OBJECTIVE: To determine in nonresearch, general medical practice conditions the comparative incidence and types of bleeding complications after the use of streptokinase (SK) and r-alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, rt-PA) to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review of concurrently treated patients (96-hour observation posttreatment) in 32 participating hospitals in the US. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The medical record description of all bleeding events regarding the body site affected, changes in hemoglobin concentrations, blood products administered, and clinical outcome (permanent sequelae or death). Bleeding severity was determined by defined criteria. CONTROL DATA: Comorbidity and concomitant medications (e.g., aspirin, heparin, warfarin) likely to predispose or contribute to bleeding events were analyzed. DATA ANALYSIS: Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Data from 419 patients who received rt-PA and 207 who received SK were evaluated. In the 96-hour period after initiation of thrombolytic therapy, 30.5 and 31.9 percent of rt-PA and SK patients, respectively, experienced one or more bleeding events (crude risk ratio [CRR] = 1.04; 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 0.91–1.14; p=0.73). In the first 24-hour period, 21.5 percent of rt-PA and 15.9 percent of SK patients experienced bleeding events (CRR = 0.74; 95 percent CI 0.42–1.15; p=0.08). The leading types of bleeding and percents of all patients affected were: Perivascular access site (18.4 percent), gastrointestinal (6.4 percent), skin/soft tissue/muscle (5.0 percent), urinary (3.4 percent), pulmonary (2.2 percent), systemic (1.9 percent), and oral (1.4 percent). Intracranial bleeding occurred in 4 rt-PA and 2 SK patients; 4 of these patients died. Events deemed clinically significant occurred in 15 rt-PA and 9 SK patients (3.8 percent of all patients). Ten patients likely died from these events, 6 within the first 24 hours. Three rt-PA patients and 1 who received SK (0.6 percent) died of cerebrovascular events within the first 24 hours. After controlling for demographic factors and therapeutic variables, using logistic regression analyses, no thrombolytic-related differences were found in the incidence or severity of bleeding following use of the two thrombolytics. CONCLUSIONS: These clinical data do not support a theoretical advantage of rt-PA to cause less bleeding propensity than SK.


The objective of this research work was to examine the impact of millennium development goals on the achievement of universal primary education in Bokkos local government area of plateau state. A cross sectional survey otherwise known as sample survey was used as the design for the study. A sample of 400 hundred students was drawn from the population of the study through simple random sampling technique. An instrument called Contribution of Millennium Development Goals to Universal Basic Education Questionnaire (CMDGQ) was used to collect data from the 400 sampled students out of the population. Descriptive statistics was used to analyzed the research questions while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using t-test statistical technique.  The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to run the descriptive statistics and test the research hypotheses. The findings of from the study reveal that the participation of millennium development goals to universal basic education is not adequate and there was no significance difference between the impact of millennium development goals and universal basic education boards to universal basic education schools in infrastructural facilities. The study recommended that millennium development goals as well as universal basic education boards should increase their involvement in universal basic education for better attainment of economic development.
Keywords: Millennium Development Goals, Universal Basic Education, Confidence Behavior.


Water scarcity due to the ever-increasing worldwide demand and climate change is one of the greatest hurdles of our time [...]


A set S of a graph G = (V (G);E(G)) is a rings dominating set if S is a dominating set and for every vertex in the complement of S has atleast two adjacent vertices. The caridinality of the minimum rings dominating set is the rings domination number of graph G, denoted by \(\gamma\)ri(G). In this paper we determine the exact rings domination number of the mycielski graphs of path graph, cycle graph, and crown graph including its parameter.


Background/Aims: Ureteroduodenal fistulas are rare and only 11 cases have been reported in the literature since 1918. Diagnosis requires careful observation of symptoms. Methods: The case presented demonstrates a 68-year-old female with left-sided ureteroduodenal fistula confirmed by CT scan. A duodenal fistula was localized and an atrophic left kidney was identified and repaired. Results: Nephroureterectomy was performed and an omental patch was used for the repair. No complications were encountered during the postoperative course. Conclusions: Recurrent chronic urinary tract infection, pyuria and hematuria can indicate this rare disease. Early testing and detection can improve the chances of renal preservation.


: In the quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, the field of analytical chemistry has witnessed a growing interest in the development of green analytical methods. These methods aim to minimize the environmental impact of analytical processes throughout their lifecycle, encompassing raw material extraction, method development, analysis, waste generation, and disposal. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of the key principles, and methodologies related to the lifecycle assessment (LCA) of green analytical methods.


The experiment with cucumber of the variety 'Matilde F1' was conducted in an unheated foil tunnel in the years 2004-2005. The plants were grown in containers of the capacity of 10 dm 3 filled with transitional turf, limed to the pH of 6.0. In our studies we assessed the effect of foliar feeding with Plonochron fertilizers (potassium, magnesium, calcium) and of the differentiated rhizosphere nitrogen fertilization. (1.0 and 1.5 g N·dm -3 ) upon the yield, as well as contents of mineral components in cucumber leaves and fruits. The cucumber fruit yield was found to be significantly greater if the plants underwent foliar feeding with Plonochron fertilizers, as compared to control plants. The greater fruit yield (4.30 kg·plant -1 ) was given by plants fertilized with a higher nitrogen dose (1.5 g·dm -3 of substratum). Fruits of cucumber undergoing foliar feeding with Plonochron


This essay analyses the specific rhetoric of degeneration which was observable in the antisemitic polemic discourse of the last decades of 19th century. It provides an overview of the representation of Jewish art und artists as it took shape in the antisemitic literature of the Wilhelminian epoch. The growing emphasis placed by psychiatrists and racial theorists on the pathologies of the ,,Jewish race", such as hysteria or degeneration, resulted in the tendency to pathologize Jewish art and artists, which were deemed responsible for the alleged decline of German culture. Mere aesthetic categories underwent a process of reduction and ideologization and were finally used for defamatory purposes, as shown in the case of the antisemitic denigration of Heinrich Heine. In order to demonstrate this, the analysis outlines the strict dichotomic logic of these argumentations, as the definition and consolidation of an ideal German essence was usually based on the construction of a degenerated Jewish identity.


A synthetic pheromone of the western pine shoot borer, Eucosma sonomana Kearfott, has been used
successfully as a 'mating disrupter in northern Idaho and western Montana since 1984. Infestation
levels in treated ponderosa pine plantations declined from an average of 28 percent infested in 1983
to 5.5 percent by 1986. At the same time, infestation levels in the untreated check areas increased from
an average of 24 percent to 30 percent from 1983 to 1986.


Post Occupancy Evaluation(POE) is a systematical and quantitative method to evaluate the built environment.It focuses on the effectiveness of designed settings for human users and influences the decision-making process in planning and design projects.In the process of campus development,POE should be viewed as a flexible and interactive procedure for matching human needs with design solutions through various stages.In this paper,by employing POE methodology and GIS tools,we analyze the statistical data of human activities in Jing Garden area and assess the existing circulation conditions.On the basis of researches above,we further put forward specific strategies of modifying and manipulating the existing environment to develop a vital and healthy campus open space area.


Top-gated devices made from an epitaxial graphene film on a 4H-SiC substrate were fabricated. Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy results showed that a large-scale highly uniform monolayer graphene film was synthesized on the SiC substrate. A SiNx passivation film was deposited on a SiC graphene device as a top gate insulator by catalytic chemical-vapor deposition (Cat-CVD) below 65 °C. After the top gate electrode was formed on the SiNx film, no leakage current flowed between the gate and source electrodes. The transport characteristics showed clear ambipolar characteristics from 8 to 280 K, and the temperature dependences of the conductance and field-effect mobility of the devices implied that monolayer graphene devices can be successfully fabricated. Moreover, the position of the charge neutrality point after SiNx deposition was around 0 V, indicating p-doping characteristics. These results indicate that SiNx films synthesized by Cat-CVD can be used as gate insulators and that the carrier type may be controlled by adjusting the deposition conditions.


Right of access to an essential facility controlled by a monopolist has long been a controversial subject under U.S. antitrust law. If the facility is truly essential, a denial of access means the monopolist will be immune, at least for some time, to most instances of competition. On the other hand, a policy that defines access generously encounters the rather ideological complaint that it represents a government "taking" of private property, and the more practical concern that it will be likely to reduce incentives to innovate. Added to these conflicting policy concerns is the further complication that a simple declaration of access is seldom enough, and that government authorities, legislative, judicial or regulatory, must also define the terms of access price, priority, and other terms and conditions of sale usually on a basis that requires continuing supervision.


— ESPART (Electronic Single Particle Relaxation Time) analyzer is an instrument that has been used in many applications to determine both size and charge of micrometer sized particles in an aerosol flow in real time. By applying an electric field onto particles passing through a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) apparatus and measuring relative motion of the particle in the electric field, particle aerodynamic diameter and charge can be calculated. The current development of the ESPART analyzer is in measuring nanoparticles, which requires measuring signals with a low SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio). The purpose of this study is to develop a simulation model and to investigate the effects of the algorithm of digital signal processing, low signal strength, and noise in the signal detection circuits on the measurement resolution of an ESPART analyzer.


The study of deviance seems to have low prestige within sociology and does so at least in part because students of deviance have not shown how the study of deviance bears on wider social processes and conditions. Much of this might possibly be avoided by concentrating on the concepts that are of central concern to the study of deviance, for example, norm. Although norms constitute the central boundary separating normativist and reactivist conceptions of deviance, little conceptual and empirical attention has been devoted to them. The main problem is that norms have not been measured directly (and hence themselves not studied empirically) but have been inferred from social situations in a post hoc fashion. If norms are conceived properly, however, there exists the possibility for direct measurement. Procedures are proposed to accomplish this task.


