The maintenance of data warehouses is becoming an increasingly important topic due to the growing use, derivation and integration of digital information. Most previous work has dealt with one centralized data warehouse (DW) only. In this paper, we now focus on environments with multiple data warehouses that are possibly derived from other data warehouses. In such a large-scale environment, data updates from base sources may arrive in individual data warehouses in diierent orders, thus resulting in inconsistent data warehouse extents. We propose a registry-based solution strategy that addresses this problem by employing a registry agent responsible for establishing one unique order for the propagation of updates from the base sources to the data warehouses. With this solution, individual data warehouse managers can still maintain their respective extents autonomously and independently from each other, thus allowing them to apply any of the existing incremental maintenance algorithms from the literature. We demonstrate that this will indeed achieve consistency across all data warehouses. In order to achieve scalability of this approach, we further optimize this registry solution by partitioning the set of data warehouse managers into smaller data warehouse groups each equipped with their own registry. We present a partitioning algorithm for generating such a scalable DW group architecture. Finally, we analyze the performance of the proposed solutions based on a cost model, and demonstrate that the partitioned registry approach achieves substantially better performance than the registry solution.


The science of cookery is an important branch of pharmacy, in the broad sense, the decision as to the quality of a food stuff, an important branch of pharmacognosy, and the management of the diet by the physician, a branch of therapeutics. The quantitative estimate of foods consumed, and a knowledge of their active, nutritive principles, is quite as necessary as a knowledge of drug dosage, with the proviso that the necessity for accuracy in the amounts prescribed is inverse to the powerfulness, that is, the toxicity of the substance administered. While in health a normal appetite or even habit may be a tolerably safe guide to the nature and amount of the food ingested, quantitative estimates become necessary in disease, especially as the disease influences or is influenced by metabolism, so that the avoidance of an excess or deficit or the purposive creation of an excess or deficit of


Individuals with multiple chronic health conditions (MCC) often face an overwhelming set of self-management work, resulting in a need to set care priorities. Yet, much self-management work is invisible to healthcare providers. This study aimed to understand how to support the development and sharing of connections between personal values and self-management tasks through the facilitated use of an interactive visualization system: Conversation Canvas. We conducted a field study with 13 participants with MCC, 3 caregivers, and 7 primary care providers in Washington State. Analysis of interviews with MCC participants showed that developing visualizations of connections between personal values, self-management tasks, and health conditions helped individuals make sense of connections relevant to their health and wellbeing, recognize a road map of central issues and their impacts, feel respected and understood, share priorities with providers, and support value-aligned changes. These findings demonstrated potential for the guided process and visualization to support priorities-aligned care.


Prediction and classification of time-series data play a vital role in multiple fields. This paper aims to compare modern machine learning techniques to analyze time series data. A discussion of existing algorithms is presented. Artificial Neural Networks have seen major applications in various computational fields in diverse ways. Its application extends to time-series data in an essential way. A number of recently developed Artificial Neural Network approaches to time-series prediction are provided. We discuss merits and demerits of each algorithm are. We then provide a comparative study of the approaches and address their applications.


We evaluated and compared the performance of a 15.6-inch mini-LED backlit LCD (mLCD) with a commercial OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panel. Both displays exhibited outstanding properties, but the mLCD had advantages in peak brightness, gamma curve, luminance uniformity at low gray scales, color volume, power consumption, and ambient contrast ratio. In comparison with previous measurement methods, our color measurement adopted the reference method recently recommended by the International Committee for Display Metrology (ICDM). The LMK imaging photometer with a high-resolution CMOS sensor was employed to characterize the halo effect and reconstruct the real luminance profiles based on the non-ideal luminance profile of the OLED display. We also proposed a novel strategy to measure the point spread function of the backlight module.


Holy Cross, taught undergraduate political theory at the University of Notre Dame in the 1950s. He wrote no scholarly books and thus spared himself the neglect their writers often suffer. He would have found this "good fortune" amusing. Between 1954 and 1961 Father Parry published a few articles that present a sequence of ideas and a pattern of thought distinctively his. I intend to sketch it by reviewing three of the articles. This will also help to indicate the thematic content of his classroom presentations. While Father Parry was a warm supporter of the conservative movement in American public life and sometimes brought men like Willmoore Kendall to the campus for the edification of his students and colleagues, he was not as self-consciously conservative as his closest faculty colleague Gerhart Niemeyer. As a "theorist," Father Parry regarded the "live" transmission of classical and Christian wisdom as his primary educational mission. He encouraged hundreds of young men to become conversant with that tradition, to heed its implications, and to pass it along. Not a few of them earned higher degrees and attained positions of responsibility in academic life and public service. John A. Gueguen, Jr.


This research talks about the experiences of residents physical education teachers, to describe the possible meanings attributed by patients with mental disorders face to dance activities . The issue arises from the constant demands of patients admitted to the psychiatric clinic of the Clinic Hospital Dr. Alberto Lima (HCAL) for dance activities developed by physical education teachers coming from Multidisciplinary Residency Program in Public Health with emphasis on line training Attention to Mental Health, Federal University of Amapa and this body practice is suggested therapeutic plan of patients. We register this qualitative study, descriptive, had as subjects the patients of psychiatric service in the HCAL with different diagnosis of mental disorders. For the study, we used the months of June and August 2013, with the number of participants varied each week, due to the clinical, hospital admissions, readmissions and hospital discharges. It is understood that the dance activities bring different interpretations to patients with mental disorders; however, there is a consensus that the proposed benefits are great for practice, they're organic or psychological. The idea of having to dance as a possible therapeutic action in the activities of mental health service highlights the importance of the presence and action of physical education professionals in the multidisciplinary team of mental health, it is based on the model of care focused on non-medical action, but new perspectives on care services and health promotion .


