers are prime or not. Miller-Rabin is one algorithm that could be used to test prime number. Simulation to show how to test non-prime number elimination process can be used to determine the workings of the Miller-Rabin algorithm and also could be used as a media learning for students and lecturers to know how prime number test and generation.


Food Quality (LNV) enabled to develop these strategic research lines that are considered critical for addressing key knowledge requirements in public policy making as well as for private sector investments.


Today's rhetoric, unlike classical rhetoric, can be thought of as an "art of communicating" or the "art of human communication". It is a "rhetoric of communication" that studies communication from the viewpoint of rhetoric. If, when examining analogically some studies on communication, we consider the viewpoint of quantum mechanics, we are left with a very interesting angle for comparative rhetoric: a comparison between particle rhetoric and wave rhetoric. These rhetorics show strong similarities with what Foss/Foss call the five rhetorical modes: conquest rhetoric, conversion rhetoric, benevolent rhetoric, advisory rhetoric and invitational rhetoric. In order to face the various conflicts and confrontations of the world in which we are living today, it seems that we ought to use wave rhetoric, as benevolent rhetoric, advisory rhetoric, and particularly invitational rhetoric, rather than particle rhetoric, as conquest rhetoric and conversion rhetoric. Keywords: human communication; quantum mechanics; particle rhetoric; wave rhetoric; rhetorical modes; benevolent rhetoric; advisory rhetoric; invitational rhetoric; conquest rhetoric


This paper is the first of two parts which considers the idea of Meta-Immersion in context to new narrative by examining cinematic contributions framed through Metamodernism. The design of this will consider the films Blade Runner 2049 (dir:Villeneuve, 2017), Hard to be a God (dir:German, 2013), The Turin Horse (dir:Tarr, 2011) and the VR film The Deserted (dir:Ming-Liang, 2017) by establishing a conceptual working model using Meta-Tonic Design which attests to the indicators of new narrative with the additives of Metamodernism. The results of this method will be analysed and discussed in the second paper Modelling Meta-Immersion for Cinematic New Narrative.


This paper studies how to allow a user to specify intuitively the importance of the criteria used to select data. A new graphical component (called sliding query) based on the slide rule metaphor is proposed. A preliminary evaluation has highlighted the potential of this component.


Paper which has as object to transmit the experience about the conformation of a hemispherical network of specialized information, particularly the activities held at national level. In the first part it describes the main characteristics of the system and then states advantages, challenges, compromises and difficulties, that presents the fact of being part of a cooperative project, but also the importance of the communication within the network and outside of it , and the projection of SIDALC. To describe the system, it was taken the information available at the site and other methodological documents.


The Progressive Muscular Dystrophy (PMD) corresponds to a disorder degenerative group, which follows a muscular generalized weakness standard of progressive clinic course, leading to breathing complications. The weakness of the breathing muscles justifies the necessity to evaluate the inspiratory capacity (IC) at these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate IC in patients with PMD by Breathstacking (BS) and Volume Incentive Spirometry (IS) techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 4 children with confirmed diagnosis of PMD (PMD Group) 4 normal children were recruited from a regular primary school (Control Group). In each group measures of the IC were made with both proposed techniques, in which 3 valid measures were done for each participant. The volunteers were positioned seated with supported feet, being with his rectified and supported trunk, hip in 90o of flexion and flexed knees. A descriptive analysis was made. For comparison of the variables in both groups the Mann – Whitney test was applied. For inter-group comparison of the techniques was by the Wilcoxon test, p<0,05 . RESULTS: The selected children had a mean age from 10 to 11 years old and were all males. The volumes reached during the evaluation of the IC by the BS were higher than IS, with significant values only in the Control Group (PMD=BS:2940,0


This paper considers geographical variations in the demand and supply of bank finance for innovative firms in the UK. It uses a detailed survey on the finances of almost 40,000 UK Small and Medium Sized Enterprises for 2011-2013 to investigate both the extent and type of finance for innovative firms in peripheral regions, whether funders accept their applications and whether acceptance rates reflect objective criteria, such as credit scores, or their location. The paper finds evidence of higher demand for bank finance for innovative firms in peripheral areas, but that these firms are also more likely to be discouraged from applying. However, there is strong evidence that innovative firms in peripheral regions are more likely to have their applications for finance rejected, even when controlling for factors such as credit score. These findings suggest that geography does matter in the financing of innovative firms. WP No 15-011 4th Quarter 2015


The sport can be considered a means to develop skills and abilities necessary for human development. It can be understood as a social phenomenon to play an important role in the formation of man and of society. The Pillars of the sport coupled with education and Olympic values, developed in school physical education classes, aims to contribute to human development and the promotion of peace. The aim of this study was to investigate how the Olympic values and the pillars of education can be worked into the physical education classes in order to contribute to the process of human development of students. The literature review was the method used in order to highlight the relationship between sport, education and the Olympic values. Finally, it is of fundamental importance that physical education classes are organized based on the Olympic Education, so that cognitive skills, relational, personal and productive are developed and therefore students can use them in their life every day.


Geochemical reaction modeling plays an important role in geochemical research for the understanding of the species form,distribution,transfer and transport in the reaction systems.This paper introduces briefly its development and application.Meanwhile,according to its recent advances and applications,it reviews in general three aspects:new developing modeling approach,advanced calculation method and move powerful software.Finally,it demonstrates an example of this method used recently in the dynamics of the ore forming process.


Federated learning allows edge devices to learn a shared global model from the client's model parameters while keeping the training data on the device. However, for large models, transmitting all model parameters imposes considerable communication costs, which can be a significant bottleneck in bandwidth-constrained deployments. We present a federated matched averaging algorithm with information-gain based sampling that considerably reduces the number of parameters to be sent by all clients in a federated learning paradigm. Experiments across five benchmark datasets, encompassing symbolic, image and audio data, suggest that our algorithm significantly reduces communication overhead in federated learning settings, without reducing classification accuracy.


Current experimental results on b weak interactions at LEP, SLC, and the Fermilab Collider are reviewed. Most are from LEP and many are preliminary. Where results have since been updated (up to end‐October 1993), the updated values are used in this written version. Topics covered include lifetimes, oscillations and mixing, the strength of the Z0→bb coupling, the forward‐backward asymmetry in e+e−→Z0→bb, b branching ratio measurements, Ξb production, FCNC limits, and Bs0 and B baryon mass measurements.


The invention relates to a press (21) having at least one press frame (9), a table mounted therein and a tappet (5) driven by at least one crank drive (12) for incorporating work tools (15) or for producing work pieces by at least one production method in a tool (15), wherein a tool upper part (6) is arranged on the tappet (5) and a tool lower part (7) is arranged on the press table (8), wherein at least one crank shaft (1) having at least one crank pin (2) and at least one connecting rod (3) is arranged as a crank drive (12) and wherein at least one direct drive, directly driving the crank shaft (1), is arranged as a motor (14) for the crank shaft (1) drive, wherein the motor (14) is arranged substantially adjacent to a crank pin (2) on the crank shaft (1).


This essay is a response to Rob Wegman's 'The Other Josquin', which was published in 2008 in the Tijdschrift van de Koninklijke Vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis. In his article, Wegman tried to demonstrate that certain works, such as the six-voice motet Inter natos mulierum, have unjustly been banned from Josquin's list of works and that an underlying methodological problem continues to distort our view of Josquin's oeuvre. In order to remedy the problem of 'authorship as a truth-claim to be proved or disproved', Wegman introduces the image of an 'other' Josquin. Even though authenticity continues to be a recurring issue in Josquin studies, Wegman's article did not lead to much of a response. The present article retraces Wegman's discussion of the authorship of Inter natos mulierum and takes a closer look at his arguments in an effort to determine if the introduction of 'another' Josquin could be to the benefit of present-day Josquin research, and what the results of adopting such an image might be.


ZnSxSe1-x epitaxial layers have been grown on GaAs (100) substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using Zn-, S- and Se-alkyls. With this source combination, the premature reaction typically encountered in the conventional MOCVD of zinc chalcogenides using Zn-alkyls and H2S or H2Se can be eliminated. The composition of ZnSxSe1-x is easily controlled by the transport rates of S- and Se-alkyls. High crystalline quality of lattice matched samples is evident from the surface morphology and the line width of double crystal X-ray diffraction.