This paper comments the results of the above-mentioned paper by Rachid (ibid., vol.40, p.1501-3 (1995)) and points out that the sufficient condition given has already been previously included in papers by Jayasuriya-Franchek (1991), Jayasuriya-Song (1992) and Song (1992) as a special case.


This paper presents a high range resolution (HRR) profiling technique for generating range and Doppler profiles of multiple moving targets, while the radar is in ground moving target indicator (GMTI) search mode. To implement such a technique, it requires no a priori information on target velocity and/or phase, hence, it is a good candidate to be incorporated into a search radar in which precise target velocity and/or phase information is generally not available. This technique was developed for a linear FM radar in which transmitting frequency is changing within the transmit pulsewidth. Most of the SAR radars employ such a waveform for both SAR imaging and GMTI modes. To verify HRR profiling performance, modeling, simulation, and key profiling equations were developed. Results show that both the resolution in Doppler and SIR value are improved. Also, this technique is capable of handling reasonable target acceleration of ground movers due to the inherent radar design.


This letter proposes a vertical handoff scheme for integrated WLAN and UMTS that use the mobile Internet Protocol (IP) to reduce the packet loss caused by the ping-pong effect for high mobility users. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme efficiently increases the throughput of high mobility users.


This paper describes factors impacting public safety in public transportation as related to traffic safety. These issues have been investigated for the Dutch high speed eastern railway line. Subjects explored include transportation of hazardous materials, terrorism, the use of tunnels in railroad infrastructure, and public perception of safety in railway stations and tunnels.


The new fluorinated β-diketones RCOCH2COCF3 (R = p-ClC6H4, m-ClC6H4, m-BrC6H4, m-MeC6H4 and m,p-C1,C6H3) have been prepared. The monothio-β-diketones RC(SH)=CHCOCF3 derived from these β-diketones were also prepared. Complexes of these monothio-β-diketones and of p-FC6H4C(SH)=CHCOCF3 with nickel(11), palladium(11), platinum(11), zinc(11) and coba1t(111) have been prepared and characterized. All the complexes are stable and display sharp melting points.


The purpose of this paper is to exhibit an example of a modular ideal of the form L 1 (G)*(δ(e)−μ), where μ is a probability measure on the locally compact group G which has all of its convolution powers purely singular


The present study compared the effects of two relative intensities on heart rate and blood lactate response to resistance exercise while controlling training variables such as number of sets, number of repetitions, exercise time, and time of recovery. On two occasions 8 male subjects were asked to perform five sets of 10 repetitions (reps) in the bench press at either 50 or 70% of a one‐repetition maximum (1‐RM). Each set required 20 to 25 seconds to complete. Recovery time between sets was 3 minutes. Mixed factorial analysis of variance revealed an intensity and set dependent effect for heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentrations (bLA). HR and bLA were significantly higher (p<0.05) following the 70% 1‐RM trial as compared to the 50% 1‐RM trial. Differences between the 50% and 70% 1‐RM trials occurred following the first set of exercise. At 50% 1‐RM, HR and bLA leveled off following the first two sets. However, at 70% 1‐RM, significantly elevated responses were observed with increasing set number. Results from this study suggest that the bench press exercise is capable of producing significant changes in heart rate and blood lactate concentrations. These changes are affected by the exercise intensity as well as the number of sets employed and should be considered when designing a resistance exercise training program.


Oral health is a vital part of overall infant health. An early dental visit is important in rendering prevention oriented intervention and parental counselling regarding the oral health. To assess the age and common chief complaint of the children in their first dental visit. This was a retrospective study done using case records of 842 children, who reported to the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, chitwan medical college. The age groups were divided into four categories; less than 3 years, 3-6years, 7-11 years and 12-14 years. The various chief complaints of patient were categorized as follows; routine check up, dental caries, dental pain, deposits/bad breath, malocclusion, unerupted ,missing or extra tooth, oral habits, trauma, orientation to prevention and others (cleft lip, palate, natal/neonatal teeth, mobile teeth, soft tissue lesions and others). The age group and the most common complaint at the first dental visit were assessed. Majority of children who visited the dentist were of age 7-11 years with the most common reason for their visit being pain followed by dental caries. None of the children visited for regular check up within 6 months of eruption of first tooth, though few children of that age group visited the dentist for other reasons like cleft lip/palate, natal/ neonatal tooth etc. The reason behind the first dental visit is when there is a problem. The most common age group to visit dentist was 7-11years with the commonest reason for their visit being pain and dental caries. It can be concluded that awareness and knowledge regarding the first dental visit is almost nil among the parents of this region. Journal of Chitwan Medical College 2013; 3(4); 30-33 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v3i4.9551


As she chaired her last Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 26 July 2000, the retiring Speaker, Betty Boothroyd, expressed in her formal statement deep concern for the decline she perceived in public esteem for the role of Parliament. She was troubled by the disillusion felt by the general public with the political process, by the level of cynicism about Parliament and the accompanying alienation of many of the young from the democratic process. At the Commission's meeting in 1997 in Bilbao, when convening the session on 'Analysis models: parliamentary prosopography, electoral atlases, Parliament's mission', my keynote paper on methodology struck a warning note.' This warning derived from the British parliamentary experience since the 1970s. The argument sketched there is developed here. Also considered are some recent major developments, which cannot be seen as threats to British representative institutions, but rather as profound and sudden changes to them. T h e Commission was founded in 1936 with a particular brief to encourage the comparative study of all aspects of the history of representative institutions. Since its foundation, its book publications and conference papers have provided an enormous wealth of raw material for comparative work, a treasure-house in no way fully exploited as yet. The range of its work is well known. The strength of recent research on the history of elections in individual states is an excellent example of how work on comparative electoral history offers a significant growth area for the Commission's future comparative work. The warning derived from the British experience was intended to encourage the Commission to consider the ways in which the role of representative assemblies had been transformed since 1945 and whether any patterns of development could be discerned by comparative work.


This paper discusses a model for a system of two canals and a lock, with transiting ships and their average transit time. Different policies for the lock are investigated and variance reduction experiments are conducted. Introduction The Model, as described in ARGESIM Comparison C 8, was implimented in Simulink, and is an example of modelling complex logic. The statistical analysis was done in Gnumeric, an open-source Spreadsheet application. The use of Simulink made it easy to monitor the various outputs. 1 Description of the System The system consists of two canals and a central lock. The ships pass through in batches in a single direction. So it is necessary to implement a logical system that switches the direction of transversal. We have to apply rules to make sure that after a certain amount of ships, the other direction gets access to the lock as well, even if there are still ships waiting. This maximum amount is called Eastmax or Westmax, depending on the direction. Figure 1: Simple schematics of the Canal and Lock System. 1.1 Canal A ship always has to pass through two canals to get through the system. If it is an eastbound ship it will first move 14 minutes throught the west canal, pass the lock in a variable amount of time and then pass through the east canal in 18 minutes. A westbound ship will do the same in reverse. Because the canals are too narrow to fit two ships side by side, the whole system can only be traversed in one direction simultaneously. 1.2 Lock The Lock raises or lowers the waterlevel to the other canal, when a ship is passing through the system. It can hold only one ship simultaneously and needs twelve minutes to raise or lower the water. A ship takes five minutes to enter and five minutes to leave the lock. The time a ship spends in the lock may vary, because the lock is able to raise or lower the waterlevel to the approaching ship as soon as a ship enters the canal preceeding the lock. The minimal time spent is therefore 22 minutes, and the maximum time 34 minutes. 1.3 Direction As mentioned, the canals are too narrow to let ships move through simultaneously in both directions, so rules are necessary to allow ships to transit with no deadlock as two ships with opposite directions approach one canal. If there are no ships in the system, when a new ship arrives, it enters the system immediately and starts a cycle. If another ship arrives, while the previous ship is in transit, and if it travels in the same direction, it will also enter the system and is added to the cycle unless Eastmax or Westmax ships have entered the system in a single cycle. If Eastmax or Westmax is reached, the following ship is denied access and the direction will be reversed after the last barge of a cycle has passed


Objective: To explore the influencing factors of pregnancy outcome during in vitro fertilization( IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection( ICSI) cycles in patients with endometriosis. Methods: A total of 321 patients receiving IVF and( or) ICSI in department of reproductive medicine in Shenzhen Hospital of Beijing University from January 2011 to March 2013 were analyzed retrospectively,then the patients were divided into endometriosis group( 143 patients) and control group( 178 patients); the patients in endometriosis group and control group were further divided into pregnancy subgroup and non- pregnancy subgroup; the clinical data in different groups were summarized. Results: In endometriosis group,compared with non- pregnancy subgroup,antral follicle count in pregnancy subgroup increased,the dosage of Gn decreased,estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin( h CG) injection,the number of retrieved oocytes,the number of embryos transferred and the number of frozen embryos increased,there were statistically significant differences( P 0. 05).In control group,there was no statistically significant difference in the indexes above- mentioned between pregnancy subgroup and non-pregnancy subgroup( P 0. 05); in endometriosis group,the values of body mass index( BMI) in pregnancy subgroup and non- pregnancy subgroup were( 20. 72 ± 2. 41) kg / m2and( 19. 86 ± 1. 96) kg / m2,respectively,there was statistically significant difference( P 0. 05).In control group,the values of BMI in pregnancy subgroup and non- pregnancy subgroup were( 21. 33 ± 2. 52) kg / m2and( 21. 39 ±2. 99) kg / m2,respectively,there was no statistically significant difference( P 0. 05). There was no statistically significant difference in antral follicle count,the dosage of Gn,estradiol level on the day of h CG injection,the number of retrieved oocytes,the number of embryos transferred,the number of frozen embryos and BMI between pregnancy subgroup in endometriosis group and pregnancy subgroup in control group( P 0. 05). The number of frozen embryos and BMI in non- pregnancy subgroup in endometriosis group were significantly lower than those in non- pregnancy subgroup in control group,but there was no statistically significant difference in the other indexes( P 0. 05).Conclusion: The patients with endometriosis who succeed in IVF and get pregnancy have good ovary response and high BMI. Ovary response is an important influencing factor of IVF outcome.