We investigate function spaces with dominating mixed smoothness properties of Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin type. Equivalent quasi-norms in terms of local means are derived. Also theorems on atomic and subatomic decomposition are proved. 1 2 Preface In this paper we deal with function spaces of dominating mixed smoothness properties. First spaces of this type were defined by S. M. Nikol'skij in [N1] and [N2]. He introduced the spaces of Sobolev type


This paper is part of the theoretical framework of the research project entitled Teaching Path Analysis to Epistemic Teaching the method of integration by parts, work done as a requirement for the degree of Doctor of Education in Mathematics Education online. The text focuses on two parts: the first relates results of investigations conducted by the educational math that show first, that the curriculum is focused on teaching the formal aspects of the concepts of calculus rather than on the epistemological dimensions and cognitive. On the other hand show that the professional thinking of teachers, implies a view of learning as a process of retaining information that is transmitted by the teacher and the student reception.


This article analyzes different kinds of methods which are used to encrypt the Web pages, and focuses on multi-encrypting the ASP Web sites.


In order to assess the influence of course of pregnancy upon rate and rhythm of heartbeat of a baby in the early neonatal period of life, parameters of babies' cardiac oscillators were described in terms of power spectral density function calculated for rows of 100-250 consecutive ECG RR-intervals registered during orthodox sleep. Correlation of heart rhythm characteristics, ECG patterns of a baby during first 5 days after delivery and parameters of pregnancy described both in terms of nosology and symptoms (122 parameters in total) were analyzed. 160 newborns were enrolled in the study. Drug abuse, impossi-bility to fill in the query form or informal consent, severe disease of baby, gestational age less than 28 weeks and/or body weight at birth less than 1500 grams were specified as major exclusion criteria. It was shown that preeclampsia during the first half of pregnancy and women's illness, associated with body temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius after 8 week of pregnancy are among major determinants of babies' cardiac oscillator in the early neonatal period of life, but they don't affect the ECG wave amplitude and the duration of PQ and QT intervals. Pregnancy complicated during the first half promotes bradycardia and high heart rate variability and pregnancy complicated during the second half promotes tachycardia and low heart rate variability in babies during at least 5 days after delivery. Hypothetical spatial models of pacemaker areas were proposed for cases of normal pregnancy, pregnancy complicated in the first half and pregnancy complicated in the second half.


The identity and nomenclature of the endemic Indian species Commelina hirsuta (Wight) Beddome (Commelinaceae) has puzzled taxonomists. This was further accelerated by the publication of a new name Commelina beddomei for this species recently.  In the present paper, the identity and nomenclature of Commelina hirsuta (Wight) Beddome is discussed. A lectotype is designated and additional notes on the species are provided.


Prior to the implementation of automatic exchange of information (AEOI), Indonesian government introduced tax amnesty program in 2016 by providing taxpayers with an opportunity to correct their annual tax returns that were previously reported not based on actual condition. This paper attempts to empirically measure the impact of the tax amnesty program on cross-border tax evasion in Indonesia by using changes in deposits owned by Indonesian residents kept in banks located in offshore jurisdictions, or known as cross-border deposits, to proxy for cross-border evasion. Quarterly data on cross-border deposits was obtained from Bank for International Settlement (BIS) Locational Banking Statistics (LBS) from third quarter 2016 until fourth quarter 2017. Using difference-in-difference analysis, our study finds insufficient evidence to suggest that cross-border tax evasion in Indonesia is impacted by the amnesty program. The results also indicate that the government may need to more effectively use the AEOI data received from its partners to investigate whether the taxpayers still commit cross-border tax evasion by hiding their financial assets in offshore financial institutions. This study contributes to academic literature by extending tax literature, specifically about tax evasion and tax amnesty. It also provides insights to regulator about the relationship between tax amnesty and cross-border tax evasion.


This book of readings was developed as a contribution to the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) document 'Shaping our future: Australia's national strategy for vocational education and training 2004-2010' (indexed at TD/LMR 85.685). It reviews the achievements realised for the equity groups identified in 'Bridge to the future: Australia's national strategy for vocational education and training 1998 − 2003.' (indexed at TD/LMR 85.683), and reveals the issues these groups are currently facing and how they might be addressed. It also considers whether there are other groups who experience disadvantage and the role that vocational education and training (VET) could play to improve their opportunities. Finally, it discusses approaches and frameworks which need to be developed to bring about further improvements in equity in VET


Five Neogene floras in southern Washington and northwest Oregon indicate that the uplift of the Cascade Range occurred after ∼8–6 Ma. Miocene floras west of the range (Wilkes and Faraday floras) resemble paleofloras of correlative age to the east (Rattlesnake Hills, Palouse Falls, and lower Ringold). The statistical similarity of Miocene floras east and west of the Cascade Range axis demonstrates that a similar mesic, warm climate across the Pacific Northwest existed during the Middle and Late Miocene. These floras represent mixed hardwood–conifer forests that commonly contained Taxodium (bald cypress) and other mesophytic taxa. Based on Jaccard similarity coefficients calibrated with climatic data from modern plant communities, these paleofloras indicate a climate that was summer–wet, unlike that of the Pacific Northwest today. The annual precipitation was >100 cm, and the estimated mean annual temperatures of the fossil sites were 12–13 °C. The Miocene floras indicate that the development of a Cascade r...


The objective of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and differential diagnosis of low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma.Ten cases of low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma were observed by histologic and immunohistochemical staining.The clinical manifestation of these patients was irregular vaginal bleeding.Microscopically,the tumor was densely cellar and composed of uniform,oval to spindle-shaped cells of endometrial stromal-type,and cellular atypia and pleomorphism were absent.A rich network of delicate small arterioles resembling the spiral arterioles of the late secretory endometrium supported the proliferating cells.Perivascular hyalinization and a stellate or starburst pattern of hyalinization occurred in some cases.Reticulin stains revealed a dense network of fibrils surrounding individual cells or small groups of cells.Immunohistochemically,8 cases were positive for CD10,6 cases for ER,6 cases for PR,2 cases for actin,and all cases were negative for CD34,CD117 and Melan-A.In conclusion,LESS is easily mistaken for other lesions.The differential diagnosis includes endometrial stromal nodule,undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma,cellular leiomyoma,intravenous leiomyomatosis,and perivascular epithelioid cell tumor.Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings are helpful in differential diagnosis.