At present, the investment focus of the power grid is from the main network to the distribution network, and the distribution network engineering projects, as an important means to improve the security and stability level of the power grid, the power grid transmission capacity, the equipment health level and reduce the power supply energy consumption, is also a necessary guarantee for the power grid companies to improve the economic benefits, social benefits, and achieve sustainable development. With the continuous improvement of the investment scale of the distribution network, there are still prominent problems, such as insufficient precision of the distribution network cost control and extensive management. Based on the current situation of management and control and the actual situation of typical distribution network project construction, this paper puts forward a calculation method based on the reasonable range of engineering quantity of Chebyshev inequality, which can provide a reference for the subsequent construction of similar projects, and further improve the standardization and standardization level of the company's distribution network project cost management.


Article history: Received: 2 October 2018 Accepted: 15 February 2019 The existence of torsion, as well as consideration of the SoilStructure Interaction (SSI), increase the natural periods of the structure resulting from a subsequent decrease in the seismic demand of the system. This paper summarizes the probabilistic assessment for evaluation of collapse fragility curves in concrete moment resisting structure with different mass center eccentricities. A 12-story, 3-D, moment resisting concrete structure with fixed-base and considering SSI, both types of oneand two-way eccentricities is employed to estimate the collapse fragility curve by the IM-based approach. According to the obtained results, increasing the torsion due to shifting the mass centers decreases the median of the collapse fragility curve. In addition, it was observed that the SSI consideration for soil type D with shear wave velocity of 180m/s to 360m/s leads to reduction of the median of collapse capacity by 30% − 40% in the presence of torsion effect due to oneand two-way mass center eccentricities in range of 0-20% of the building's plan dimensions respectively. In other words, the fixed-base assumption overestimates the median of collapse capacity and leads to unsafe design. Moreover, shifting the mass centers of all the stories up to 20% of the building's plan dimensions, with or without the consideration of the SSI, decreases the median of collapse capacities and increases the seismic vulnerability of the building. Accordingly, the fixedbase assumption can be underestimated the dispersion range of the collapse fragility curve. The result shows that the mentioned differences cannot be neglected.


N THE STUDY THE ANALYSIS OF INDICATORS OF ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE IN INFLUENZA HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE REGULARY INHIBITION OF CERULOPLASMIN WITH A MAXIMUM REDUCTION IN THE ERUPTIVE PHASE OF CLINICAL MANIFESTATION OF INFLUENZA AND REGULAR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY WITH A MAXIMUM VALUE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE DISEASE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. DURING EXTINCTION OF CLINICAL SYMPTOMS, THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE ACTIVITY OF CERULOPLASMIN IN THE BLOOD PLASMA WITH A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN CATALASE ACTIVITY OF ERYTHROCYTES TOOK PLACE. AT THE EARLY CONVALESCENCE STAGE CERULOPLASMIN ACTIVITY IN PLASMA CONTINUED TO INCREASE, AND THE LEVEL OF ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY REMAINED SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED. NORMALIZATION OF ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN RED BLOOD CELLS OCCURRED IN THE EARLY PERIOD OF CONVALESCENCE. CHANGES IN INDICATORS OF THE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE IN THE DYNAMICS OF INFLUENZA DEPENDED ON THE STAGE, SEVERITY AND CHARACTER OF COMPLICATIONS AND CONCOMITANT DISEASES.


tified a case with evidence for MIR-related DITP, with a single agent responsible rather than pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction. To the best of our knowledge, DITP associated with MIR monotherapy, in the absence of other medications and drug-drug interactions, has not been previously reported in the literature. The case also suggests that venlafaxine can be used in place of MIR in cases of DITP. Furthermore, the case illustrates why patient education about possible signs and symptoms of DITP during MIR therapy is important. Finally and perhaps most important, this case report is the second case history reported in PubMed referenced literature, helping to expand knowledge of the potential for DITP when prescribing MIR. It is our hope that this report will help alert clinicians and pharmacists to the possibility of MIR-related DITP and serve as the impetus for further published case reports and clinical studies.


The book is dedicated to the basic questions of public property
legal regulation in the Czech Republic. Special attention is
paid to the state property and the property of territorial
self-governmental units; the matter of public property of other
(selected) Czech public subjects is also included. The book
includes also an excursus on Slovak legal regulation of the
matter.


The aim of the presented research is the development of a linguistic model of the functional concepts topic and focus that can be used in natural language processing systems. The paper deals with two points of investigation: the first point concerns the identification of the topic and focus of an utterance. Within the frame of the linguistic discussion on such concepts topic and focus will be considered as semantic, pragmatic and international rather then as syntactic phenomena. An operational definition of topic and focus is obtained on the basis of basic semantic-pragmatic categories which are defined in relation to a specified context. The second point concerns the integration of the topic and focus identification rules in a system for natural language generation. The aim of the application is the validation of the developed topic and focus model with respect to some aspect of the generation process like thematic progression and accent mapping. Moreover the identification of topic and focus can be used to make prediction about the thematic progression and the accent mapping in the blocks world texts. For the prediction of indefinite pronouns like "one" and of definite articles within a noun phrase it is necessary to recur to the semantic-pragmatic categories.


This paper analyzes the status,contents,requirement and course of process design of bridge crane's box-crossbeam,and discusses the basic requirement of a crossbeam welding CAPP system.Based on open database,by use of Delphi,a crossbeam welding CAPP system is developed.The system can enhance the efficiency of process design,improve the inheritability of process design,and create condition for standardization of process design.


With the promotion of power replacement, shore-to-ship power technology has been in rapid development. By comparing the international and domestic components and ways of supplying electricity of the shore power system, high-voltage power system is selected as the simulation model according to the fact that it is the development trend. Then, the simulation model is established in order to simulate the real-world shore-to-ship power system. Finally, simulation results show that this model can provide a basis for the construction of shore-to-ship power system.


Acute toxicity study was carried out on three most common types of "Gadagi" tea preparations, "sak'',"sada" and "magani".. LD 50 values of each type of the tea were determined. Results of phase I and phase II of the study showed no mortality was recorded in any of the experimental groups of rats in 24hours and up to four weeks after oral administration of 5000mg/kg of each type of the tea. Hence, oral administration of all the "Gadagi" tea preparations studied at a dose of less than or equal to 5000mg/kg (equivalent to 7.90cm 3 , 6.90cm 3 and 8.20cm 3 for "sak", "sada" and "magani" respectively) could be safe. Keywords : Acute Toxicity, Lethal Dose, "Gadagi" tea.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Comments from and conversations with Newton Minow, Frank Michelman, Joseph Singer, Elizabeth V. Spelman, Marc Spindelman, Carol Steiker, and Laurence Tribe gave help, and more questions, as I worked on this piece. Many students offered comments and assistance; I especially wish to thank Manuel Cachan, Julian Castro, Chris Campbell, David Melaugh, Deborah Perlstein, John Pierce, and Michael Siegel. And thanks to Laurie Corzett for help with citations. 1Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1960). Ronald Dworkin and Seth Kreimer both invoke this classic novella in their discussions of physician-assisted suicide. Ronald Dworkin, Law's Dominion at 203 (1995); Seth F. Kreimer, Does Pro-Choice Mean Pro-Kevorkian? An Essay on Roe, Casey, and the Right to Die, 44 Am U L Rev 803, 813 (1995). Dworkin invokes the story to show how people can reflect on their lives and find them wasted; Kreimer emphasizes Tolstoy's message of the possibility of redemption even in the very last moments of life. 2 Hence, his observation, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." J. Donne, Meditation No. 17, in A. Aspa, ed, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions at 86, 87 (1987) (quoted in Vacco v Quill, and Washington v Glucksberg, 117 S Ct 2258, 2293, 2304, 2305 & n 8 (1997) (Stevens, J, concurring in the judgments)).


Abstract Attractants were found for males of 12 moth species: Acronicta grisea Walker, Andropolia contacta Walker, Argyrotaenia dorsalana Dyar, Chrysaspidia putnami (Grote), Chrysaspidia venusta Walker, Eurythmia hospitella Zeller, Exartema appendiceum Zeller, Mutuuraia mysippusalis (Walker), Decodes horarianus Walsingham, Polia atlantica Grote, Sitochroa chortalis Grote, and Pandemis canadana Kearfott. For five of these species single pure compounds were useful attractants, while the remaining seven required binary mixtures whose components when tested singly showed little or no attractancy.