The second chapter of The Center of the World: Regional Writing and the Puzzles of Place-Time, titled "Local Knowledge and Book-Learning," offers a revision of received American literary history. It argues that the figure of the schoolteacher personates the contested connection between the particular place and the world beyond. The one-room schoolhouse, in particular, is a site where provincial and metropolitan or cosmopolitan knowledges meet. These topoi play an important role in local color fiction in the nineteenth century, and persist into later periods. The chapter includes Southern, Midwestern, Appalachian, and New England examples; the difference between African-American and Native American representations proves especially revealing. The chapter also considers the implications of this work for college and university teachers, arguing for acknowledgement of their commonalities with primary and secondary school teachers.


The present invention relates to a method for preparing a clear calcium fluoride ceramics, including synthetic nano-material powder, vacuum sintering, heat treatment and final step of forming, wherein: the sintered powder nanopowder is synthesized by precipitation method using a chemical reaction, the grains size of 20 ~ 70nm; sintering aid used is lithium fluoride (0.5 ~ 5mol%) and sodium fluoride (0.5 ~ 3mol%); after vacuum sintering and heat treatment process, the resulting calcium fluoride preparing a transparent ceramic density ≥ 99.5% in the visible, near-infrared transmittance of ≥75%, is an ideal transparent material. The present invention was synthesized with a higher yield, simple operation, the transmittance of the ceramic advantages.


Inescapably but also elusively, gender must affect speech. Given their distinct positions in the hierarchy of social power, men and women must have different relationships to language and use it in different ways. In the special speaking we call writing, similar differences must also somehow be at work, and feminist criticism is partly defined by its attempts to mark those features that seem to identify specifically female writing. And yet there is little agreement about just what those features are. As Elaine Showalter summarizes the issues, female language lacks precise definition, since "there is no mother tongue, no genderlect spoken by the female population in a society, which differs significantly from the dominant language."1 Feminist criticism, as Showalter sensibly describes its proper activities, must concentrate on "women's access to language, on the available lexical range from which words can be selected, on the ideological and cultural determinants of expression." Women's speech reflects, she says, their marginality as speakers, "denied the full resources of language" and "forced into silence, euphemism, or circumlocution."2 When they do speak, to extend Showalter's formulation, women must always use language in a marked or self-conscious way that indicates they have been granted temporary or unusual access to its resources. As writers or speakers, they are recognized as awkward or extraordinarily good, like foreigners. The British eighteenth-century novel bears out Showalter's analysis, since the achievements of female practitioners were recognized by contemp? oraries as based quite specifically on their limited access to "the full resources of language." A classic and illuminating instance occurs in Henry Fielding's preface to the second edition in 1744 of his sister's novel, David Simple. Denying that he is the book's author, Fielding acknowledges that there is good cause for such attribution. But "notwithstanding the many excellent observations dispersed through it, and the deep knowledge of human nature


Feminist action research is a promising, though under-developed, research approach for advancing women's health and social justice agendas. In this article the foundations, principles, dimensions, promises, and challenges of engaging in feminist action research are explored.


This paper contains a viability and feasibility evaluation to include a new T-shirts factory in Guayaquil and also it includes the business plan for this new company. In order to make it, there were made an analysis about the textile sector and a market investigation to identify strategies and actions that there will be applied. The investigation was made to buyer in commercial centers and representatives of some shirts factories. Based on the sector investigation and results of the market investigation analysis there were concluded that this project is totally viable; because there is people's great environmentalist disposition and are willing to pay, and this is feasible too; because through application of a market niche and some tactics, the factory will get market participation and principally a high yield.


The nonuniform line containing the binomial-form transmission line of odd order can be approximated by the lumped-distributed circuit at frequencies below π/2 (rad) in electrical length. The rigorous solution for telegraph equation of odd-order binomial-form lines with the characteristic impedance given by (ax±b)±n (where a and b are constant and n is odd number) is derived and the approximate solution is obtained for a case where four-terminal constants of the linear taper line with n=1 are truncated at finite terms. It is shown that the linear taper line can be approximated by the lumped-distributed circuit at frequencies below π/2 (rad) in electrical length. Next, Kuroda's identity is applied to the lumped nonuniform distributed circuit consisting of the linear taper line and lumped reactance to show that the nonuniform line containing binomial-form transmission lines can be obtained as a cascade connection of the linear taper line and lumped reactance. Finally, the nonuniform line is approximated by the lumped-distributed circuit at frequencies below π/2 (rad).


Traumatized anterior teeth with sub-gingival crown fractures are a challenge to treat. The management of sub-gingival fractures includes exposing the cervical margin followed by appropriate coronal restoration. The treatment modalities, which involve exposing the cervical margin, are surgical crown lengthening and orthodontic extrusion. This paper reports a case of fractured maxillary anterior tooth at the sub-gingival level that was managed by forced orthodontic extrusion after endodontic treatment followed by esthetic rehabilitation, a much forgotten technique not utilized routinely yet conservative and cost-effective.


Published in conjunction with the exhibition 'Ryan Presley - Terror Island (Wish You Were Here)', Boxcopy Contemporary Art Space, Brisbane, 7 October - 4 November 2017


This article challenges the notion that the law of diminishing returns can be derived from the standard Arrow-Debreu theory of general equilibrium if the notion of free competition is accepted. It shows that, if the production sets of all commodities are given, the traditional concept of long-run equilibrium is sufficient to have all long-run equilibrium prices determined regardless of profit maximization, which is not necessary for such purposes. Besides, it proves that, if competition is assumed, the law of diminishing marginal returns can not be derived so that reswitching of techniques and inverse capital deepening are indeed phenomena that can not be excluded even if the standard assumptions of the Arrow-Debreu model regarding the production sets are accepted. Key-words: general equilibrium; Arrow-Debreu model; decreasing returns; competition; reswitching of techniques; inverse capital deepening Classificacao JEL: Area B2 History of Economic Thought since 1925. Area da ANPEC: Area 1: Escolas de Pensamento Economico; Metodologia e Economia Politica Arrow-Debreu and the Law of Diminishing Returns: A Critical Appraisal Claudio Gontijo Professor Doutor da FACE/UFMG e da FEAD-MG E-mail: email@example.com


. This research journal reviews learning innovations in the field of Pan-casila and Citizenship Education. This journal focuses on efforts to realize the quality of learning through games and quizzes in the learning process. The game in this study is called "who wants to be a good citizen" by innovating the game who wants to be a millionaire. The game was innovated by presenting a quiz form as a pretest or post test. The game was implemented in senior secondary education classes at the CT ARSA Foundation Superior High School in Sukoharjo, Central Java. The enthusiasm for learning of each student increases with very good involvement or participation. The material presented for learning is also very complete including pre-test tracing, core material, enrichment, and also post-test. This makes the Learning of Pancasila and Citizenship Education very popular at CT Arsa Foundation's Superior High School. The participation in learning is associated with the talking stick game to determine the participants who participate in each meeting. This innovation also adapts flash player media so that it looks more attractive and inspires students' enthusiasm for learning.


Creativity is related to thinking and the ability to create, innovate, that is to generate new responses from an internal and external process that make the individual a unique and original in each of its aspects either in an internal process with the search for unique solutions and also socially through interaction with others, the child experiences different ways of carrying out activities and solving problems achieving a divergent thinking, so necessary for the world today. The expression Grafico-Plastica provides the child with the ability to be sensitive to everything that surrounds him, which has an immediate impact on his emotions, helping him to regulate himself, calm down and enjoy the pleasure of perceiving, expressing what he feels, expressing it through the strokes, the harmony of the colors he uses and in this way expresses that unique way of feeling and thinking that art encourages, which favors the development of creativity. Through educational workshops, children will have the opportunity to discover new ways of expressing their inner world from their own interests. These spaces provide a wonderful opportunity to promote all these experiences in children, are spaces organized by the teacher who regulates the activities taking into account the age of children respecting their tastes and preferences. In plastic graphic expression workshops it is important to give some guidance on the organization of the classroom, materials and important rules to maintain order.


The third stage of the study on the homogeneous coprecipitation of neptunium and plutonium from alkaline high-level radioactive waste solutions by the Method of Appearing Reagents has been completed. Alkaline radioactive wastes exist at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site. The recent studies investigated the effects of neptunium chemical reductants, plutonium(IV) concentration, and the presence of bulk tank waste solution components on the decontamination from tetravalent neptunium and plutonium achieved by homogeneous coprecipitation. Data on neptunium reduction to its tetravalent state in alkaline solution of different NaOH concentrations are given. Eleven reductants were tested to find those most suited to remove neptunium, through chemical reduction, from alkaline solution by homogeneous coprecipitation. Hydrazine, VOSO{sub 4}, and Na{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 4} were found to be the most effective reductants. The rates of reduction with these reductants were comparable with the kinetics of carrier formation. Solution decontamination factors of about 400 were attained for 10{sup -6}M neptunium. Coprecipitation of plutonium(IV) with carriers obtained as products of thermal hydrolysis, redox transformations, and catalytic decomposition of [Co(NH{sub 3}){sub 6}]{sup 3+}, [Fe(CN){sub 5}NO]{sup 2-}, Cr(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}, KMnO{sub 4}, and Li{sub 4}UO{sub 2}(O{sub 2}){sub 3} was studied and results are described. Under optimum conditions, a 100-fold decrease of plutonium concentration was possible with each of these reagents.