Respirator for supplying a respiratory gas to a person, with a device sealing lip (2) for sealing a contact zone mask, a base body mask (1, 31) for forming an interior space mask device and a front contact (3, 40) with a padding element, the device being sealing lip (2), the base body mask (1, 31) and the padding element integrally formed, characterized in that the respirator further has a connecting section (5) connecting the device front contact (3, 40) with the base body mask (1, 31), the position front contact device (3, 40) and the mask base body (1, 31) varying reciprocally.


Strasbourg (France) and Lund (Sweden), March 26, 2019, 8:30 a.m. CET Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors and BioInvent International AB (OMXS: BINV), a biotech company focused on the discovery and development of novel immunoregulatory antibodies to treat cancer, announce the extension of their collaboration to co-develop multi-functional oncolytic viruses (OV) encoding for undisclosed antibodies sequences capable of treating a broad range of solid tumors.


Autophagy is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and is activated in mouse liver cells by amino acid deprivation. A low protein diet during gestation and lactation has been associated with poor fetal development but consequence in mother has not been fully investigated. This study aims to investigate the effects of a low protein diet during gestation and lactation on liver physiology of dams and characterize the associated hepatic autophagy. Timed‐pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats were fed a control (control, 20 kcal% protein) or a low protein (LP, 8 kcal% protein) diet during gestation and lactation. Dam liver was collected for analysis at weaning. LP dams had significantly lower circulating threonine than control dams, which is accompanied with the hepatic activation of Amino Acid Response pathway. Expression of an autophagy‐related gene, microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (lc3) was up‐regulated by the LP diet which coincided with increased ATF4 binding at the predicted promoter region of lc3 gene. Also, we observed increased LC3 protein localization outside nucleus by the LP diet. Knocking down of ATF4 by siRNA decreased mRNA and protein expressions of LC3 in a rat hepatoma cell line. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that ATF4 is potentially involved in the autophagy process through regulation of LC3 by a low protein diet during gestation and lactation in the liver of rat dam.


We perform a static analysis of a circular cylinder that forms a barrier between surfactant-laden and surfactant-free portions of a liquid–gas interface. In addition to determining the general implications of the balances for forces and torques, we quantify how the imbalance $\unicode[STIX]{x0394}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}=\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{a}-\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{b}$ between the uniform surface tension $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{a}$ of the surfactant-free portion of the interface and the uniform surface tension $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{b}$ of the surfactant-laden portion of the interface influences the load-bearing capacity of a hydrophobic cylinder. Moreover, we demonstrate that the difference between surface tensions on either side of a cylinder with a cross-section of arbitrary shape induces a horizontal force component $f^{h}$ equal to $\unicode[STIX]{x0394}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}$ in magnitude, when measured per unit length of the cylinder. With an energetic argument, we show that this relation also applies to a rod-like barrier with cross-sections of variable shape. In addition, we apply our analysis to amphiphilic Janus cylinders and we discuss practical implications of our findings for Marangoni propulsion and surface pressure measurements.


Phase equilibria and mutual diffusion coefficients for polymer systems are reviewed. The author describes the gas chromatographic method and gravimetric method to measure the vapor-liquid equilibria of polymer systems, i.e., solubilities of gases and vapors in polymers. Further, the author shows that the UNIFAC-FV model is useful to predict the vapor-liquid equilibria. For liquid-liquid equilibria, the experimental results obtained by using cloud point method are reported. The correlated results for liquid-liquid equilibria obtained by a solution model and the UNIFAC-FV model for polystyrene systems are shown. Furthermore, the measurement and correlation for the mutual diffusion coefficients are presented.


For X a smooth quasi‐projective variety and X[n]$X^{[n]}$ its associated Hilbert scheme of n points, we study two canonical Fourier–Mukai transforms D(X)→D(X[n])${\mathsf {D}}(X)\rightarrow {\mathsf {D}}\big (X^{[n]}\big )$ , the one along the structure sheaf and the one along the ideal sheaf of the universal family. For dimX≥2$\operatorname{\mathsf {dim}}X\ge 2$ , we prove that both functors admit a left inverse. This means in particular that both functors are faithful and injective on isomorphism classes of objects. Using another method, we also show in the case of an elliptic curve that the Fourier–Mukai transform along the structure sheaf of the universal family is faithful and injective on isomorphism classes. Furthermore, we prove that the universal family of X[n]$X^{[n]}$ is always flat over X, which implies that the Fourier–Mukai transform along its structure sheaf maps coherent sheaves to coherent sheaves.


Current projections show that the number of people with dementia in the UK will more than double in less than forty years, with increasing costs for providers of health and social care. Under existing structures, people with dementia are more likely to be admitted to hospital with avoidable conditions, have longer hospital stays, experience more adverse events unrelated to their condition and have poorer clinical outcomes, often resulting in a discharge to a care home. Professor Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia for Bupa Care Services UK, will showcase Bupa's pioneering work to transform the care of people living with dementia. As a leader in dementia care, Bupa is working in partnership with others to provide affordable and sustainable 'whole person' solutions, covering the full care pathway, and improving service users' quality of life. He will be joined by Martin Knapp, Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and director NIHR School for Social Care Research, and Josie Dixon, Research Fellow, London School of Economics.


Due to the inherent characteristics of the components present, certain types of odor are associated with the collection and subsequent treatment of wastewater. The transport or storage of wastewater or its solids can, under certain conditions, generate odors even when none were previously present. Careful design of a wastewater collection and treatment facility can minimize many of the problems associated with odors, but rarely can this ever completely eliminate the odor problem.


Joseph Stiglitz's insights into economics have frequently challenged orthodox economic thinking. He is regarded as the fourth most influential economist in the world and in 2011 Time magazine rated him as one of the world's 100 most influential people. He is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and is currently a professor at Colombia University in New York. His recent visit to Australia was sponsored by the Economics Society of Australia.