Staining of precious metal plate surfaces has become a critical concern for electroplaters. We must implement drying processes other than CFC displacement. The CFG displacement method did not dry water from the plated surfaces. It simply floated the rinsewater from the surface. Now we must meet the challenge of drying water directly from the plated surface. While staining is a difficult problem, these are some viable solutions. Altos Engineering, Inc., was faced with this issue while developing a chemical-free drying process for several electroplating firms that provide 0.9999 gold-plated components to manufacturers of military and commercial semiconductors


Aluminum(Al) is the most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust.It has been found that Al is a major factor reducing plant growth and crop production in acid soils.However,the mechanism of aluminum toxicity is still not completely clear.In this study,effect of aluminum on guard cell viability was investigated in V.faba leaves.Epidermal strips were obtained by peeling off the lower epidermis from young fully expanded leaves,incubated in 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid(MES) buffer containing some chemicals(AlCl3 with or without some alleviants) for 3 h,and then stained with fluorescein diacetate(FDA) to show cell viability.Alternative staining agents in this experiment include 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA),3-Amino,4-aminomethyl-2',7'-difluorescein diacetate(DAF-FM DA) and fluo-3 acetomethoxyester(Fluo-3AM) to indicate intracellular ROS,NO and Ca2+ levels.The results showed that aluminum treatment significantly decreased cell viability at concentrations of 0.2 to 10 mmol L-1.A synchronous increase in cell death rate and intracellular NO,ROS and Ca2+ levels occurred in V.faba guard cells exposure to aluminum.Typical features of programmed cell death including nuclear condensation,fragmentation and apoptotic bodies were found in Al-treated guard cells,and could be reversed by caspases inhibitor Z-Asp-2,6-dichlorobenzoyloxymethylketone(Z-Asp-CH2-DCB),demonstrating a programmed cell death caused by aluminum toxicity.After application of NO scavenger c-PTIO,NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME or nitrite reductase inhibitor NaN3 to inhibit the elevation of intracellular NO in guard cells evoked by aluminum,Al-induced cell death rate significantly decreased,and the intracellular ROS and Ca2+ levels in guard cells also decreased.NaN3 can also decrease PCD rate in aluminum treatment groups.Antioxidant substance ascorbic acid(AsA) decreased Al-induced cell death and also the levels of intracellular NO and Ca2+ levels in aluminum treatment groups.Application of LaCl3,a plasma membrane Ca2+ channel blocker,significantly decreased Al-induced cell death.Our results suggest that Al-induced cell death in V.faba guard cells could be one kind of programmed cell death mediated by NO generation and activation of cytosolic Ca2+ signaling.


Abstract Poly(2,2-dipropargyl-1,3-propylene benzaldehyde acetal) (PDPBA), a cyclopolymer containing a bulky acetal functional group, was prepared with transition metal catalysts. MoCl5 was found to be the most effective catalyst, and any cocatalyst effect was hardly observed. Polymerization was quantitatively carried out under mild conditions (30°C, M0 = 0.125) with MoCl5-based catalysts. The structure and physical properties of the resulting polymer were investigated. The spectral data indicated that the polymer contains alternating double and single bonds along the polymer backbone and a cyclic recurring unit with spiro acetal group. The polymer was completely soluble in common organic solvents. The M n value of the polymer was in the 70,000 to 80,000 range relative to polystyrene standards by GPC. In addition, the polymer possessed good thermal and oxidative stability. The electrical conductivity of the undoped polymer was 10−12 S/cm.


Auxiliary AC power supply system is an important part in substation.The stable operation of substation equipments depends on reliability of AC power supply system.A new type of such system based on PLC was introduced,both hardware and software of the system were discussed in detail.Using Auto Tumbler Switch(ATS) controlled by PLC,this system can operate in more different modes.According to the reliability,flexibility and facility of PLC,the security problem in traditional auxiliary power system can be overcome.The new system is capable of communicating with remote computers,which is suitable for unattended substation.


Methods Fourteen healthy male volunteers took part in a randomized, placebo-controlled, doubleblind, crossover study to compare the effects of paroxetine and amitriptyline with those of placebo. Each drug was given for 14 days with no washout period between treatments. Paroxetine was given at a dose of 30mg nightly for the full 14 days, while the dose of amitriptyline was increased from 25mg nightly on day 1 to 15Omg nightly on day 5; this dose was maintained for the remainder of the 14-day study.


Air quality is closely related to public health. Health issues such as cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases, may have connection with long exposure to highly polluted environment. Therefore, accurate air quality forecasts are extremely important to those who are vulnerable. To estimate the variation of several air pollution concentrations, previous researchers used various approaches, such as the Community Multiscale Air Quality model (CMAQ) or neural networks. Although CMAQ model considers a coverage of the historic air pollution data and meteorological variables, extra bias is introduced due to additional adjustment. In this paper, a combination of model-based strategy and data-driven method namely the physical-temporal collection(PTC) model is proposed, aiming to fix the systematic error that traditional models deliver. In the data-driven part, the first components are the temporal pattern and the weather pattern to measure important features that contribute to the prediction performance. The less relevant input variables will be removed to eliminate negative weights in network training. Then, we deploy a long-short-term-memory (LSTM) to fetch the preliminary results, which will be further corrected by a neural network (NN) involving the meteorological index as well as other pollutants concentrations. The data-set we applied for forecasting is from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2016. According to the results, our PTC achieves an excellent performance compared with the baseline model (CMAQ prediction, GRU, DNN and etc.). This joint model-based data-driven method for air quality prediction can be easily deployed on stations without extra adjustment, providing results with high-time-resolution information for vulnerable members to prevent heavy air pollution ahead.


The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a series of low-coordinate Fe(II) diketiminate amido complexes are presented. Complexes L R FeNHAr (R ) methyl, tert -butyl; Ar ) para -tolyl, 2,6-xylyl, and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) bind Lewis bases to give trigonal pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal adducts. In the adducts, crystallographic and 1 H NMR evidence supports the existence of agostic interactions in solid and solution states. Complexes L R FeNHAr may be oxidized using AgOTf, and the products L R Fe(NHAr)(OTf) are characterized with 19 F NMR spectroscopy, UV/vis spectrophotometry, solution magnetic measurements, elemental analysis, and, in one case, X-ray crystallography. In the structures of the iron(III) complexes L R Fe(NHAr)(OTf) and L R Fe(O t Bu)(OTf), the angles at nitrogen and oxygen result from steric effects and not (cid:240) -bonding. The reactions of the amido group of L R FeNHAr with weak acids (HCCPh and HO t Bu) are consistent with a basic nitrogen atom, because the amido group is protonated by terminal alkynes and alcohols to give free H 2 NAr and three-coordinate acetylide and alkoxide complexes. The trends in complex stability give insight into the relative strength of bonds from three-coordinate iron to anionic C-, N-, and O-donor ligands.


INTRODUCTION: In the rituximab era, the prognostic influence of bone marrow (BM) infiltration in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been hardly studied. In this retrospective observational study, we aim to investigate the prognostic influence of concordant and discordant BM infiltration in patients with histological diagnosis of DLBCL. In addition, we analyzed the possible clonal relationship between BM and lymph node tumor cells in the cases with discordant histology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed of DLBCL in our center from January 1, 1999 were included in the study. Histological BM infiltration pattern was classified as concordant (DLBCL infiltration) or discordant (small or low-grade B-cell lymphoma) based on the diagnostic reports from the Pathology department. All cases were reviewed for this purpose by an expert pathologist. To further characterize the discordant cases, flow cytometry (FCM) reports of BM infiltration were reviewed. In the discordant cases, the clonal IGH rearrangement was studied in both BM and lymphadenopathy, by amplification of the VDJ genes as recommended in the BIOMED-2 protocol. For survival analysis, only patients treated with R-CHOP or similar were included. RESULTS: 236 patients diagnosed of DLBCL were included in the study; of them, 31 (13%) had concordant histological BM infiltration and 18 (7.6%) discordant. Phenotypic characterization by FCM of the discordant cases was heterogeneous: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (N = 2), follicular lymphoma (N = 5), marginal zone lymphoma (N = 2), non-specific phenotype (N = 5) or non-infiltration (N = 2). Clonality studies were performed in the discordant cases. Good quality DNA was obtained in 17 out of 18 patients. We confirmed the same clone in both BM and lymphadenopathy in 12 patients (70%); different clones were observed in two, and a polyclonal pattern was obtained in the remaining three patients. Survival analyzes were conducted only in the 186 patients treated with R-CHOP or similar. With a median follow up of 58 (1-135) months, PFS was significantly worse in patients with concordant (35% at 5 years, p = 0.001) or discordant (35% at 5 years, p = 0.04) histology, compared to patients without infiltration (64% at 5 years) (Figure 1). OS was significantly lower in patients with concordant histology (53% at 5 years, p = 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between patients with discordant infiltration (62% at 5 years, p = 0.8) and non-affected BM (75% at 5 years). In the multivariate analysis, concordant BM infiltration (HR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.3, p = 0.01) had a negative influence on PFS (but not on OS), independently of the age, ECOG and LDH, while discordant histology was close to statistical significance (RR = 2; 95% CI 0.95 to 3, p = 0.1) CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that BM infiltration, both concordant and discordant, is associated with a lower PFS in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP or similar. Cases with discordant BM infiltration have a very heterogeneous phenotype, but we found a clonal relationship between the two different histologies in a high proportion of cases, indicating a probable histologic transformation from a low-grade lymphoma. Further studies are needed to determine the sequence of biological events that might be involved in this transformation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


On the analysis of 9 isozymes, ACP, ADH, GOT, CAT, MDH, PGM, SKD, MNR and LAP, by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis, the changes of genetic diversity parameters among 6 populations, parental (NS) and progeny (NSP) of natural stands, parental (SO) and later progeny (SOP) of seed orchard and parental (TP) and progeny (TPP) of early testing populations, within a Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) breeding system in Liaoning Province were detected.