In this study, a 3D nonlinear stress and large deflection analysis of the tin whisker initiation and growth on a pure matte Sn-plated copper substrate is investigated. The structure is subjected to compressive stress acting at the Sn-layer, which is generated by the spontaneous chemical reaction of the diffusion of Cu into So and the formation of C%Snl. The Sn-layer is assumed to be an elastc-perfectly-plastic material. The results presented herein is useful in understanding why the compressive stress in the Sn-layer can initiate and grow a tin whisker at the weak spot of a SnOx-layer. Also, a set of useful methods is suggested to reduce (or even prevent) the reliability risk of Sn whiskers.


Perhaps the most intellectually stimulating result of the literacy crisis has been our recognition of literacy as a continuum of expertise, practices, and beliefs. We know that literacies range from oral and orthographic practices involving print and electronic texts to isolated and social behaviors encompassing the informational sphere of home, society, or school. Academic literates have come to recognize the wide range of literacies in play today and to realize that many literacies are outside our own literate experience-or rather, we have come to realize that we are outside observers to those literacies that we have not experienced. Although we are indelibly inscribed with our own literate practices and deeply entrenched in our academic culture, we can still recognize the continuum of literacies. However, we have difficulty fully understanding and valuing those literacies that function outside the academy. No matter how wide-ranging our twentieth-century views of literacy might be, whether we refer to Shirley Brice Heath's studies in the American Piedmonts, Sylvia Scribner and Michael Cole's Vai project, E. D. Hirsch's cultural literacy, or Walter Ong's and Eric Havelock's theories of orality and literacy, we continue to privilege the written word. Even our respectful explorations and discussions of Vai and Piedmont literacies are implicitly situated in comparison with schooled literacy. Our concepts of literacy are inevitably colored by our own dependence on the physical artifact (on handwriting, on hard copy) and on our deep-seated insistence that reading and writing are inseparable language arts. Thus, the text-dependency-reading books, writing books, and reading and writing about those books-in our own documentary culture and noetic world makes very difficult an accurate conception of alternative literacy practices, be they current or distant in time. But medieval popular literacy can provide a crucial link for understanding those alternatives; medieval practices prefigure and explain some of our own literacy practices, especially those outside the academy.


Lime sludge (LS) is a solid waste from lime making industry and normally disposed in landfill or recycled. LS has been studied as one of the raw materials in various ceramic productions such as bricks, ceramic tiles and glass-ceramics. In this study, LS was utilized in the preparation of bioactive glass using the 45S5 bioactive glass. The 45S5 bioactive glass contains SiO2 (45 wt.%), Na2O (24.5 wt.%), CaO (24.5 wt.%) and P2O5 (6 wt.%). It has the ability to bond with soft tissue and promote bone growth. The LS was combined with bioactive glass as a potential replacement of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The ratio between LS:CaO was varied (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0) to study the effect of LS weight percentage on the bioctive glass. The preparations of bioactive glasses involved batching, mixing, melting at 1400 °C, water quench and milling. LS was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the fabricated glasses were characterized using particle size analyzer, XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results proved that the phase and chemical composition of bioactive glass were not affected by the addition of LS. The XRD and SEM results indicated that the addition of lime sludge in bioactive glass was effective to promote the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) layer.


Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) plays an important role in many real-life applications where autonomous agents must coordinate to reach their goals without collisions. MAPF problems often take place in structured environments that are usually assumed to be static and known in advance. In this paper, we introduce C-MAPF, i.e., MAPF in Configurable environments, a novel variant of the MAPF problem in which the environment is configurable, namely its structure and topology can be controlled within some given constraints. Consider, for instance, a warehouse logistics application: the environment can be changed (at least to some degree) by the managers of the warehouse, for example by re-arranging the positions of the shelves or by removing or adding temporary walls. We study the properties of the C-MAPF problem and we devise two algorithms for solving it, both based on Conflict-Based Search (CBS), a state-of-the-art MAPF algorithm. First, we present Parallel CBS (P-CBS), that searches for a solution by simultaneously considering all the possible configurations of the environment. We then present Abstract CBS (A-CBS), an extended version of the CBS algorithm that solves C-MAPF problems by introducing a new type of conflict on the allowable configurations of the environment. We prove that our solvers are both complete and optimal and we experimentally assess their performance in different settings.


A substrate processing apparatus and a substrate transferring method are provided to precisely position a substrate to a substrate supporting/rotating mechanism when the substrate is transferred between a substrate transfer mechanism and the substrate supporting/rotating mechanism. A substrate supporting/rotating unit(5) supports and rotates a substrate(W), and a positioning member(55) is installed on the substrate supporting/rotating unit to position the substrate on the substrate supporting/rotating unit. A substrate transfer unit(52) transfers the substrate to the substrate supporting/rotating unit. A squeeze unit is installed on the substrate transfer unit to squeeze the substrate against the positioning unit. The squeeze unit has a substrate contact portion contacting an end of the substrate and a moving portion moving the substrate contact portion towards the positioning member.


The key to electrode waste LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 recycling is to effectively separate the cathode material from the metal Al foil for increasing the recovery rate. The method described herein utilizes the compatibility between an organic solvent and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), ultrasonic-induced cavitation and convection effects, and the decomposition temperature of PVDF. The duration of ultrasonication, type of organic solvent, ratio of organic solvent to cathode material, stirring temperature, stirring time, sequence of ultrasonication and stirring, and calcination temperature were explored for determining optimum conditions. Thus, it was determined that the optimum peeling efficiency was approximately 93 %.The cathode material pretreated by the organic solvent was calcined, and the PVDF binder was effectively removed by calcination at 600 °C. Calcination at 800 °C yielded a cathode material with a suitable lamellar structure and the highest electrochemical performance, with an initial specific discharge capacity of 164.2 mAh g. The specific discharge capacity was 132.4 mAh g after 50 charge-discharge cycles, which translates to a capacity retention rate of 80.6 %.


The remote detection of hydrogen fires using optical sensors at rocket test and launch facilities. requires that the sensors do not indicate alarm conditions that are false. The reflected and extraneous emissions from facility hydrogen flare stacks, rocket engine exhausts. welding, lightning and various lamps are all potential sources for false alarms. Optical fire detectors offer instantaneous responses and thus, are very attractive for the protection of personnel, expensive test equipment and infrastructures. The majority of optical fire detectors are designed and optimized for hydrocarbon tires. They may alarm for some hydrogen fires but are not able to discriminate real fires from reflected or exuaneous emissions. Little work has been done to eliminate the false alarm problem caused from these emissions. This paper discusses the requirements for &signing a multi-spectral hydrogen fire detector capable of distinguishing beween flames and reflected emissions within the field-of-view of detectors. A Figureof-Merit is developed to evaluate the feasibility of spechal detection of hydrogen fires in the 0.1 to 12pm range. Optimal speed bands are identified along with an indication of the requirements for the sensor type and necessary filters. Experimental results are presented for temporal flicker, specual radiometry and remote surveillance methods performed to distinguish hydrogen flames from reflected or extraneous emissions.


Maintainability index (MI) is a software metric that offers measurements of the maintainability before release of the software by facilitating several substantial features of the system. In general, there is a common formula for determining the MI for all the software metrics to ensure the system's reliability. As it does not provide appropriate results regarding the reliability of the system, it is essential to focus on the next level of MI of software. Hence, this paper intends to allot an optimal weight and a constant to each software metric, which is optimized by grey wolf optimization (GWO). As a result, it can provide a new variant of MI by proposed enhanced model-GWO (EM-GWO). This optimized MI can ensure the efficiency of the respective software in such a way that it can provide an enhanced score from the system. Further, the proposed method is compared with conventional models such as enhanced model-generic algorithm (EM-GA), EM-particle swarm optimization (PSO), EM-ant bee colony (ABC), EM-differential evolution (DE), and EM-fire fly (FF), and the results are obtained.


Impaired balance control is a common symptom of vestibular deficiencies. The Romberg test is one of the most commonly used balance tests in clinics. It allows clinicians to assess the subject's reaction posture control while standing. However, a positive Romberg test still relies on manual observation by the physician. It leads to technical issues in subjective evaluation during the test. The study aimed to propose an instrumented Romberg test using inertial measurement units (IMUs) to extract kinematic variables for objective assessment. Eighteen patients and thirteen healthy people participated in this study. They performed the Romberg test with their eyes closed, wearing IMU s at their head and pelvis. Six types of parameters are extracted from IMU s, such as maximum, average, and root mean square, Attenuation coefficients, sway velocity, and displacement. The results show that the patient group performed a larger sway in the lateral direction of head or pelvis level, where the maximum and RMS values have significant differences (p < 0.05) and large effect (Cohen's d > 0.8). The proposed approach can distinguish patients with vestibular dysfunction from healthy people and support objective clinical assessment.