Angiogenesis has been proven to play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanism underlying HCC angiogenesis is not well understood. In this study, Prospero‐related homeobox 1 (PROX1) was identified as a novel proangiogenic factor in HCC cell lines and tissues. A strong positive correlation was found between the levels of PROX1 and microvessel density in HCC tissues. Knockdown of PROX1 expression in HCC cells significantly inhibited the in vitro capillary tube formation by human vascular endothelial cells and in vivo angiogenesis of HCC, while overexpression of PROX1 in HCC cells induced the opposite effects. PROX1 and nuclear factor κB p65 expression levels were positively correlated in both HCC tissues and cell lines. PROX1 enhances the nuclear accumulation of p65 and stabilizes p65 by recruiting ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 to prevent p65 ubiquitination. Consequently, PROX1 activated nuclear factor κB signaling and selectively promoted expression of the proangiogenic interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) by epigenetically stimulating the IL‐8 promoter. Finally, progression of high PROX1 expression HCC in tumor xenograft mice could be effectively contained by an anti‐IL‐8 monoclonal antibody. Conclusions: We have identified PROX1 as a crucial promoter of HCC angiogenesis; our study provides an insight into PROX1's function in HCC progression and the potential therapeutic application of anti‐IL‐8 antibody in high PROX1 expression HCC patients. (Hepatology 2017;66:1894–1909)


A 26-year-old woman with a summer home on Long Island, New York, had a low-grade fever, malaise, arthralgias, headache, and neck pain one week after removing a tick from her thigh. Examination reveals a nontender oval (8 by 12 cm), homogeneously erythematous lesion at the site of the tick bite, consistent with erythema migrans. How should this case be managed? What if she had presented earlier, just after removing the tick?


Squatter villages are commonly found in the rural areas of Hong Kong. This paper describes a central metering scheme which is currently used in Hong Kong for electricity distribution in those rural areas. It discusses the consequences of converting the system earthing of this scheme from TT system to TN-S system. This paper also addresses the use of residual current devices for customers' installations. Difficulties encountered in rural electrification for squatter villages are also discussed.


Automatically assessing photo quality from the perspective of visual aesthetics is of great interest in high-level vision research and has drawn much attention in recent years. In this paper, we propose content-based photo quality assessment using both regional and global features. Under this framework, subject areas, which draw the most attentions of human eyes, are first extracted. Then regional features extracted from both subject areas and background regions are combined with global features to assess photo quality. Since professional photographers adopt different photographic techniques and have different aesthetic criteria in mind when taking different types of photos (e.g., landscape versus portrait), we propose to segment subject areas and extract visual features in different ways according to the variety of photo content. We divide the photos into seven categories based on their visual content and develop a set of new subject area extraction methods and new visual features specially designed for different categories. The effectiveness of this framework is supported by extensive experimental comparisons of existing photo quality assessment approaches as well as our new features on different categories of photos. In addition, we propose an approach of online training an adaptive classifier to combine the proposed features according to the visual content of a test photo without knowing its category. Another contribution of this work is to construct a large and diversified benchmark dataset for the research of photo quality assessment. It includes 17,673 photos with manually labeled ground truth. This new benchmark dataset can be down loaded at http://mmlab.ie.cuhk.edu.hk/CUHKPQ/Dataset.htm.


Rationale Nlrx1, a pattern recognition receptor belonging to the NLR family, is highly expressed in the heart and is significantly increased after myocardial infarction in vivo, however, the role of Nlrx1 in post-infarction inflammation and healing is poorly understood. Although the effects of infiltrating macrophages on survival of cardiomyocytes and healing of injured hearts have been intensely studied, whether or not and how surviving cardiomyocytes might influence the phenotype and function of macrophages in the infarcted hearts was largely unexplored. Objective To investigate the role of Nlrx1 in post-infarction inflammation and healing and to dissect the underlying mechanism. Methods and results Single cell RNA-sequencing of 23,805 cells isolated from infarcted hearts revealed 7 clusters of infarct macrophages including CCR2+, Isg+, Mki67+ proliferative, and LYVE1+ cardiac resident macrophages, and identified a novel subset of CD9+Il1rn+ macrophages, which were characterized by high expression of Cd9, Il1rn, Gpnmb and Spp1, and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. CD9+Il1rn+ macrophages were largely found in infarcted hearts of Nlrx1KO mice, and were transcriptionally unique with reparative phenotype. Loss of Nlrx1 attenuated ventricular dysfunction and adverse remodeling, and decreased post-infarction mortality. Flow cytometry analysis showed markedly increased number of CD9+ macrophages and higher mean fluorescence intensity of CD9 in Nlrx1KO mice. RNA-seq analysis revealed that CD9+ macrophages of Nlrx1KO infarcted hearts exhibited a reparative and anti-inflammatory phenotype as featured by upregulation of wound healing-associated genes including CD9, Spp1 and Fn1, and downregulation of proinflammatory genes. Conditioned medium from Nlrx1 deficient cardiomyocytes upon hypoxia stimulation skewed macrophage polarization towards a reparative and inflammation-suppressed phenotype. Gain-and loss-of function of Nlrx1 combined with RNA-seq analysis identified CCN2, whose expression and secretion were significantly increased in Nlrx1 deficient cardiomyocytes upon hypoxia, as a cardiomyocytes-derived mediator responsible, at least partly, for reprograming macrophage towards a reparative phenotype. In vivo, CCN2 expression was markedly elevated in Nlrx1KO infarcted hearts. Moreover, exogenous CCN2 partially mediated macrophage transition towards a reparative phenotype. Conclusions CD9+ IL1rn+ macrophages modulated by Nlrx1 deficient cardiomyocytes-derived CCN2, is a novel subset of reparative macrophages contributing to infarct healing. Inhibition of myocardial Nlrx1 and/or activation of CCN2 to boost CD9+ IL1rn+ reparative macrophages may represent new therapeutics for infarct healing following ischemic injury.