We obtain improved regularity of homeomorphic solutions of the reduced Beltrami equation, as compared to the standard Beltrami equation. Such an improvement is not possible in terms of Holder or Sobolev regularity; instead, our results concern the generalized variation of restrictions to lines. Specifically, we prove that the restriction to any line segment has finite p-variation for all p>1 but not necessarily for p=1.


We present a new method to use source-receiver reciprocity to estimate the surface-free impulse response and source signature from the upgoing pressure wavefield. Our method is based on the solution of a bi-convex optimization problem where we seek sparsity and reciprocity for the primaries and Fourier-domain smoothness for the source signature. Tests on synthetic data have shown a strong improvement by virtue of source-receiver reciprocity.


Objective To explore the anesthetic effect of combined general-epidural anesthesia in thoracic operation,the change of blood pressure(BP) and heart rhythm(HR),the condition of postoperative recovery,testify the feasibility and safety of anesthesia.Mehods 40 patients received thoracic operation were randomly divided into the observation group(groupⅠ,n=20) and the control group(gyoup Ⅱ,n=20).The patients in group Ⅰ were treated with combined general-epidural anesthesia,whearas patients group Ⅱ with only general anesthesia.Results The anesthetic effect of two groups was satisfactory.The general anesthesia dosage in group Ⅰ was significantly less than that in group Ⅱ.The time of extubation groupB was longer than that in gyoup Ⅰ.The recurrent rate of fantod and restlessness pain after extubation in group Ⅰ was significantly less than then in group Ⅱ.Conclusions Combined general-epidural anesthesia can effectively decrease the stress response during perioperative period,keep the stable of circulation and anesthesia,rapidly recover after operation.


We have re-visited the existence criterion of the reverse shear Alfven eigenmodes (RSAEs) in the presence of the parallel equilibrium current by numerically solving the eigenvalue equation using a fast eigenvalue solver code KAES. The parallel equilibrium current can bring in the kink effect and is known to be strongly unfavorable for the RSAE. We have numerically estimated the critical value of the toroidicity factor Qtor in a circular tokamak plasma, above which RSAEs can exist, and compared it to the analytical one. The difference between the numerical and analytical critical values is small for low frequency RSAEs, but it increases as the frequency of the mode increases, becoming greater for higher poloidal harmonic modes.


This article discusses the "Good Samaritan" laws coming into being, prompted by the liability issues posed by the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). Good Samaritan laws are intended to protect volunteer bystanders, who come to the aid of an injured or impaired individual, against lawsuits. They are also aimed at protecting emergency service workers when they are off duty.


ABSTRACT To investigate the physiological status of plant following the application of a mixture of organic residues, nitrogen-rich meat powder and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) powder mixed in different proportions as fertilizers were applied to the soil of a hilly area to cultivate young walnut trees under drought and wet soil conditions, respectively. The results showed that the nitrogen-rich fertilizer treatments could significantly increase the soil water content (SWC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil organic nitrogen (SON), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), available P (AP), available K (AK), a high soil organic carbon/nitrogen ratio under soil drought conditions. Moreover, they also significantly improved the soil nutrients contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, especially Ca and Mg in dry soil. Consequently, this nutrient-rich soil greatly promoted the plant branching and thickening with a high net leaf photosynthesis rate (Pn), water use efficiency (WUE), a low transpiration (Tr) under soil drought conditions. We proposed that high soil carbon/nitrogen ratio improved by applying nitrogen-rich fertilizers might weaken top shoot growth and regulate the plant branching and thickening of young walnut trees under deficit irrigation conditions.


In order to strengthen vocational college ideological and political theories teaching target,effectiveness and persuasive,contagious,changing the traditional ideological and political theory course teaching,some drawbacks in ideological and political education,out of the predicament,Beihai Vocational College research group of "research-based teaching in higher vocational education thought political lesson of research and practice" tried out the research teaching in the second semester in school year 2007-2008,and on trial term in early and late period,partial students took part in the questionnaire survey,the survey showed that research-oriented teaching of ideological and political theory in higher vocational colleges was effective teaching method,was worth studying and promoting.


Rheocasting, as a semi-solid process, allows the production of aluminium matrix composites at relatively low temperatures (ca. 580oC), thus favouring a reduced reactivity at the reinforcement-metal matrix interface. When one considers the possibility of further processing (such as any treatment involving remelting, even if partial) of the material, this trait allows a more rigorous control of the interfaces. Composite samples have been produced using as matrix an Al- 7Si-0.3Mg alloy reinforced with SiCp (granulometry: 120 µm; Vr = 0.30). These were rheocast at 583oC, followed by forging and subsequent water-quenching. A structural characterisation (optical microscopy and XRD) of the as-received matrix material, as well as of the reinforced and non- reinforced rheocast material was performed. The phases identification will provide a basis for the understanding of the further processing where the rheocast material will be used as a raw material to produce functionally graded metal-matrix composites by centrifugal casting.


Primary care physicians must conduct a staggering number of comprehensive physical exams and medical record reviews, resulting in demanding daily schedules. Few commercial technologies have been marketed towards the primary care market, which has stifled improvements in disease screening and detection, work flow, and records management, taking time away from interactions with patients. In efforts to improve the quality of care in primary care medicine, we integrated our handheld primary care optical imaging system with Google Glass©, a commercial heads-up display (HUD). The integration of a HUD allows the physician to focus on the patient during the medical history review and during the patient exam, resulting in potential improvements to the quality of care and efficient access to real-time data for display and analysis.


Simple Summary Cats are popular pets, with increases in both the number of households that have cats and the number of cats per household. Cats can also have great negative impacts on wildlife. In Chile, the potential influence of owned cats on wildlife has not been studied, which is why the aim of this study was to investigate the number and type of prey that cats bring home and its relationship with responsible ownership practices. For this, we sent a questionnaire to pet owners across the country. The survey included questions about the type of household and pets, if cats had brought prey back home, and responsible ownership practices. The results showed that from 5216 respondents, 94.3% had a pet; from these, 49.9% had at least one cat. There were on average 2.2 cats per household, and 84.1% of owners reported that their cats had brought back prey. Birds and mammals were the most common type of prey, followed by insects. The lack of responsible ownership practices such as not being registered, not having a litter box, having free access to the outdoors, or living in a house with a garden and providing a hiding place increased the probability of cats bringing back home prey. Abstract The domestic cat (Felis catus) has become a worldwide threat to wildlife. The potential impact of owned cats on wildlife in Chile has not been documented at a large scale. The purpose of this study was to investigate the number and type of prey that owned cats bring back in Chile and its relation with responsible ownership practices. An online survey was distributed to 5216 households that included questions about the type of pet, responsible ownership practices, and in the case of cats, the type of prey they brought home. Descriptive statistics as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied. The results showed that 94.3% of respondents had a pet, and from these, 49.9% had at least one cat. A total of 84.1% of owners reported that their cats had brought back prey. Birds were the most common type of prey, followed by mammals and insects. Not being registered with a microchip, not having a litter box, living in a house with access to a garden, not having a hiding place for the cats, and having free access to the outdoors significantly increased the odds of cats bringing back prey. Body condition score or providing ad libitum food to cats did not have an effect on bringing prey.


The rapid propagation of newly introduced Hosta plantaginea varieties were studied by means of tissue culture.The results showed that introduction medium with MS+6-BA3.0+2,4-D1.0(mg/L) was suitable,had good induced effect to explantation growth out adventitious bud;and subculture medium with MS+6-BA1.0+NAA0.1(mg/L) was the optimum medium,formed tufted seedling is more healthy with this medium;the appropriate rooting medium was MS.


The study aims to investigate the clothing consumption addictive motives. The study convenience sample consists of 1000 customers. 827 questionnaires were collected (319 from Amman and 508 from Guangzhou) , which represent 82.7% of the total sample. This study uses descriptive and analytical, The study found significant effect for motives on addictive consumption for clothing. It also found that addictive consumption for clothing tends to increase in Amman more than Guangzhou.