In support of L'Institut Technique de la Cote Sud (ITCS), with funding through the IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee, a team from the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) has led the design/install of a photovoltaic system to provide for daily educational electrical needs while simultaneously serving as a living laboratory for hands-on teaching at the vocational training institute for renewable energy students. The system will exist at the ITCS campus in Coteaux, Haiti, located in the Sud Department on the southwestern peninsula, an area recently hit by a devastating hurricane, Matthew, in the Fall of 2016. Novel to the system will be the inclusing of a Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery bank, which until now has had little exposure to this region of the world as an Energy Storage System (ESS). The utilization and performance of this system will be scrutinized throughout its life by the CU Boulder team. Discussed in the following will be the accounts of two trips to Haiti hitherto, the assessment and design processes, as well as community reactions and future plans for further development in the region.


In this work, the mechanism of structure-borne noise resulting from vibration of a compressor for a refrigerator is experimentally analyzed and an effective method is proposed to reduce the noise. Firstly, the emission noise, when the compressor is turned on and off, is measured and analyzed to identify the generation mechanism of structure-borne noise. And the acceleration on the outer wall of the refrigerator is also analyzed to identify the distribution of vibration. Secondly, an effective design method to reduce the noise is suggested by using the finite element analysis and Taguchi method. Consequently an optimal design of the refrigerator, which has lower noise, is obtained and then its performance and validity are verified through the analysis and test.


For a given integer set \$S={r\-1, r\-2; p\-1, p\-2, \:, p\-n}\$, where \$r\-i0, p\-j0(i=1,2; j=1, 2, \:, n)\$, a partition of \$S\$ into two disjoint subsets \$S\-1\$ and \$S\-2\$ is required in order to minimize the maximum sum of elements in \$S\-1\$ and \$S\-2\$ with the constraint that \$r\-i\$ belongs to different subsets. The problem is NP\|complete. There has been a linear time approximation algorithm with a worst\|case performance bound 8/7. We give an improved algorithm with a worst\|case performance bound 10/9.


Proprotein convertase subtilisin / kexin 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in lipid metabolism while available literature regarding its involvement in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and inflammation is constantly increasing. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience disproportionately increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to dyslipidemia, accelerated atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and other risk factors. In the present cross-sectional study, we investigated the possible association of serum PCSK9 levels with markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial damage in patients with CKD.

 Ninety-two patients with CKD stage II-ΙV (eGRF CKD-EPI 47.3 ±25.7ml/min/1,73m2, mean age 66 years, 51 men) were included. Plasma PCSK9 levels were correlated with comorbidities (arterial hypertension; diabetes mellitus, history of cardiovascular disease), renal function indices (eGFR, proteinuria – UPR/24h), lipid parameters (LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp (a), APO-A1, APO-B), as well as soluble biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial damage (hs-CRP, fibrinogen, 8-epiPGF2a, ox-LDL, IL-6, TNF-α, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1).

 The mean plasma value of PCSK9 was 278.1ng/ml. PCSK9 levels showed direct correlation with serum triglycerides (p = 0.03), Lp(a) (p = 0.01), and sICAM-1 levels (p = 0.03). There was no significant correlation between PCSK9 levels and indices of renal function, other lipid profile parameters, inflammatory markers or co-morbidities. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant effect of the Lp(a) on PCSK9 levels, for each unit of higher Lp(a), an increase by 3.082 is expected (95% CI: 0.935 - 5.228, p=0.006). At the same time, patients receiving statins are expected to have on average 63.8ng/ml higher PCSK9 values compared to patients not receiving statins (95% CI: 14.6 - 113.5 p=0.012).

 Plasma levels of PCSK9 in non-dialysis CKD patients are correlated with endothelial dysfunction and lipid metabolism parameters. Statin intake increases PCSK9 levels significantly in this patient population. PCSK9 levels are not correlated with the severity of kidney disease. Major prospective studies are necessary to investigate the role of PCSK9 in the atherosclerotic cardiovascular outcome in CKD


This paper addresses an observer-design method only using data. Usually, the observer requires a mathematical model of a system for a prediction of states and a calculation of an observer gain. As an alternative to the model-based prediction, the proposed predictor calculates the states using a linear combination of the given data. To design the observer gain, the data which represent dual systems are derived from the data which represents the original system. Linear matrix inequality that depends on data of the dual system provides the observer gains.


The general postnewtonian metric expansion of Nordtvedt is modified in such a way that the effects of the rotation of the central body on the orbit of a test particle can be examined. This enables formulae to be found for the additional advance of the perihelion and rate of precession of the normal of the orbit about the axis of rotation in general relativity and in the Brans-Dicke and Nordtvedt scalar-tensor theories. In the case of general relativity the rate of precession is found to be half the value previously given by Lense and Thirring.


Parallel microreactor screening enabled rapid identification of effective conditions for PTC-mediated Knoevenagel condensation between aldehyde (1) and thiazalone (2), affording a dramatic reduction in cycle time when compared to traditional conditions. Interesting facets of the reaction mechanism were revealed from kinetic profiling, specifically the operation of an extractive PTC mechanism with a pH optimum for the Knoevenagel condensation, a pKa optimum for the elimination reaction and the requirement for crystallization of aldol tautomer (4) to drive the reaction to completion.


Sekar Ayu Boga is a business owned by the Study Program of Culinary Education at the Department of home economics which was founded in 2003. This business, starting in 2018, received grants from the Campus Intellectual Product Business Development Program (PPUPIK). Sekar Ayu Boga is currently experiencing business difficulties due to the COVID 19 pandemic. This article aims to identify Sekar Ayu Boga's efforts and discuss the solutions in dealing with the Covid 19 Pandemic. The results of the situation analysis are used to determine alternative strategies to maintain business, including increasing product quality without preservatives to increase consumer loyalty, create new products that are more relevant to the conditions of the Covid 19 pandemic era and carry out online promotions by making the  sekaraayuboga.com website that hopefully as a medium to expand consumer reach. These three strategies are a combination chosen to strengthen business strategies so as to increase the competitive advantage of Sekar Ayu Boga Unnes.


Laser direct metal deposition has wide application in the areas of rapid manufacturing, surface coating, and component repair. Defects of interlayer and intralayer porosity are often observed in laser deposited structures and repaired components. Interlayer porosity can be controlled to some extent by adjusting processing parameters, but there is still disagreement as to the source of intralayer porosity and whether process conditions, process parameters, or initial powder materials are the dominant causal factor. In this work, two samples of Ti–6Al–4V powder, prepared using gas-atomization and the plasma rotating electrode (PREP) process, were analyzed using laser diffraction and microcomputed tomography for any initial porosity content. A 1.5 kW diode laser with a coaxial deposition head was then used to deposit a number of thin-wall structures with the different powders at different processing parameters. The deposited structures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed t...


Background: Contraception is an effective mean of Family Planning (FP) and fertility control, promotes maternal and child health. It is interesting to explore the perception and use of contraceptives among Saudi women. So this study aims to determine the prevalence of contraceptives use (types), to study some determinants of the contraceptions used, to assess the availability and satisfaction of the family health planning services and to record their opinion about the current situation in KSA. This study will provide up-to-date situational analysis helping the health policymakers.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study targeting 1215 Saudi women who fulfilling the inclusion criteria. A Multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select women from Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) all over the 20 health regions in KSA. Using a well-structured pretested questionnaire composed of four main parts to collect the data after an exempt IRP approval and informed written consent. The data analyzed using the appropriate tests using the Spss program version 22.
Result: A wide age range (16-49 y) with the mean age of 37.5. The majority (56.7%) were university-educated or above, 93.1% were married. The prevalence of the current contraception use is 68.8%. The most common methods for contraception were OCP, IUD, coitus interruption and condom in order (42.1, 15.6, 7.8 and 5.7%) respectively. The main causes for using contraception is birth control 55.4%, don't want to get pregnant (31.2%) and medical causes (17.8%). The main sources used for contraception methods, were HCP, relatives, friends (38.2%, 36.5%, 21. 8%) and bought from pharmacies, private clinics and then private hospitals (54.8%, 20.2%, 18.5%).
Conclusion: The contraceptive pills are the commonest contraceptive methods used among Saudi women. Appropriate strategies should be implemented to raise awareness and provide services.


hormone in clinical medicine. We will first describe its physiological action, then we will review the results of its therapeutic application, and finally we will summarize the results of studies on human subjects in normal as well as in pathological states. The chemical formula of aldosterone (Fig. 1) shows that the important point which differentiates this hormone from cortisone, hydrocortisone and the other corticosteroids is the


From anti-war dramas such as "Paths of Glory" to the complexity of his final film, "Eyes Wide Shut", controversial film director Stanley Kubrick always commanded his audience's attention. This encyclopaedia offers complete coverage of his life and the 13 feature films he directed, including "2001, A Space Odyssey", "A Clockwork Orange",and "The Shining". In-depth entries survey: the actors who performed in his films, the writers with whom he collaborated, key members of his crew, inspiration for his movies, music and composers for his films; and recurring themes and genres.


The author analyzes the transformations in the foreign policy doctrine of the Turkish Republic on the example of the Turkish-Iraqi relations that became active in recent years. It is proved that the theoretical basis of innovations in the foreign policy of the Ankara based on two modern liberal by nature concepts: construction of the theory of the neo-ottomanism in Turkey, appealing to the unity of nations that were formerly the parts of the Ottoman Empire, and conceptualization of transnationalism in USA, aimed at strengthening non-governmental relations between countries. In the article, it has been suggested that the two concepts have much in common. This fact suggests that the political interests of Ankara and Washington in the region are the same, though perhaps this unity in views is opportunistic and short-term in nature. Moreover, Turkey's rejection of ideas of Turkism makes the position of Ankara closer to Moscow. The article stresses that developed by western scientists the "Greater Middle East Initiative" program was to strengthen the position of the Republic of Turkey as a regional power. A new course of Ankara and the Turkish-Iraqi relations of recent years indicate that Turkey managed to neutralize the Kurdish threat, to increase the importance of relations with Baghdad, as well as to normalize relations with Moscow.