Based on the concept of "ecological niche" in population ecology,"urban mining" industrial agglomeration of Miluo city is taken as research object.The "ecological niche" evaluation model of "urban mining" was built.Delphi methods,analytic hierarchy process and graph diagnosis are used to diagnosis the Miluo "urban mining" industrial agglomeration,which indicats that Miluo "urban mining" industrial agglomeration is falling behind the other civil "urban mining" industrial agglomeration.Some optimal opinions are proposed in order to broaden the "ecological niche" of Miluo "urban mining" industrial agglomeration,improve the integrated competitive capability,promote the "urban mining" industrial agglomeration of Miluo city to a higher grade.


Electrochemical lithium-ion intercalation/de-intercalation at a graphite electrode were studied in propylene carbonate-based electrolyte solutions containing both lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide and magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide salts by using lithium/graphite cell, and the influence of the salt concentration was investigated. In the higher concentration electrolyte solutions, reversible lithium-ion intercalation/de-intercalation at the graphite electrodes occurred. In contrast, only the exfoliation of graphite occurred in the lower concentration electrolyte solutions. The threshold ratio of the magnesium salt (Mg2+/Li+ = 0.9) was lower than that of the calcium salt (Ca2+/Li+ = 1.1).


An effective clutter rejection scheme is needed to distinguish between clutter and targets in a high-performance automatic target recognition system. In this paper, we present a clutter rejection scheme that consists of an eigenspace transformation and a multilayer perceptron (MLP). The input to the clutter rejector module is the output of the detector that provides the potential regions (target chips). We first use an eigen transformation for feature extraction and dimensionality reduction. The transformations considered in this research are principal component analysis (PCA) and the eigenspace separation transform (EST). These transformations differ in their capabilities to enhance the class separability and to compact the information (energy) for a given training set. The result of the eigenspace transformation is then fed to an MLP that predicts the identity of the input, which is either a target or clutter. To search for the optimal performance, we use different sets of eigentargets and construct the matching MLPs. Modified from the popular Qprop algorithm, we devise an MLP training algorithm that seeks to maximize the class separation at a given false-alarm rate, which does not necessarily minimize the average deviation of the MLP outputs from their target values. Experimental results are presented on a huge and realistic data set of forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery.


Boiler unit plays essential role in power plant and controlling the boiler drum level is one of the important operations. Nowadays, conventional Proportional plus Derivative plus Integral (P+I+D) control is being used for this purpose. These conventional controllers in power plants are not very stable when there are fluctuations. To overcome this and to get better solution intelligent controller (fuzzy logic) is used to tune the conventional PID controller automatically in online process through LabVIEW platform. In addition, Conventional PID and Hybrid Fuzzy-PID controllers are compared. Hybrid Fuzzy-PID controller result proves that, it offer better performance (in terms of settling time, rising time, steady state error) than conventional PID controller in boiler drum level control.


This study aimed to examine the effect of parental psychological control on adolescents' non-suicidal selfinjury and verify whether this effect is mediated by depression. In the first survey of 647 middle and high school students, only those who had experiences of non-suicidal self-injury were selected (136 adolescents). For data analysis purposes, descriptive statistics for each measured variable and Pearson's correlation coefficients among research variables were calculated. In addition, Process Macro - Model 4 by Hayes (2013) was used to investigate the mediating model. Finally, the bootstrapping method was applied to confirm the significance of the mediating effect. The results of this study were as follows. First, parental psychological control and depression directly affected the frequency of non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents. Second, depression mediated the relationship between parental psychological control and non-suicidal selfinjury. In conclusion, the more parents controlled their children's psychological factors, the higher the level of depression among adolescents, and as a result, the higher the frequency of non-suicidal self-injury. These findings suggest that educational intervention on parental psychological control is important to prevent and reduce non-suicidal self-injury; however, psychotherapy intervention that reduces the levels of depression should also be required.


Background: In recent years there has been an increasing trend towards psychoactive substance use among youth, especially medical students. Aims: To assess Dubai Medical College for Girls students' attitudes towards substance use and their use of substances. Participants: One hundred and three female medical students were selected randomly and were evaluated. Measurements: A confidential questionnaire was distributed, completed by the students and collected in the same sessions in 2007. Results: Of the subjects, 8.92% reported usage of substance(s) once or more sometime during their lives. Only 4.90% were currently using substance. The most common reason for initiation of substance use was to find out what it was like for most of the substances. The majority of the students reported religion as the most important reason for not using substances. Most of the students reported radio/television and newspaper/magazine as the usual source of information about substances. Conclusions: Tobacco was found to be the most prevalent form of substance use. There was no report of ecstasy, cocaine, LSD or heroin use. Drug use among Dubai Medical College students is much lower than that reported in the West.


The acquisition of Tiger International by Federal Express must be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The purchase of the company itself must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department. The benefits to be obtained by the merger include: accelerated development of global door-to-door cargo and express services among Federal Express' competitors, particularly in Europe; a more efficient and service-conscious industry; accelerated adoption of computerized systems to manage cargo shipments; and development of air cargo markets in Asia and South America. This article discusses the obstacles to be overcome before Federal Express can begin to realize the benefits of buying Tiger International.


Immunological memory is characterized by a quick and enhanced immune response after re‐exposure to the same antigen. To explain the mechanism involved in generation and maintenance of immunological memory, we had earlier proposed a hypothesis involving the relay of memory by idiotypic and anti‐idiotypic B cells. The peptidomimic present in the hypervariable region of anti‐idiotypic antibody was hypothesized to carry forward immunological memory. In the present work, we provide evidence supporting a role for the anti‐idiotypic antibody in eliciting antigen‐specific B‐cell and T‐cell responses. Employing the idiotypic monoclonal antibody (Ab1) specific for haemagglutinin (H) protein of rinderpest virus, Ab2β was generated, which possesses an internal image of the H protein in the region between amino acids 527 and 556. We demonstrate that antigen‐specific memory is perpetuated by immunization with Ab2, as shown by maintenance of antigen‐specific T‐cell responses upon restimulation in vitro of Ab2 immune splenocytes by antigen‐presenting cells expressing H protein or pulsed with H‐protein‐derived peptides. We have also shown that boosting with antigen‐specific anti‐idiotypic B cells generates a memory response in antigen‐primed mice. Evidence has been provided for the existence of an antigen‐specific B‐cell idiotypic network in the body that supports the perpetuation of immunological memory as proposed in the relay hypothesis.