Abstract This case study set out to investigate value definition in a cross-sector collective focused on strengthening nonprofit services. Moore's public value concept is used to examine how participants defined and constructed collaborative value, and a critical and pragmatic lens based on Flyvbjerg's phronetic science was employed, surfacing findings not initially anticipated. Time emerged as a significant factor shaping collective public value efforts. Temporal structures influenced public problems the collective sought to address as well as problem definitions. Temporal challenges generated administrative concerns and service instability presenting both practical and theoretical implications related to collective impact.


This work endeavors to partially reconstruct some of the rituals that were celebrated in two separate archaeological sites on the edge of the Puruhuay lake (Huari Province, Department of Ancash, Peru) between the end of the Formative Period and the 7th century AD. A change in the ritual practices has been observed during at least two important periods of the sites' occupancy, revealing two different, yet connected ways of celebrating the lake. Since the site is considered the most important paqarina of the area, these episodic rituals have contributed to the construction of a 'Puruhuay mythology' that has persisted even until present day.


One of the many important contributions of second-wave feminist scholarship was the re-positioning of scholarly activity as being necessarily situated in relation to 'I.' This insistence on standpoint, or positionality, was coupled with a contribution from postmodernism, which challenged the notion that (universal) truths could circulate without specific attachments to people and places. Advocacy was a less used word, but the position taken in this paper is that every piece of research, in all science, carries with it the potential for advocacy. Drawing on the author's own experiences of advocacy as interwoven though her career as a lawyer and an academic, this paper examines various aspects of the intersection of advocacy and professional work.


Sustainable construction materials and halogen-free flame retardants are attracting increasing public attention. Poresta systems GmbH, Bad Wildungen, Germany, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Pfinztal, Germany, worked together in a publicly funded project to develop a particle foam based on renewable raw materials. This foam will provide an alternative to oilbased expanded polystyrene (EPS), and will meet the requirements for B2 construction materials according to DIN 4102 without the use of halogen-containing flame retardants. The aim was to develop foam particles from cellulose-based biopolymers, which, like EPS, can be sintered to form a structurally stable component using water vapor. The institute made its comprehensive pilot plant equipment available for extrusion and particle foam production in this project. The industrial partner contributed its long-standing experience in the industrial processing of particle foams and the conceptual design of the related component molds. In order to investigate the processing chain for the manufacture of expandable, biobased pellets and their further processing into components, the raw polymers cellulose acetobutyrate (CAB) and cellulose propionate (CP) were chosen: These are amorphous thermoplastics that are obtained by esterifying cellulose. They generally have a high impact strength and transparency. They are furthermore resistant to stress cracking and weather conditions, have a high tracking index, good electrical insulation properties, high hydrolysis and mineral oil resistance and extensive colorability [1]. Using Potential products made from CAB and CP particle foams. The matrix materials are based on the renewable raw material cellulose, and on eco-friendly additives


Bis(ligand)iron(II) and nickel(II) complexes of the asymmetric tridentate ligand 1,3-bis(pyridin-2-yl) pyrazole , L, have been prepared. The iron(II) complex, [FeL2] [PF6]2, is high-spin in the solid state over the temperature range 304-102 K, with a magnetic moment of 5.27 BM at room temperature. The crystal structure of bis (1,3-bis(pyridin-2-yl) pyrazole )iron(II) bis (hexafluorophosphate ) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The compound crystallized as yellow prisms, with the structure being disordered in the tetragonal space group P421c with Z = 2. Crystal data a = b = 8.785(1) Ǻ, c = 19.804(6) Ǻ. The iron(II) centre is in an N6 environment, where the six donor nitrogen atoms are provided by the two tridentate heterocyclic ligands. The complex cation has an approximately octahedral structure exhibiting tetragonal compression. The observed Fe-N(pyridine) and Fe-N( pyrazole ) distances are 2.308(4) and 2.019(7) Ǻ respectively, with the Fe-N(pyridine) distance being the longest observed to date.


The catalytic activity of several supported catalysts comprising perruthenate anions incorporated into the mesochannels of a series of plugged and unplugged bifunctional periodic mesoporous organosilicas (Ru@BFPMOs) was investigated in the...


A line receptacle device comprising a first housing part, a second housing part, an entry channel for a line and a strain relief device that is configured to move from a first position into a second position, and if configured such that, in the first position the line can be introduced through the entry channel and in the second position the line can be clamped into the entry channel, in which case the strain relief device also has a locking device which, on transition from the first position into the second position, interacts with a retaining device disposed in the first housing part and the second housing part such that the housing parts are locked together.


Background Increasing evidence documents the fact that individuals whose blood pressure drops or 'dips' relatively little at night have a higher risk of numerous cardiovascular illnesses. Objective To examine the reliability of various measures of nocturnal blood pressure dipping. Methods This study examined 17 individuals with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on three 24 h recordings while they pursued a schedule similar to that of in-patients on a clinical research unit. Nocturnal dipping of blood pressure was scored three ways: as the drop in blood pressure between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. ('clocktime'), as the drop in blood pressure tailored to each individual's reported bedtime ('bedtime'), and as the drop in blood pressure accompanying polysomnographically verified sleep ('sleeptime'). Results Adequate reliability was obtained for all three measures of dipping. There was, in general, a significant correlation across testing occasions (P  < 0.05). The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.5 to 0.8, depending on which criterion of dipping was selected and whether the endpoint was systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or mean arterial blood pressure. Conclusions The reliability of systolic blood pressure dipping was somewhat lower than that of diastolic or mean arterial blood pressure dipping. Dipping appears to be a reliable construct. While no one definition of dipping was demonstrably better than another, the most sensible definition of dipping would allow some adjustment for defining 'night' on the basis of each individual's idiosyncratic bed time.


Abstract: The development of molecular biology in the late 1980s, the recent publication of the chicken genome sequence and the development of new bioinformatics tools were major scientific advances leading to the characterisation of several egg components previously unidentified. Using recent data on the characterisation of egg proteins, the chapter describes the most recent developments in egg biochemistry (proteomics), and molecular biology (transcriptomics). The newly identified molecules will stimulate research in understanding avian biology and identifying biologically active compounds of potential interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.


Freshwater algal blooms associated with outbreaks of sudden death in ducks and swine were examined for cholinesterase (ChE)-inhibiting toxins as the possible cause of death. In both investigations, Anabaena flos-aquae was identified as the predominant alga in the bloom material. In both cases, assays on tissues from mice dosed intraperitoneally with algal extracts revealed inhibition of ChE in whole blood, plasma, diaphragm and lung, but not in brain. With algae from the field case involving ducks, toxicosis was experimentally reproduced by oral intubation in ducks and swine, but not in mice and a steer. However, the steer, as with other species, was susceptible to toxicosis induced by parenteral administration of an algal extract. Assays on tissues from affected animals revealed inhibition of ChE in whole blood, plasma, red blood cells, diaphragm, lung and pectoral muscle, but not in brain or retina. In vitro electric eel (EC 126.96.36.199) ChE assays with HPLC-purified extracts of the same alga revealed direct inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Clinical signs in all animals were compatible with muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic stimulation. Death of exposed animals is an apparent result of peripheral ChE inhibition.


The strokes pf raindrops and the heavy rain make the aircraft surface rough and result in the momentum loss and the drag increase. Hence the air dynamic performance of the aircraft is affected. The influences of the heavy rain on the flight accident from the windshear are evaluated based on the analysis of the aircraft momentum loss by the strokes of raindrops. 


Two experiments evaluated the effect of role assignment on intergroup bias. A social categorization model (Brewer & Miller, 1984) predicts a reduction in bias when the basis for assignment to task roles or subgroup composition in a contact situation is category independent (cross-cut) rather than category related (convergent). Conversely, a model based on social identity theory (Brown & Wade, 1987; Deschamps & Brown, 1983) suggests that when distinct task role assignments converge with category membership, threat to group identity and consequent intergroup bias will be reduced. To clarify these conflicting predictions, we created a cooperative contact setting in which members of two experimentally created groups worked together as a team. During the team membership phase, work roles either converged with or cross-cut initial group membership. Experiment 1 supported the predictions of the social categorization model; subjects in the cross-cut condition perceived greater similarity among team members and, in turn, showed less intergroup bias in reward allocation, than did those in the convergent condition. Two variables hypothesized to account for this outcome were the absence of negative task attitudes and the opportunity for personalization. In Expt 2, procedures likely to increase negative task attitudes and reduce personalization were inserted into the procedure of both conditions in an experimental design that paralleled that of Expt 1. Under these conditions, the differential effects of role assignment were eliminated. Taken together, these studies suggest that cross-cutting role assignment will reduce intergroup bias when it is implemented in a manner that does not arouse negative task attitudes but does provide opportunity for personalization of team mates.