Jerusalem has been a centre of attraction since the earliest historical periods of the Middle East, and because it is an important location for three monotheistic religions, the dominant states wanted to dominate this city during the medieval period. The Crusaders, who were hit hard by the loss of Jerusalem during the period of Saladin Eyyubi, organised new expeditions to regain their lost position in the Middle East. Still, these failed if short-term successes were left aside. After the Ayyubid State withdrew from the history stage, the Mamluks dominated most of the lands they conquered and ended the Mongolian military advance, which left the whole world in horror, in the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. The inadequacy of the armed forces and tactics of the Mongols against this new enemy, despite the military support of the Armenians and Georgians in the region, forced them to seek new allies. The inadequacy of the armed forces and tactics of the Mongols against this new enemy, despite the military support of the Armenians and Georgians in the region, forced them to seek new allies. In this way, the efforts of the Ilkhanate to ally with the Europeans and their extensions in the Middle East, the Crusader States, against the Mamluks began. Starting from the Hulagu period until the collapse of the Ilkhanate, ambassadors were sent to powerful rulers of Europe, such as the kings of England and France, especially the Papacy, to organise a joint expedition against the Mamluks. Similarly, ambassadors came from Europe to Iran. During these contacts, the Ilkhanate offered to take the Christian holy city of Jerusalem and give it to them to get the support of Europe and to organise a new Crusade. Still, the Europeans have always looked at a non-Christian society with suspicion. Despite all the embassy exchanges between Europe and the Mongols, it was not possible to organise a joint operation against the Mamluks due to political turmoil, distance problems and synchronisation difficulties in Europe. This study deals with the Ilkhanid-European relations on the axis of Jerusalem.


Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold without boundary. Let D be a differential operator on M. Let spec (Z),M) denote the eigenvalues of D repeated according to multiplicity. Several authors have studied the extent to which the geometry of M is reflected by spec iD,M) for certain natural operators D. We consider operators D which are convex combinations of the ordinary Laplacian and the Bochner or reduced Laplacian acting on the space of smooth functions and the space of smooth one forms. We prove that is is possible to determine if M is a local symmetric space from its spectrum. If the Ricci tensor is parallel transported, the eigenvalues of the Ricci tensor are spectral invariants of M. Introduction. Let M be a compact connected Riemannian manifold without boundary and let D0 = d*dhe the Laplacian acting on the space of smooth functions. Let spec {D0,M) denote the set of eigenvalues 0 < Xx < X2 ' * • 5 each eigenvalue is repeated according to the multiplicity. The basic question we will be considering is to what extent the geometry of the manifold M is reflected by spec (D0,M) and by the spectra of certain other natural differential operators acting on M. Sakai [5] has proved Theorem (Sakai). Let M and M' be Einstein manifolds of dimension 6. Suppose that M and M' have the same Euler characteristic and that spec (D0, M ) = spec (Dq,M'). Then if M is a local symmetric space, so is M'. If we enlarge the class of differential operators which we are willing to consider, other geometrical properties of the manifold M are reflected by the spectrum. Let Dp = d*d + dd* be the Laplacian acting on the space of smooth /»-forms; let spec (Dp,M) denote the eigenvalues of Dp repeated according to multiplicity. Patodi [4] has proved Theorem (Patodi). Suppose that spec (Dp,M) = spec (Dp,M')forp = 0, 1, 2. Then: (a) if M has constant scalar curvature c, so does M'; (b) if M is Einstein, so is M'\ Received by the editors January 30, 1976. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 35P20; Secondary 53C35, 35J05, 35K05. (1) Research partially supported by NSF grant MPS72-04357 and by a grant from the Sloan foundation. © American Mathematical Society 1977 341 License or copyright restrictions may apply to redistribution; see http://www.ams.org/journal-terms-of-use


progressively widened the scope of their research, seeking evidence for problems newly identified, or viewed from fresh perspectives. Supplementing the older printed texts, on which most scholars have relied in the past, are a cluster of new, and largely unpublished, sources. These include: ordination lists; petitions for benefices; diocesan records (visitations, synodal statutes); account books of parish and collegiate churches, monasteries and nunneries; confraternity records; canonization proceedings; testaments; and records of ecclesiastical courts. These latter have been among the least explored sources in the field. Few records of diocesan courts have survived in


To translate scientific and technical English into Chinese, the translation should be smooth and vivid ,the words and expressions should be appropriate and logical. Because of the differences between English and Chinese, one English sentence can be translated into Chinese in so many ways that the methods of translating are comples and diverse. However, there are some laws of translation that can be followed such as transformation of words meaning and part of speech, omission, repetition, conversion and comprehensive analysis.


Modeling the impact of the use of chemical anti-/deicing on the roadside environment requires knowledge of the roadside exposure to salt, the vulnerability or dose-response relationship of the mode ...


Work principles of the toss-up non-vibrate self-compacting concrete is introduced, mix design, peaceability evaluation method and testing method are put forward, toss-up testing was carried wholly simulated construction site by the above methods. The data of the test and the result of the toss-up test shows that, the technology of the whole toss-up non-vibrate self-compacting concrete is practical.


The reliance on the functioning of software systems is growing with the development of IT industry. The complexity and scalability to design these systems are increasing, especially for concurrent systems with concurrent executions, communications and resources distributions, e.g., classical cryptography protocol and quantum communication systems. Thus, the reliability of these systems becomes crucial. Model checking is an automated verification approach to validate these complicated systems, which has been proved to be effective in discovering errors. Model checking works through the exploration of all possible system states in a brute force manner. This technique checks whether a system model meets a given specification, and it consists of system modeling, requirement specification, and verification. Compared to other traditional approaches, e.g., simulation, testing, and deductive verification, model checking has many advantages for its automatic and exhaustive searching. However, model checking is not feasible for systems with infinite state space. Since the data size would be unbounded or the number of processes would be infinite. For finite state space systems, there are also two major problems or obstacles that limit the usage of model checking techniques in practical industrial systems. Firstly, model checking suffers from the infamous state space explosion problem. Secondly, the efficiency of algorithms on model checking is always subject to the size of state space. It is challenging to handle the examination of largest possible state space efficiently with limited processors and memories. By now, many techniques are proposed to handle the state space explosion problem. Symbolic model checking approaches reduce the cost of storage to store the system


Objective To discuss the young child sudden deafness, cause of disease,the curative effect, the prognosis. Methods The summary analyzes 35 examples (38 ears) below 13 years old.Results The viral infection, the microcycle barrier are the main reason. The first time of the treatment, the remaining hearing, with or not the dizziness, the single、 the double ear can influence prognosis.Conclusion The young child deaf treatment not only solely should improves the microcycle,with virus infection must be anti- virus. The earlier the treatment,more remaining hearing,prognosis is better.


The goal of Finger Print Based Attendance system is to take attendance of the student in a faster and efficient way. The attendance has been taken by calling out students name in the class which will be time consuming. After taking attendance the list will be sent to the department. Its ability is to uniquely identify each person based on their FINGER PRINT reader. In real time application capability of taking attendances will be more accurate by using Finger Print. Using an USB port or MAX 232 an attendance will be stored inside the database. Using an 8051 microcontroller data can be transferred to MAX 232.Thus the speed and security provided by Finger Print makes it valuable in the education field.


The issue of long term stability of polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystals was investigated. It was found that for certain liquid crystals and commonly used chiral dopant combinations, polymer stabilized blue phase liquid crystals develop dendrite like structures. These features are highly scattering and are detrimental to the uniformity of texture. Various possible causes were looked into and it was identified that crystallization of the chiral dopant leads to dendrites and a possible remedy is proposed.


In Summer/Fall 2019, the UAVSAR platform was used to collect dense time series over several agricultural and biomass sites in the southeastern US. This data is to be used for developing ecosystem science algorithms for the upcoming NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) mission. Development and testing of these algorithms require routine SAR processing steps such as image co-registration and terrain correction. Because the NISAR mission will use the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) Scientific Computing Environment (ISCE) for data processing from Level 0 through Level 2, we focused on developing a new ISCE workflow to facilitate UAVSAR Multi-Looked-Cross Products (MLC) data processing. The workflows are python scripts and can be readily modified according to user needs. They operate in conjunction with a Docker image of ISCE, which allows data processing on any system that supports Docker (https://www.docker.com/). A defining feature of this workflow is that it usually only requires minimal interaction by the user: the user only needs to provide the desired UAVSAR MLC data and run one docker command to initiate the data processing.


Testicular cancer - a genealogical study of patients with testicular germ cell tumours in Vasterbotten county between 2000-2015 : A retrospective study


One of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 2030. In reducing the maternal mortality rate, it is necessary to first study the factors that influence it. The number of maternal mortality rate in Central Java Province in 2018 was a discrete random variable that had a Poisson distribution and had many zero values. Generally, a model was used to counting data is Poisson regression model.  However, the maternal mortality that has many zero values caused overdispersion. Therefore, Poisson model was not relevant in that case. In this paper, we used Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) model to overcome overdispersion caused by many zero values.  The results of the research show that ZIP model can explained influence the number of maternal mortality.  Based on this research, the factors such as provision of  tablets, pregnant women who experience obstetric complications, and households with a clean and healthy lifestyle can explain the number of maternal mortality.