ABSTRACT The moving average (MA), exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts are popular control charts to detect small shifts quickly in process parameters. In this study, we evaluate the performance of the EWMA chart for monitoring exponentially distributed quality characteristics based on moving average statistics. The average run length and some other associated characteristics are used as performance measures of the chart. The concept of using the probability of detection for the performance assessment of this chart has been criticized in this study. A real-life application is also provided for practical consideration.


The religiosity of the young is rapidly changing even in a relatively "small" and "protected" context such as the Valley ofAosta, the smallest Italian region, situated in a mountainous area at the foot of Mont Blanc. In this context, characterized by social and cultural belonging to traditional Catholicism up to not many decades ago, a survey has been conducted among some 4,000 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19. Beside the aspects of belief, participation, and religious experience, other aspects were also investigated, especially the role of religion in a more and more pluralistic and globalized context. The results show how young people's reference to Catholicism is being deeply modified, with a more personal and free approach to rites and beliefs, and with a new opening towards other religions. Such changes indicate a new modality of relating to the sacred, varying by age, sex, and educational level.


Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Diaper dermatitis (DD) causes discomfort and emotional distress and creates possible sources of infection among newborn intensive care unit infants. Diaper dermatitis remains prevalent despite studies documenting an understanding of prevention and treatment modalities. Standardizing perineal skin care guidelines could reduce DD. Purpose: Implement perineal skin care guidelines, while introducing novel diaper wipes, to decrease the incidence of DD by 20% within a 1-year period. Methods: Our unit reviewed evidence-based literature to develop a standardized perineal care guideline for prevention and treatment, encompassing the use of novel, preservative-free diaper wipes with grapefruit seed extract. The outcome measures were the incidence and duration of DD. Process compliances were monitored. The balancing measure was the rate of fungal skin infection while using preservative-free wipes. Findings: Between July 2017 and March 2019, 1070 infants were admitted for 1 or more days, with 11% of those being born at less than 30 weeks of gestational age. After guideline implementation in January 2018, the incidence of DD decreased by 16.7%. The incidence of severe cases dropped by 34.9%, with 3.5 days per 100 patient-days shortened duration. Process compliance was achieved. Neonates tolerated the novel wipes without increased fungal skin infection. Implications for Practice: The Perineal Skin Care Guidelines could reduce the rate and duration of DD. Newborn intensive care unit infants tolerated the novel diaper wipes. Implications for Research: Additional research on wipes containing other types of extracts or ingredients.


The forest formations on quartz white-sand are a kind of oligotrophic ecosystem and its  phytophysionomical characteristics are affected by the climate seasonality. The canopy is one of these characteristics, its variations may influence the spatial distribution of the energy in the environment. The objective of this research was to evaluate and compare the tree density and the seasonality change on the canopy openness on habitats of white-sand in Serra de Itabaiana National Park. The data were collected in two environments: gaping vegetation of white-sands strictu sensu (VA) and closed vegetation of riparian forest (MR). To estimate tree density, it was utilized the wandering-quarter, where trees with CAP > 5cm were sampled. To evaluate the canopy dynamics, the transects had 5 points equidistant 20m, ten per environment. Hemispherical pictures were taken in January (dry season) and June (wet season), utilizing a digital camera with a fisheye lens. The images were analyzed on the Gap Light Analyzer software. The results showed that riparian forest have higher tree density (498 ind ha -1 ) than the opened (296 ind ha -1 ). The letter do not showed variations in the canopy openness ( t = -2,0052; p > 0,05) or in Leaf Area Index ( t = -2,0052; p > 0.05) between wet (52,24% ± 18,13% e 0,68 ± 0,45)  and dry seasons (67,39% ± 15,38% e 0,36 ± 0,23). In riparian forest, the canopy openness ( t = 7,1739; p < 0.05) and LAI values ( t = -5,1609; p < 0.05) vary between wet (13,70% ± 2,24% e 2,13 ± 0,23) and dry (21,08% ± 2,36% e 1,63 ± 0,20) seasons showing the seasonality. Differences between the two habitats highlights the environmental heterogeneity in Serra de Itabaiana and show that forest formations on white-sand respond by different ways to the water seasonality of this ecosystem. Because it is located in an ecotone area between evergreen forest and forest Semideciduous, the riparian forest tends to lose some of their leaves during the dry season. Moreover, the distribution pattern of the plants can contribute to the differences between the studied habitats.


Abstract We discuss a variety of biological targets including generic biomembranes and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, endosomes/lysosomes, Golgi body, mitochondria (outer and inner membranes) and the plasma membrane of usual fluidity. For each target, we discuss the access of probes to the target membrane, probe uptake into the membrane and the mechanism of selectivity of the probe uptake. A statement of the QSAR decision rule that describes the required physicochemical features of probes that enable selective staining also is provided, followed by comments on exceptions and limits. Examples of probes typically used to demonstrate each target structure are noted and decision rule tabulations are provided for probes that localize in particular targets; these tabulations show distribution of probes in the conceptual space defined by the relevant structure parameters ("parameter space"). Some general implications and limitations of the QSAR models for probe targeting are discussed including the roles of certain cell and protocol factors that play significant roles in lipid staining. A case example illustrates the predictive ability of QSAR models. Key limiting values of the head group hydrophilicity parameter associated with membrane-probe interactions are discussed in an appendix.


The dc-dc converters are used in wide variety of industrial applications. Common traditional dc-dc converters require at least one inductive component which makes them bulky, costly, and with low efficiency. Switched-capacitor (SC) dc-dc converters are a solution that can overcome these problems. However, these converters have high pulse currents when switching transients occur, which will reduce the efficiency and cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems and make them difficult to be applied in high-power conversion applications. Although, a new design method for peak current reduction has been introduced for these converters, but this design method is limited to four level converters. So, in this paper, the presented design method in [1] is developed for n-level SC dc-dc converter and the operation principles, all mathematical relationships between the number of components (switches and capacitors) and generated output voltage levels and peak currents have been theoretically analyzed. Also, simulation results based on PSCAD software are presented to verify the theoretical analysis.