I. Theoretical Considerations Shlomo Biderman & Ben-Ami Scharfstein, "Is it All Our Fancy?" Stanley Rosen, 'The Whole Story.' Eliot Deutsch, 'Truth and Mythology.' Lenn E. Goodman, 'Mythic Discourse.' Ben-Ami Scharfstein, 'How to Justify the Reductive Explanation of Myths.' Lawrence J. Hatab, 'Evolution and Creation: A Heideggerian Response.' Charles Crittenden, 'Myths, Stories and Existence: Spirituality Without Belief.' Peter J. McCormick, 'Fictions of Modernity: On the Views of Charles Taylor and Stephen Toulmin.' II: Historical dimensions Laurie L. Patton, 'Beyond the Myth of Origins: Narrative Philosophizing in Vedic Commentary.' Francisca Cho Bantly, 'Myth and Cosmology in the Book of Poetry.' Joseph Agassi, 'Halakhah and Aggadah.' John Addison Dally, 'Once More, with Feeling: Sex, Death and New Birth in the Gospel of John.' Donald S. Lopez, Jr., 'The Institution of Fiction in Mahayana Buddhism.'


The morphology of conjugated polymer thin films has been controlled by exploiting the processes giving rise to solvatochromism in the initial polymer solutions from which the polymer films were deposited by spin coating. The material used was the substituted polythiophene, 3[2(S2-methylbutoxy)ethyl]-polythiophene. Starting with polymer dissolved in "good" solvent, various quantities of "bad" solvent when added lead to the reorganization of the solubilizing side chains attached to the conjugated polymer backbone. Ordering of these side chains increases with addition of bad solvent decreasing the flexibility of the backbone, yielding more rigid rodlike polymer chains. This in turn causes aggregation and finally precipitation. It is found that this molecular order can be transferred from solution to solid film during the spinning process, ascertained from optical spectroscopy. With these films acting as the active layer in a field-effect transistor structure, the mobility of the carriers injected into the films can be measured. It is found that as the molecular order and aggregation increases, carrier mobility decreases from -10V5 cm2 V-' s-l to G 10e8 cm2 V-' s-l in films displaying the highest degree of molecular order. This is ascribed to the increased interchain separation in the ordered systems along with effects due to macroscopic aggregate grain boundaries.


Background: This study evaluated regional and global strain in subendocardial (s-endo) and subepicardial (s-epi) layers of the left ventricular (LV) wall on high frame rate high resolution images f...


Abstract : The objective of this program was to study and identify the basic mechanisms which can improve the toughness of alloys based on the intermetallic compound Ti3A1. The improved properties offered by these alloys will increase their potential for application in rotating components and critical static parts in advanced aircraft engines. The program was conducted in two separate phases which addressed iterative alloy/processing studies as well as alloy scale up concerns. In the first phase of the program, the effects of solid solution alloying, tough second phase, and dispersoid additions were evaluated in parallel tasks. Subsequently, alloys were designed to make use of additive and/ or synergistic effects by combining the various alloying and processing concepts. In the second phase of the program, three of the more promising compositions were selected for scale up and further microstructural and property evaluations. Keywords: Titanium alloys, Alpha-2, Fracture toughness, Microstructure, processing properties.


A subgroup $H$ of a group $G$ is confined if the $G$-orbit of $H$ under conjugation is bounded away from the trivial subgroup in the space $\operatorname{Sub}(G)$ of subgroups of $G$. We prove a commutator lemma for confined subgroups. For groups of homeomorphisms, this provides the exact analogue for confined subgroups (hence in particular for URSs) of the classical commutator lemma for normal subgroups: if $G$ is a group of homeomorphisms of a Hausdorff space $X$ and $H$ is a confined subgroup of $G$, then $H$ contains the derived subgroup of the rigid stabilizer of some open subset of $X$. We apply this commutator lemma to the study of URSs and actions on compact spaces of groups acting on rooted trees. We prove a theorem describing the structure of URSs of weakly branch groups and of their non-topologically free minimal actions. Among the applications of these results, we show: 1) if $G$ is a finitely generated branch group, the $G$-action on $\partial T$ has the smallest possible orbital growth among all faithful $G$-actions; 2) if $G$ is a finitely generated branch group, then every embedding from $G$ into a group of homeomorphisms of strongly bounded type (e.g. a bounded automaton group) must be spatially realized; 3) if $G$ is a finitely generated weakly branch group, then $G$ does not embed into the group IET of interval exchange transformations.


This paper explores heteronormativity and argues for the 'queerying' of gender in early childhood education. The author argues, utilising Butler's theory of performativity and heterosexual matrix, that the construction of gender in young children's lives requires an analysis of the normalising practices in which gendered identities are simultaneously heterosexualised. It is upheld that the dominant discourse of childhood in conjunction with developmentalist theory render sexuality as irrelevant to children's lives, thus resulting in a radical silencing and dismissal of how children become sexualised subjects. Thus these discourses operate to render invisible the process of heteronormativity operating in children's lives, including in early childhood educational contexts. It is argued that, if the intimate relationship between gender and sexuality is not incorporated into understandings of constructions of gendered identities, we will continue to get only a partial perspective of what is happening in this process


Organisations are, made up of people and function through people. Without people organisations cannot exist. The resources of men, money, materials and machinery are collected, coordinated and utilized through people. These resources by themselves cannot fulfill the objectives of an organisation. They need to be united into a team. It is through the combined efforts of people that material and monetary resources are effectively utilized for the attainment of common objectives.


Using a model of a non-spherical dust shell consists of test particles falling into a Kerr black hole, we study gravitational waves in Brans-Dicke theory of gravity. We assume that each test particles plunge with a constant azimuthal angle, and calculate the emitted energy of both scalar and tensor modes of gravitational radiation. We gure out when the scalar modes dominate, changing Kerr parameter a and shell connguration. When a black hole is rotating, the tensor modes do not vanish even for a \spherically symmetric" shell, instead a slightly oblate shell minimizes their energy but with non-zero nite value, which depends on a. As a result, we nd that the scalar modes dominate only for highly spherical collapse, but they never exceed the tensor modes unless the Brans-Dicke parameter ! BD < 750 for a=M = 0:99 or unless ! BD < 20; 000 for a=M = 0:5, where M is mass of black hole. We conclude that the scalar gravitational waves with ! BD < several thousands do not dominate except for very limited situations. Therefore presice observation of polarization is also required when we determine the theory of gravity by the observing of gravitational waves. Currently, a number of worldwide projects for detecting gravitational radiation directly using a km-scale laser interferometer such as LIGO 2 , VIRGO, GEO, and TAMA are progressing. These direct detections of gravitational waves will enable us to see strong gravitational phenomena such as coalescence of compact stars or black holes. By observing gravitational waves, we expect to extract many parameters of sources. Here, we examine an alternative information in waveform of gravitational waves; whether we can nd some evidence for alternative theories of gravity instead of general relativity. Especially, we consider the Brans-Dicke (BD) theory 3 of gravity, which is the simplest and prototype among all scalar-tensor theories of gravity. We know the recent strictest bound 4 for BD theory is to the BD parameter ! BD > 500.] In BD theory, gravitational waves have three modes, i.e., a scalar mode, which we call a scalar gravitational wave (SGW), as well as two tensor modes (+ and modes) of conventional gravitational waves, which we shall call tensor gravitational waves (TGWs) here. To nd the expected templates of SGWs, Shibata, Nakao and Nakamura 5 calculated the waveform of SGWs from spherically symmetrical dust uid collapse and concluded that the advanced LIGO may detect SGWs …


Introduction : Falls are common among the elderly. They regard about 30% of the over-65 each year, with serious consequences in terms of morbi-mortality and major socio-economic impacts. Fall management must be precocious, coordinated and multidisciplinary. The aim of this work was to investigate possible difficulties for the general practitioner in his practice. Material and methods : An observational descriptive epidemiological study was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire sent to the general practitioners in Amiens Metropolis. We decided to evaluate their potential difficulties in care of the falling elderly, to describe their practice and the main solutions considered to improve their exercise. Results : The participation rate was 29,9% (53/177). 37,7% (n = 20) of physicians reported difficulties. These difficulties were related to the patient (environment, isolation, trivialization of falls, iatrogeny), to the access to balance and rehabilitation structures, or regarding coordination between stakeholders. In most of the cases, general practitioners did not agree with the recommendations, particularly regarding preventive measures and reevaluation. This was due to the complexity and importance of the prevention, the time-consuming nature of the practice and the trivialization of the falls by the doctor and his patient. The solutions reported to improve the practice were : environmental adaptation, iatrogenic control, time-consuming care and the need for a standardized strategy with clear recommendations. Conclusion : The general practitioner cannot take care alone of elderly patients fallers. A dedicated hospital consultation for falls can be beneficial for patients but requires an effort of information, coordination and communication.