This study aims to determine the ability of better problem solving of mathematics between classes that use the learning model of brain-based learning and the class using direct instruction learning model and to know the difference of mathematical problem solving ability from the category of early mathematical ability (high, medium, and low) As well as to find out the mean student self-efficacy higher between the two classes. This research is a quasi-experimental research with Post-test Only Control Group Design. The study population is all students of class VII MTs Negeri 2 Ciamis academic year 2016/2017. Selection of sample using purposive sampling technique which result is class VII D as a group that learn with a model of brain-based learning and class VIIE as a class which learn with direct instruction model. To get data result of research in the form of problem-solving ability score used an instrument in the form of description problem while to measure self-efficacy of student used questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test, t-test and 2-way ANOVA test. The results showed: (1) the problem-solving ability of mathematics students using learning model of brain-based learning better than students using direct instruction model. (2) viewed from the ability of early mathematical (KAM) there is the difference of problem-solving ability of student mathematics learning using a model of brain-based learning by using direct instruction model. (3) there is no interaction between learning and KAM on students' mathematical problem-solving abilities. (4) the average self-efficacy of students in the class who are learning with the higher brain-based learning model than those using the direct instruction model and both are positive.


This study is an extract of the research study conducted in the framework of a dissertation for a Master's degree in Social Sciences (Sociology of Modernization), entitled "The State's Regulatory Processes in Higher Education in Chile during the period 1980 - 2002", presented at the School of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile. The purpose of the study is to determine the regulatory mechanisms applied to higher education in Chile, in the framework of university accreditation in the 1990s. The study was carried out from a theoretical perspective in accordance with certain interpretative analytical categories in order to go beyond statistical analyses that currently exist in our country. From this perspective, it is based on the theoretical model developed by Pierre Bourdieu, viewing social reality as a scenario of fields. This structuralist approach allows us to approach the understanding of higher education as a structured social space of positions and objective relations, of struggles and powers developed historically.


. We give a full description of the dynamics of the Abel equation ˙ z = z 3 + f ( t ) for some special complex valued f . We also prove the existence of at least three periodic solutions for equations of the form ˙ z = z n + f ( t ) for odd n ≥ 5 .


Pyrrolothiazolate formed by the Maillard reaction between l-cysteine and d-glucose has a pyrrolothiazole skeleton as a chromophore. We searched for a Maillard pigment having a pyrrolooxazole skeleton formed from l-threonine or l-serine instead of l-cysteine in the presence of d-glucose. As a result, two novel yellow pigments, named pyrrolooxazolates A and B, were isolated from model solutions of the Maillard reaction containing l-threonine and d-glucose, and l-serine and d-glucose, respectively, and identified as (2R,3S,7aS)-2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-2,5,7a-trimethyl-7-oxo-pyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazole-3-calboxylic acid and (3S,7aS)-2,3,7,7a-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-5,7a-dimethyl-7-oxo-pyrrolo[2,1-b]oxazole-3-calboxylic acid by instrumental analyses. These compounds were pyrrolooxazole derivatives carrying a carboxy group, and showed the absorption maxima at 300–360 nm under acidic and neutral conditions and at 320–390 nm under alkaline conditions. Graphical abstract Pyrrolooxazolates A and B, Maillard yellow pigments, are formed from l-threonine and d-glucose and from l-serine and d-glucose.


Leukotrienes are potent proinflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid through the 5‐lipoxygenase pathway. Experimental data suggest a role for cysteinyl leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of atopy giving a rationale for its use in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic urticaria management. A few clinical observations and small trials suggest that montelukast may be used in an adjunctive manner as an effective therapeutic option for all age categories affected by moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis. Our own observations proved that montelukast as a prospective corticosteroid‐sparing option in the complex therapeutic strategy of corticosteroid‐dependent atopic dermatitis patients, even in the severe erythrodermic cases.


Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is closely associated with ovarian hormone deficiency, amenorrhea, menopause, and infertility in women. Hormone replacement therapy remains the mainstay of treatment and management of POI. A combined oral contraceptive (Yasmin) containing 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone has been shown to be a well-tolerated and effective combination that provides high contraceptive reliability and good cycle control. Herein, we aim to examine clinical efficacy of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone in treating patients with POI and its effects on serum hormone levels, body mass, lipid metabolism, and T lymphocyte subsets. Retrospective analysis of clinical records and follow-up data from 80 patients with POI was performed. The control group contained 40 patients with POI receiving oral administration of 0.035 mg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg cyproterone acetate once a day for consecutive 21 days with drug withdrawal of 7 days in 3 months. The observation group contained 40 patients with POI receiving oral administration of 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone once a day for consecutive 28 days in 3 months. There was no significant difference on serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T), concentrations of high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), body mass, the numbers of CD+3, CD+4, CD+8 T cells, and ratio of CD+4/CD+8 between the control and observation group ( ) before treatment. After treatment, serum levels of FSH, LH, and T, concentrations of LDL-C, and TG, body mass, and CD+8 T cells were reduced but the concentration of HDL-C, CD+3, and CD+4 T cells and ratio of CD+4/CD+8 were increased in both two groups ( ); these changes were more significant in the observation group compared with the control group ( ). Besides, the total response rate of the observation group was 90.00%, which is higher than that of the control group, 77.50% ( ). The pregnancy rate of the observation group was 45.00%, which is higher than that of the control group, 30.00% ( ). Taken together, these results suggest that the combined oral contraceptive (Yasmin) containing 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone restores hormone levels, improves body mass and lipid metabolism, and sustains autoimmune function for patients with POI, suggesting ethinylestradiol/drospirenone treatment is effective in treating POI.


IN dividing the Tertiary deposits into groups, according to difference of genem nnd species, it is objected by some naturalists that the diversity might be occasioned by a difference in depth of water at t.lle same period of' time. This and other causes originate a marked variation in the Miocene deposits of Maryland and Virginia, but the paleontologist is never JD doubt of the relations of these Miocene localities. When, however, we find two beds in juxtnposition, the testacean groups of which differ entirely in species, and t.he evidence is clear. that they must have lived Il,od died in or near where they are now found, we are justified in t.ving each group a distinct name, and in supposing that they represent clUfeJ'ent periods of time. The strata at Vicksburg, Miss., as represented from the base at low water to the top of the Oligocene, decide a point of great importlLnce in Tertiary geology. Neither LIeU, Ruffin, nor Tuomey, who aU give a slight notice of Shell Bluff, on Savnnnnh river, say anything of the age and relations of the Jo.rge Ostrea Georgiana, so abundant there. Fortunately, at Vicksburg this sheJI occurs in the lower part of the bluff, below the Orbitolite limestone of the Jackson Group, nssociated with a distinct group of. shells peculiar to t\ well-marked subdivision of Eoaene strata. 'Ve know nothing from the geologists who have examined Shell Bluff of any species of shell associated with O. Georgiana i but at Vicksburg tbe species are well preserved, and are remarkable for baving no affinity with species above or below them. I propose therefore to distinguish this assemb1age of test.'\cen. by the name of the Shell Bluff group, the situation of which is in the Upper Eocene. There is no town nenr its outcrop other than Vicksburg by which its locality could be more precisely indicated, but it is only in Warren Co., Miss., that the group can be clearly defined by other fossils than Ostrea Georgiana. The following section will show the relative position of this group: VrCUBUBO BUln.


The trichloromethyl group served as a useful leaving group in nucleophilic displacement reactions by a variety of substituted amines and alcohols (the latter under base catalysis) on 2-trichloromethyl-5-methyl-1,3,4,6,9b-pentaazaphenalene (1a) and 2-trichloromethyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (2a). The reaction conditions were mild and the yields of the corresponding 2-substituted amino and alkoxy derivatives were generally good.


In many problems, the quality of solutions and computational effort required by optimization algorithms can be improved by exploiting knowledge found in the linkages or interrelations between problem dimensions or components. These linkages are sometimes known a priori from the nature of the itself; in other cases linkages can be learned by sampling the data space prior to the application of the optimization algorithm. This paper presents a new version of the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) that utilizes linkages between components, performing more frequent simultaneous updates on subsets of particle position components that are strongly linked. Prior to application of this linkage-sensitive PSO algorithm, problem specific linkages can be learned by examining a randomly chosen collection of points in the search space to determine the correlations in fitness changes resulting from perturbations in pairs of components of particle positions. The resulting algorithm, adaptive-linkage PSO (ALiPSO) has performed significantly better than the classical PSO, in simulations conducted so far on several test problems.


Abstract Thionyl chloride is known to be a pyramidal structure as show below1) and has been known to be a good chlorinating reagent of aliphatic alcohols, amides, carbonylates, epoxides, oximes and sulfonic acids and various others.2) It reacts with phenols to afford phenolic diaryl sulfides3) A good example would be the reaction of a seconary alcohol with thionyl chloride, shown below,which has been known to proceed with a partial retention of configuration as shown below.


The invention discloses a method for searching an audio content, which comprises:1) an audio fingerprint extraction step, which is to extract audio fingerprints of a plurality of audio files; 2) an audio fingerprint segmentation step, which is to segment the audio fingerprints extracted by the step 1); 3) an index generation step, which is to generate an audio fingerprint index according to the result of the segmentation in the step 2); and 4) a searching step, which is to search a matched audio file by using the audio fingerprint index. In the method, a segmentation technique in a text search engine is used to perform segmentation processing of the audio fingerprint files first, then an index technique in the field of text search is used to perform the index processing of the audio fingerprints, and finally, after the index processing is completed, the search engine can search an audio segment input by a user. Thus, the method facilitates the search of the user and improves search efficiency.


The use of portfolio at lessons of physical training allows organizing a full knowledge and skills forming process of students. Portfolio, taking different forms in dependence on variety of factors and pedagogical strategies, let follow the dynamics of educational process and its qualitative changes.