Herein we have fabricated AuTiO2 from a one-dimensional (1D) nanocomposite by the simple oxidation method of the Ti sheet for supercapacitor applications. We intended on fabricating a microlayer extended into the sheet body to form a selfstanding electrode. Raman spectra and XRD patterns confirmed the formation of the rutile phase of the TiO2 bulk, and FESEM confirmed the growth of the 1D nanostructure made of Au/TiO2, where the Au nanoparticles reside on the tip of the TiO2 nanorods. The growth of 1D TiO2 by this method is supported by a growth mechanism during the oxidation process. Three electrodes were fabricated based on pure and doped TiO2. These electrodes were used as a selfstanding supercapacitor electrode. The Au-doped TiO2 exhibited a great improvement in the electrochemical performance at low Au concentrations, whereas the excessive Au concentration on the TiO2 surface exhibited a negative effect on the capacitance value. The highest areal capacitance of 72 mFcm−2 at a current density of 5 µAcm−2 was recorded for TiO2 doped with a low Au concentration. The mechanism of the electrochemical reaction was proposed based on Nyquist and Bode plots. The obtained results point out that the effect of Au on the TiO2 surface makes Au/TiO2 ceramic electrodes a promising material as selfstanding energy storage electrodes.


Some of the physical effects of cold temperatures that should be considered when developing a contaminant-transport model are surveyed in this paper. The discussion begins with the following working definition of the term "cold region" for the purpose of contaminant hydrology modeling: an area with appreciable frozen ground and a substantial fraction of the annual precipitation as snow. Models that estimate the liquid water content and hydraulic conductivity of frozen ground are discussed.


Background: To address the possibility of safe cessation of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and to identify factors associated with off-NAs virological relapse (VR). Methods: A published work search was performed to identify all published studies including patients who ceased NAs and were followed for ≥12 months. A meta-analysis was performed. Results: Twenty-six studies involving 2573 patients who discontinued NAs were included. The pooled rate of off-NAs VR was 0.64, being lower in initially hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive than HBeAg-negative patients (0.62 versus 0.63, P = 0.731). The pooled rates of VR were 0.48, 0.56, 0.61, 0.53, 0.71 and 0.65 at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after NAs cessation, respectively, being relatively lower in initially HBeAg-positive (0.36, 0.50, 0.58, 0.49, 0.50, 0.60) than HBeAg-negative patients (0.51, 0.56, 0.67, 0.59, 0.53, 0.65) (P = 0.400) . The pooled rate of biochemical relapse was 0.45, being lower in initially HBeAg-positive than HBeAg-negative patients (0.43 versus 0.51, P = 0.572). The pooled rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and seroconversion was 0.09 and 0.06, respectively. The pooled rates of VR at 12 months after NAs cessation were significantly different between duration of on-NAs virological response ≤24 months and >24 months in all patients (0.55 versus 0.41, P = 0.011), initially HBeAg-positive patients (0.59 versus 0.41, P = 0.031), and initially HBeAg-negative patients (0.53 versus 0.37, P = 0.025). Conclusions: Cessation of NAs therapy seems to be safe in a small subset of CHB patients. On-NAs virological response >24 months reduces the risk of off-NAs VR.


Transdermal delivery constitutes one of the most important routes for new drug delivery system. Transdermal delivery of drugs offers several advantages over conventional delivery methods including oral and injection methods. Transdermal delivery that traditionally uses a patch containing drug substance pressed on to the skin, is noninvasive, convenient and painless, and avoid gastrointestinal toxicity (e.g. peptic ulcer disease) and the therapeutic first pass metabolism. Introduction Transdermal drug delivery is hardly an old technology, since 1800's and the technology is no longer just adhesive patches. Due to recent advances in technology and the ability to apply the drug to the site of action without rupturing the skin membrane, transdermal route is becoming a widely accepted route of drug administration. Over the last two decades more than 35 Transdermal patch products have been approved in US. In the 21st century, the pharmaceutical industry is caught between the downward pressure on prices and the increasing cost of successful drug discovery and development. The average cost and time for the development of a new chemical entity are much higher (approximately $500 million and 10–12 years) than those required to develop a novel drug delivery system (NDDS) ($20–50 million and3–4 years).


In this paper, we present an analysis of seismic spectra that were calculated from all broadband channels (BH?) made available through IRIS, NIED F-net and Orfeus servers covering the past five years and beyond. A general characterization of the data is given in terms of spectral histograms and data-availability plots. We show that the spectral information can easily be categorized in time and regions. Spectral histograms indicate that seismic stations exist in Africa, Australia and Antarctica that measure spectra significantly below the global low-noise models above 1 Hz. We investigate world-wide coherence between the seismic spectra and other data sets like proximity to cities, station elevation, earthquake frequency, and wind speeds. Elevation of seismic stations in the US is strongly anti-correlated with seismic noise near 0.2 Hz and again above 1.5 Hz. Urban settlements are shown to produce excess noise above 1 Hz, but correlation curves look very different depending on the region. It is shown that wind speeds can be strongly correlated with seismic noise above 0.1 Hz, whereas earthquakes produce seismic noise that shows most clearly in correlation around 80 mHz.