In order to study the effect of different methods of estrus synchronization on the pregnant rate of embryo transplantation, recipient cows were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 were once muscle injected PGF2α,Group 2 were injected PGF2α twice, Group 3 were implanted CIDR and injection PGF2α。 the results showed that the rate of synchronous Estrus of nulliparity cows was 85.9% ,It was higher than 64.1% of multiparity cows and multiparity cows nursing calf more than 3 months higher than that less than 3 months。 Under feedlot condition, the rates of synchronous Estrus of cows treated by CIDR in combination with PGF2α was 91.4%, The rates of eligible recipients for embryo transfer of cows treated by CIDR in combination with PGF2α was 74.3%, It were obviously higher than these of cows treated with only once PGF2α or twice treatment with PGF2α. The onset of Estrus in recipients treated by CIDR in combination with PGF2α was 12 hours early and higher rate of synchronous Estrus than that that of twice treatment with PGF2α. CIDR in combination with PGF2α and twice treatment with PGF2α had not influence on the pregnancy rate of recipients.


Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivated under the wide range of agro-climatic conditions all over the world including India. It is primarily cultivated as a kharif crop but presently, it is also being popularized as an important Rabi and summer crop in certain parts of the country depending upon the environmental conditions and irrigation facilities. It is grown for human consumption as it provides high quality of staple food among rural masses. Maize suffers from number of insects and diseases caused by fungus, bacteria and nematodes (Koshy and Swarup, 1971; Mehta et al., 2015). Nematodes also interact with other disease causing agents (pathogens and soil insects) and adversely affect the quantity and quality of maize production. Among nematodes, maize cyst nematode, Heterodera zeae is considered to be the most important nematode pest of maize in India (Kaushal et al., 2007; Meena et al., 2013). Srivastava and Chawla (2005) reported yield losses of maize to the extent of 17-29% by maize cyst nematode, H. zeae in India at varied inoculum levels and soil conditions. Looking to the importance of maize cyst nematode, Heterodera zeae, number of management practices have been developed and included in package of practices on maize, however, work on eco-friendly management of Heterodera International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 06 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com


Wavefront sensing using a Shack-Hartrnann sensor relies on the accuracy of the centroid estimation. The traditional process however suffers from several problems. A modelfitting procedure is shown to have superior performance.


In this work, we study on a category of topological semi-abelian algebras which are topological models of given an algebraic theory T whose category of models is semi-abelian; and investigate some results on the coverings of topological models of such theories yielding semi-abelian categories. We also consider the internal groupoid structure in the semi-abelian category of T-algebras, and give a criteria for the lifting of internal groupoid structure to the covering groupoids.


We are proud of Challenges in Sustainability's (CiS) fruitful start. A variety of quality research articles, editorials and notes have been published on a range of themes and topics, including sustainability governance [1], improved cookstoves [2,3], the potentials of 3-D printing in the global South [4], and the need for consiliences between the natural and social sciences and the humanities [5], to name just a few. Furthermore, despite the journal's short history, we are pleased with its high visibility, where numerous articles have been viewed or downloaded over 1200 times since publication. The high exposure rate and the quality of publications affirm our aspirations for stable growth and development in the future.


The implications of integration among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations go beyond economics. Several ASEAN countries rank human capital as among their most valuable assets. This event signals shifts in human resource movements. A regional education system transcending national boundaries is an eventuality within the ASEAN. Such a system can best be expedited through open, distance and eLearning or ODeLA scoping study was conducted to: provide describe the state of play of ODeL within and among ASEAN countries; to identify needful national or regional ODeL policies that may facilitate ASEAN Integration; and to identify efforts that are underway within and among ASEAN that is consistent with ODeL adoption. The scoping study was guided by the current discourse on: the mainstreaming of ODeL; the focus on higher education; and the education dimension of ASEAN Integration. It adopted an integrated multi-level mixed methods design making use of quantitative methods, qualitative procedures and anticipatory methods, the latter two as aids to internal validity and depth of analysis. The study found that within ASEAN nations, open, distance and eLearning is being mainstreamed into higher education and will become a major mode of delivery in open universities as well as residential institutions in the future. It also found that perceptions on ODeL are quite positive across ASEAN and that there is a significant demand for ODeL programs at the higher education level. Furthermore, it was perceived that ODeL can promote ASEAN Integration because it fosters understanding among its multinational students who may eventually become the leaders of ASEAN tomorrow. The scoping study maintains that quality in ODeL is a function of content, delivery, pedagogy and assessment as seen from the lens of open education, distance learning and ICTs. Quality in ASEAN ODeL implies content infused with ASEANization themes, i.e. identity, community and a sense of self. It means a diversity of delivery platforms and pedagogies and supports the availability of multiple outcome-based assessment models. Open, Distance and eLearning for ASEAN Integration


educed, degraded and fragmented by c lear-felling for human settlements, shifting agriculture and massive extraction of non -timber forest products (NTFPs), particularly Zalacca secunda, an e ndemic stemless rattan palm. There are 12 villages with a population of 4191 in the northwestern periphery and 13 villages with a population of 5147 in the southeastern periphery of the park. The core zone of the park has two major Lisu local settlements with a total of 43 households. The local people totally depend on the nature reserve for their livelihood. This article focuses on the humangenerated threats (due to immigration pressure and its consequences manifesting as clear -felling for settlements and agriculture, overharvesting of NTFPs, hunting and poaching of rare and e ndangered fauna, uncontrolled fishing in the river, etc.) to biological diversity in the nature reserve. For better management of Namdapha nature reserve, approaches like formation of biodiversity management committees in the fringe villages, creation of a buffer zone in the southeaste rn boundary of the park, resettlement of encroached communities in the core zone, provision of alternative conservation options (substitutes for roofing and fuelwood) and deployment of more field staff for better patrolling are recommended. BIOLOGICAL resources are the basis of life in the tropical world. The process of industrializa tion and urbanization tends to damage this vital resource base that could be di sastrous to the human race. In view of biological conserv ation and to minimize degradation of na tural ecosystems, protected areas have been established that cover about 5% of the world's land area


A device for booting a handheld apparatus by sound detection includes a base, a power-on device, a trigger switch, and an acoustic sensor. Upon the handheld apparatus being placed at the base to trigger the trigger switch, the trigger switch controls the power-on device to power on the handheld apparatus. After the handheld apparatus is powered on, the acoustic sensor detects a sound of the handheld apparatus and then controls a pressure head of the power-on device to move away. The device and its method for booting a handheld apparatus by sound detection come with the advantages of a simple and easy operation and a high efficiency.


Character education was popular in America in the early 20th century.But later it was criticized,and then was replaced by other values education,such as Values Clarification.Because of the failure of the other values education,character education revived in the eighties.It developed a lot in order to fit for the present society.The paper studies American character education,the contents and methods so that we can gain some inspiration to develop our moral education.


Photograph of an interior view of Robert P. Woltz Jr.'s office building. It is a small one-story building with exterior windows, an entrance, and a garden outside. There are four men working at drafting tables, and there is a refrigerator in the background.


The purpose of the scientific article is to form the tactics of interrogation of a suspect in criminal proceedings, taking into account the practice of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Achieving this goal led to the solution of the following tasks: to outline the importance of the practice of the European Court of Human Rights during the interrogation in criminal proceedings; to analyze certain decisions of the ECHR, which determine the tactics of interrogation of a suspect in criminal proceedings; to identify typical violations of the rights and freedoms of the suspect in accordance with the decisions of the ECHR, which led to the inadmissibility of tactics; to provide practical recommendations on the tactics of interrogation of a suspect in criminal proceedings, taking into account the practice of the ECHR. Methodology. Methodological tools are selected in accordance with the purpose, specifics of the object and subject of the research. The general dialectical method of scientific cognition is decisive. General scientific methods were also used, in particular, method of induction (in order to learn the techniques used in the interrogation of a suspect by law enforcement agencies, covered in the practice of the ECHR), and method of generalization (having research individual decisions of the ECHR in their entirety, it became possible to improve the criteria for the admissibility of tactics during the interrogation of a suspect). Among the special research methods the following are used: method of comparative law – during the analysis of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and scientific categories; system-structural method – to form practical recommendations for compliance with the criteria of admissibility of tactics during the interrogation of a suspect in accordance with the decisions of the ECHR. The scientific novelty is to provide practical recommendations on the tactics of interrogation of a suspect in criminal proceedings, taking into account the practice of the ECHR. Conclusions. It has been found that the practice of the ECHR refers to the legal sources of forensic tactics; the tactics used in the tactics of interrogation of the suspect must meet the admissibility criteria, primarily taking into account the principle of legality, which is detailed in the decisions of the ECHR; violation of the criteria for the admissibility of tactics is due to cases of admission by law enforcement agencies to interrogated violations, which are identified in the decisions of the ECHR: the use of torture, the threat of torture to the interrogated persons and their relatives. It has been proven that the case law of the ECHR additionally guarantees human rights and freedoms by preventing law enforcement agencies from committing acts that violate the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.