Medicaid provides a critical source of insurance against the rising costs of long-term care, and as a result, individuals may strategically offload assets (typically to children) to meet the means-tested eligibility requirement. Yet, evidence on such behaviors is limited. In this paper, we use variation in the propensity to conduct improper transfers induced by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to quantify the extent of strategic transfers. The Act discouraged asset offloading by introducing significant penalties for such actions. We estimate difference-in-differences models based on the hypothesis that individuals with high levels of self-reported nursing home risk (high risk) will alter transfers based on the Act's changes, while other individuals remain unaffected. We find that over a two-year horizon, high risk individuals reduced transfers to children on the extensive margin by 10 percent and that the average total amount of transfers decreased by $1,700. We also conduct a triple-differences analysis to examine various forms of heterogeneity. We find that the reduction in transfers we document comes from high risk individuals who are less financially literate, suggesting that more financially sophisticated households either have other mechanisms to shield assets or are not sensitive to Medicaid eligibility.


A modification of rectangular finite-element method for solving problems of plane elasticity is proposed when interelemental continuousness of displacements is taking into account.


The generation of air-borne dust from unpaved haul roads of opencast mines can be effectively suppressed by mixing dust-suppressant chemicals in spraying water. Before applying any suppressant, it is necessary to evaluate its physical and chemical properties to ensure safety of human beings, as well as that of the working environment. Studies of physico-chemical properties can predict quality, effectiveness in controlling air-borne dust, and its effect on flora and fauna. The neutral character of chemical solution, penetration of water in the road bed, fi re hazard, evaluation of poisonous gas at high atmospheric temperatures, degradation of chemical structure over time, presence of toxic metals, and effect on human health, plants, and aquatic life are to be studied. The scientific study described below provides an effective methodology for evaluation of physico-chemical properties of dust-suppressant chemical and its application on unpaved haul road of opencast mines.


Fee for service payment is the widest payment mechanism in China.It caused medical service over supply, induced medical consumption and medical expenditure over growth.Based on the evidence in China and overseas, DRGs-PPS system could effectively control medical expenditure irrational increased and improve medical service quality and efficiency.Feasibilities and key technology points of implementing DRGs-PPS system are analyzed.Technical solutions of implementing DRGs-PPS are mentioned.Implementing DRGs-PPS in TCM hospitals in China is feasible and necessary.


Background and Aims: Annoyance due to community noise is a growing problem in the urbanized world. Noise reduction at the source is inadequate to tackle the negative trend and other approaches must...


We present a method of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI),"What I Know (WIK)", to provide additional information to verify the reliability of a deep learning model by showing an example of an instance in a training dataset that is similar to the input data to be inferred and demonstrate it in a remote sensing image classification task. One of the expected roles of XAI methods is verifying whether inferences of a trained machine learning model are valid for an application, and it is an important factor that what datasets are used for training the model as well as the model architecture. Our data-centric approach can help determine whether the training dataset is sufficient for each inference by checking the selected example data. If the selected example looks similar to the input data, we can confirm that the model was not trained on a dataset with a feature distribution far from the feature of the input data. With this method, the criteria for selecting an example are not merely data similarity with the input data but also data similarity in the context of the model task. Using a remote sensing image dataset from the Sentinel-2 satellite, the concept was successfully demonstrated with reasonably selected examples. This method can be applied to various machine-learning tasks, including classification and regression.


Summary Further excavation at Torksey established that the borough was an open settlement; a medieval ditch merely separated the village closes from the common. One such close contained three more pottery kilns. Two kilns were found immediately south of the village, bringing the total to seven. The pottery industry seems to have started by the middle of the ninth century and lasted through much of the twelfth; it may have been or become subordinate to that of Lincoln.


Using survey on 865 college students, this study examines college students` perceptions on older generations in Korea. College students do not perceive conflicts with the elderly severely. While they recognize that the elderly contributed to family care and economic growth, they perceive that intergenerational conflicts regarding redistribution across generations might be impending in the areas of welfare policies. Progressive students evaluate contributions of the elderly more positively and approve expanding the roles of governments in the areas of welfare policies for the elderly than do conservative students. Students with higher interests in politics also positively assess the contributions of the elderly and are more concerned with the financial sustainability of welfare policies for the elderly. However, they perceive that the possibility of intergenerational conflicts might be low. This study suggests programs to increase intergenerational cooperation between college students and the elderly.


This article proposes an interpretation of the 'time-eternity' relationship as exposed in Book XI of St. Augustine's Confessions, with the intention of searching for a circumvention of the dichotomy between objective and subjective time'. The key to this interpretation is the analysis of the terms distentio, attentio and intentio, which allows us to relate the 'chronologic and kairologic' dimensions of time, symbol of eternity.


This article deals with social dynamic processes ocurring in some traditional communities, like Machadinha, hailed from slaves descendants and located in the municipality of Quissama, in the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Historically forgotten by the public powers and doomed to the failure of its material and immaterial patrimony, these communities are being studied and sustained by different agencies of modernization (Non Government Organizations, Midia, etc) who earnestly participate in reconstructing the communitarian knowledge and its spaces, trying to reproduce in the present their ?authentic past? through modern methods and techniques. We denominate these territories ?new communities? and suggest that they are in an ambiguous situation between the tradition and modernization, oscillating within these two poles of tensions and relations of mutual dependency. Key words: traditional communities, popular culture, tradition and modernization


The environmental effects on the fluorescence of 1,3-di(α-naphthyl) propane have been investigated in various solvents. The correlation on vibronic and excimeric band intensities with the physical properiies of solvents is discussed.


1. In a recent issue of IJAL, Munro (1984) addresses the question of the role of Chickasaw in the lexicon of Mobilian Jargon (henceforth MJ), a Native American pidgin also known as the Chickasaw-Choctaw trade language of the lower Mississippi Valley and adjacent areas. After comparing the MJ lexical items collected by Crawford (1978: 81-97) with recently gathered Chickasaw data of her own, Munro concludes that Chickasaw could hardly have served as a major lexical source for MJ, since those MJ forms exhibiting "greater or less affinity with various possible sources within Western Muskogean" appear noticeably different from the corresponding Chickasaw words or phrases (Munro 1984: 440). By implication, the author thus deemphasizes, if not actually denying, any role that the Chickasaw language might have played in the origin and history of the pidgin partially named after it. In response, I wish to challenge some of Munro's inferences drawn from her comparisons of MJ and Western Muskogean lexical data and also examine some of her other observations on MJ. Most important, I question the general conclusions she has drawn from these comparisons, and in particular I disagree with her suggestion that Chickasaw-because of the alleged absence of similar modern forms in MJ-was necessarily insignificant in the formation and history of the pidgin. Beyond questions of data and interpretation, my disagreements, based on extensive field and archival research,' also address theoretical concerns. These questions arise from the perspective of a broadly defined historical linguistics that includes findings from pidgin and creole studies as well as sociolinguistics.


In this thesis I present and test an intertemporal model for the current account. The model predicts a nation that prefers a smooth consumption pro le where the current account balance is used as a tool to smooth consumption based on expectations about future changes in net output. The model implies a present-value relationship between the current account and future changes in net output. The present-value model (PVM) is a nested version of a general vector autoregression (VAR). I estimate this general VAR for quarterly Norwegian data for the period 1981 to 2011. The cross-equation restrictions on this VAR that are implied by the PVM is rejected for Norwegian data, but I present some favorable, less formal results from the intertemporal model.


In this paper, the performance of the different methods for solving the pose of parallel mechanism is different in the amount and precision of calculation. Taking typical 3-RPS parallel mechanism as the analysis object, kinematics models of the mechanism were established with quaternion and Rodriguez parameter method respectively, and the bar length of the maximum reachable space was solved by genetic algorithm, so as to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the solution of the model. Finally, numerical simulation is used to compare the amplitude and fluctuation degree of the curve according to the smooth spline interpolation in both calculation and precision. The results show that the Rodriguez parameter method is superior to the quaternion method in the accuracy of pose resolution of 3-RPS parallel mechanism, while the quaternion method is superior in the real-time performance of the solution. This result provides a theoretical basis for the pose control of parallel mechanism.


In this paper we investigate the Lower ionospheric variations from TEC observations during the intense seismic activity of October 2020 in the area of Greece (35 o £ j £ 42 o N, 19 o £ l £ 29 o E). The Total Electron Content (TEC) data are been provided by the Hermes GNSS Network managed by GNSS_QC, AUTH Greece, the HxGN/SmartNet-Greece of Metrica S.A, and the EUREF Network. These data were analysed using both, statistical analysis of TEC variations in order to detect uneven gross variations and Discrete Fourier Analysis in order to investigate the TEC turbulence. The results of this investigation indicate that the HighFrequency limit f o of the ionospheric turbulence content, increases as aproaching the occurrence time of the earthquake, pointing to the earthquake epicenter, in accordane to our previous investigations (Contadakis et al., 2009; Contadakis et al., 2012; Contadakis et al., 2015; Scordilis et al., 2020). We conclude that the LAIC mechanism through acoustic or gravity waves could explain this phenomenology. Thus, observing the frequency content of the ionospheric turbidity we observe a decrease of the higher limit of the turbitity frequency band, as a result of the differential frequency attenuation of the propagating wave. In addition, the statistical analysis shows an excess greater than 3σ from the mean TEC values one and seven days before the earthquake. Since no major disturbance of the geomagnetic field occured during these days, we conclude that we probably observed precursory Ionospheric variations in accordance to analogous findings from the variation of VH/VHF electromagnetic wave propagrations over strong earthquake areas (e.g. Biagi et al. 2019)