The legislative framework for the energy market in Turkey has been changing rapidly over the last few years with further progress made towards harmonising Turkey's legislation with the Community's energy aquis. Yet there are still shortcomings in the functioning of the market, such as the effectiveness of regulation, price trends and loss rates. Moreover, there are still regulatory restrictions on cross-border trading, although the technical preparations to connect the Turkish grid to Europe are advancing well. In all energy sub-sectors, further efforts are needed to guarantee alignment with the acquis. Nevertheless, if the proposed changes – including the privatisation of electricity generation – are fully implemented and cross-border trade is liberalised, Turkey soon may be integrated into the EU's energy system even in advance of full membership. Yusuf Işık is Advisor to Kemal Derviş (Member of Parliament and former Minister of State for Economic Affairs) and former Head of the Strategic Research Department of the State Planning Organisation of Turkey. EU-Turkey Working Papers No. 9/October 2004 Centre for European Policy Studies EU-Turkey Working Papers are the product of a joint project of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Brussels, and the Economics and Foreign Policy Forum, Istanbul, entitled: Strategy for the EU and Turkey in the Pre-Accession Period Launched in August 2004, this new publication series covers both political themes (democracy and domestic governance, justice and home affairs, foreign and security policies) and economic policy (macroeconomics, banking, energy, agriculture and the EU budget). The working papers will form the basis of a book, integrating all these aspects of Turkey's EU candidacy. These materials will be presented for public debate at conferences to be held in Brussels on 27 September and in Istanbul on 8 November. CEPS is also electronically publishing a monthly Turkey in Europe Monitor, which is freely accessible at www.ceps.be. CEPS and EFPF gratefully acknowledge financial support for this project from the Open Society Institute of Istanbul, Akbank, Coca Cola, Dogus Holding and Finansbank.


Network management represents one of the most challenging activities in tactical mobile ad hoc networks due to the need for rapid planning and configuration to support a given mission, in the face of large variability in wireless network performance and unpredictable conditions. Traditionally, independent tools, such as network planning and configuration, fault and performance management, and middleware have been designed to provide comprehensive network management capabilities. However, the lack of any integration between these tools often results in sub-optimal or conflicting network actions, conducting to inadequate network performance. More importantly, state of the art network management tools do not incorporate the mission intent into autonomous network management activities. This paper describes the TITAN (Tactical Information Technologies for Assured Networks) NM (Network Manager), an integrated network management tool that orchestrates and coordinates its actions such that network planning, configuration, fault response and performance adaptation take place seamlessly and coherently, on the basis of the mission intent. This ensures optimized network operations that achieve the intent of the mission. We present performance evaluation results for the TITAN NM in field experiments performed during C4ISR 2011 On-The-Move exercises at Fort Dix, NJ.


Control the colored state of each pixel in an appropriate state, and gray-scale display or a high speed and a display device which can display with low power consumption. Applying a predetermined voltage to each pixel, and a driving method of a display apparatus to deposit the metal, dissolved to display an image. It was added and the pulse voltage or an AC voltage having an amplitude below threshold which metal is deposited, at this time is controlled according to the pulse or erase pulse to the write current flowing. Or, after carrying out a write, and the additional write pulse when said current value was below a predetermined value. And further, detects the state of the pixel by said current value, and accordingly selects a re-write operation. Metal precipitation, dissolving, coloring, the voltage pulse, the electrolyte layer, the write, erase, gray-scale display


Rheological studies of soils were carried out by S.S. Vyalov, M.N. Gol'dshtejn, N.N. Maslov, G.I. Ter-Stepanyan, S.R. Meschyan, A.L. Gol'din, Z.G. Ter-Martirosyan and many others. On the basis of existing rheological soil models, a new universal rheological equation was proposed in Ter-Martirosyan's dissertation, which allows describing kinematic shear, creep and stress relaxation at the same parameters. Experimental studies of the soil were carried out in a simple shear device in a kinematic loading mode at a shear displacement rate u̇= 0.05 mm/min and at two values of compaction loads (σ1 < σ2). Based on the results of the experimental studies, the parameters of the elastoviscoplastic model were determined and graphs of the dependence of shear stresses on time were plotted, which clearly show the high convergence of the experimental and theoretical curves.


Climate exhibits a vast range of dissipative structures. Some have characteristic times of a few days; others evolve over thousands of years. All these structures are interdependent; in other words, they communicate. It is often considered that the only way to cope with climate complexity is to integrate the equations of atmospheric and oceanic motion with the finest possible mesh. Is this the sole strategy? Aren't we missing another characteristic of the climate system: its ability to destroy and generate information at the macroscopic scale? Paleoclimatologists consider that much of this information is present in palaeoclimate archives. It is therefore natural to build climate models such as to get the most of these archives. The strategy proposed here is based on Bayesian statistics and low-order non-linear dynamical systems, in a modelling approach that explicitly includes the effects of uncertainties. Its practical interest is illustrated through the problem of the timing of the next great glaciation. Is glacial inception overdue or do we need to wait for another 50,000 years before ice caps grow again? Our results indicate a glaciation inception in 50,000 years.


In recent years, as the customer`s demand is hard to please, the interest in design and health is increasing along with that of high performance in home appliance industry. Thus, the noise and the slimming down are most important yardstick that can determine the quality of the home appliance. Especi...


Abstract : Diatom cell walls have many potential applications. So far large-scale tests on applications have been conducted using diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized diatom cell walls, which have non uniform size with a lot of debris and a large variability from batch to batch; these attributes prevent development of a standardized process. To our knowledge this effort was the first attempt to produce kilogram quantities of cell walls of a single species of diatom. Our goal was to produce 1.08kg of clean diatom cell walls for 6 species of diatoms that have different size and shape. We produced 8.5 kg of clean diatom cell walls from 7 different species of diatoms. This effort provides proof-of-principle that diatom cell walls can be produced at large scale. The key areas for additional development are further improvements in the process used to clean the cell walls, and cultivation of more species to expand the size and shape of available diatomcell walls.


This paper reports a means of improving the abnormal noise of light tactical vehicles (LTVs) by applying a vehicle fitting type generator (hereinafter called generator). LTVs are classified as having generators, and there are no differences in the noise level. On the other hand, quality improvement was performed in response to unpleasant noise felt by the user (hereinafter called abnormal noise) during vehicle operation. To improve the quality, the generator mounting structure and the phenomenon of the vehicle in the problem were identified. Through this, it was confirmed that the noise caused by the generator installation was the rattle noise. Rattle noise at the engine driving system is normally caused by the transfer of irregular torque generated by the engine power stroke and the backlash by the spline-serration fitting structure between the engine coupler and rotor assembly in a generator. Therefore, this study established an improvement plan to apply a damper coupler to solve the cause of the abnormal noise. Regarding the improved establishment method, the improvement effect was confirmed from the influence of the irregular torque of the engine, noise level, dynamic characteristics analysis, and the endurance test of the parts.


Bicyclists need to be taken into consideration when planning, designing, constructing and reconstructing, or maintaining our transportation infrastructure. The bicycle circulation system primarily consists of existing roadways and off-road bicycle facilities. While roads and off-road facilities are both important for bicycle travel, roads are the key element because the road network exists, is extensive, and provides access to most destinations. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has begun to take the necessary steps in recognizing the existing roadway system as the key element in accommodating bicycle travel throughout the Commonwealth. Limited research indicates that bicyclists are more comfortable riding on a roadway that has sufficient lateral space to minimize interaction with motor vehicles, and lower motor vehicle speed. The same is true for trucks and other heavy vehicles, such as buses, which take up more lateral space and may crowd a bicyclist on a roadway more than a standard passenger vehicle. Other factors including pavement condition, the number of curb cuts for driveways, intersections, and parking turnover may also affect bicycle travel on a roadway. A methodology to evaluate some of the primary factors affecting bicycle travel on roadways has been developed as part of the Massachusetts Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan. The methodology described in this paper can be incorporated into current transportation planning activities to give an initial indication of where roadway improvements to better accomodate bicycle travel are most applicable.