Among the fundamental concepts of Ayurveda, are the 'three doshas', systems concepts controlling major systems functions at every level of organism organization. Ayurveda maintains that health corresponds to balance in dosha functioning. Every organism has a natural state, where one or more doshas are in dominance. Disease develops as doshas depart from balance in successive stages. Determining the Prakriti, natural state of doshas, and their imbalanced states, Vikriti, is central to diagnosis and treatment in Ayurveda. Here we present an inventory for adolescents to assess states of Tridosha, which are neither exactly Prakriti, nor Vikriti. It aims to assess participants' present state of mind, interpreting that as states of tridosha, because doshas influence the mind, and, in turn, are reflected in states of mind. The Inventory was developed as follows. Items from classical Ayurveda texts were selected to assess appropriate properties of each dosha, in accordance with the above aim of the inventory. The first draft of the inventory was sent to ten Ayurveda experts for a Delphi round of consultation. After reducing questions, the final draft contained six items. The Inventory was then administered to 450 students aged 13-18 at the Vivekananda Education Centre in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Data analysis used SPSS-10.0. Analysis of consistency and reliability found the following Cronbach's alpha for each dosha: Vata 0.806; Pitta 0.825; Kapha 0.768. Correlations between dosha pairs were: Vata / Pitta negative; Pitta / Kapha negative; Kapha / Vata negative. The small number of questions precluded factor analysis; similarly, for Split-Half analysis of consistency. Comparison with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory shows that criterion validity cannot be obtained either. Nor is Inter-rater reliability-consistency appropriate for a self-report questionnaire. We suggest that, nevertheless, the Kashyapa Psychophysiological State Inventory is consistent and reliable, and that it can assess mood-states.


This article reviews the existing research on the prevalence of social and emotional adjustment problems among immigrant children, examines the findings on the kinds of adjustment problems exacerbated by migration or particular to immigrant school children and reviews and assesses effectiveness of intervention programs developed specifically to aid such children. Also considered is a theoretical framework which would facilitate conceptualizing the process of immigration among children, their particular needs, and how these might best be met by primary and secondary preventive mental health interventions.


Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings were produced by reactively cosputtering metallic zirconium and yttrium targets in an argon and oxygen plasma using a system with multiple magnetron sputtering sources. Coating crystal structure and phase stability, as functions of Y2O3 content, substrate bias, and annealing temperature, were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results demonstrated that highly (111)-oriented tetragonal and cubic zirconia structures were formed in 2 and 4.5 mol% Y2O3 coatings, respectively, when the coatings were grown with an applied substrate bias. Conversely, coatings deposited with no substrate bias had random tetragonal and cubic structures. XRD analysis of annealed coatings showed that the cubic zirconia in 4.5 mol% Y2O3 coatings exhibited structural stability at temperatures up to 1200°C. Transformation of the tetragonal to monoclinic phase occurred in 2 mol% Y2O3 coating during high-temperature annealing, with the fraction of transformation dependent on bias potential and annealing temperature.


The topical issues that arise when considering civil cases on the abolition of adoption, priority areas for protecting the rights and legitimate interests of minors are investigated. Children left without parental care are by far the most vulnerable socially and morally. The article presents a comprehensive view of this issue from both legal and psychological points of view. On the legal side, it is indicated that it is possible to transform a number of legal norms enshrined in the Family Code of the Russian Federation in order to apply them most effectively. From the psychological point of view, the necessity of mandatory use of special psychological knowledge in resolving disputes in this category is determined. In addition, the special role of the prosecutor and the guardianship and guardianship authorities in the judicial process in cases related to the abolition of the adoption of a child is described. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the adoption of a decision to cancel the adoption should primarily meet the interests of minors, contain an unconditional character. The corresponding consequences of the decisions made by the court to cancel the adoption are given. The object of the study is the totality of social relations that arise during the consideration of civil cases of this category. The subject is the norms of civil, family and civil procedural law governing the above relations, the system of their implementation and application. Judicial acts are analyzed: decisions (determinations) of courts to cancel adoption, statistical and reporting data are summarized, grounds for filing claims are determined. Aspects related to the need to apply preventive measures aimed at excluding formal grounds for filing applications for the cancellation of the adoption of children are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the participation in the consideration of disputes of this category of specialized entities, endowed with appropriate powers and having special knowledge in the field of psychology, sociology, and pedagogy. Based on the results of the study, the author formulated certain conclusions, made practical proposals for a more effective application of the norms of the current legislation, primarily in order to respect the rights and interests of children. Certain options for adjusting a number of norms of the current legislation in this area are proposed.


Experiments were conducted to measure the heat flux and temperature over a protuberance, using an impulse hypersonic shock tunnel-coaxial thermocouples and a blowdown hypersonic wind tunnel-temperature sensitive paints(TSP). Experimental data were compared with the heat flux data using a blowdown hypersonic wind tunnel-heat flux gauges and it was confirmed data sets agreed well. The measured heat flux is large when the height of the protuberance is large. Also, the heat flux measurements at the upper positions are larger than at the lower positions. For high protuberances, a severe jump in the heat flux is observed, from about 0.6~0.7 of the height of the protuberances. However, when the protuberance is sufficiently short, a rise in the heat flux is rarely observed as the protuberance is submerged totally under the separation region.


A 68-year-old man presented to the emergency department of our hospital because of high fever, tachycardia, consciousness disturbance, and generalized muscle rigidity. According to his caregiver's statement, he was found groaning and shivering on the bed with rapid and shallow respirations before he was sent to the hospital. The patient had a depressive disorder and had been followed up regularly at a local psychiatric center for 6 years. Moreover, he had chronic hepatitis B and had received a diagnosis of pneumoconiosis. Ten days before this hospital admission, he was brought to the psychiatric clinic of our hospital because of deteriorating depressed mood. Venlafaxine, amantadine, clonazepam, and zopiclone were prescribed, and he had good compliance to these drugs. The patient had also received an influenza vaccination 8 h prior to this emergency visit.


A novel technique is presented measuring propagation losses in optical waveguides by imaging the scattered intensity on a video camera. This technique requires no special sample preparation and is independent of the light coupling efficiency to the waveguide.


Two new steroidal saponins, ceparosides C (1) and D (2), have been isolated from the seeds of Allium cepa L. Their structures have been established as 26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(25R)-furost-5,20(22)-dien-3β,26-diol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 2)]-β-d-galactopyranoside (1) and 26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(25S)-furost-5,20(22)-dien-3β, 26-diol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 2)]-β-d-galactopyranoside (2) by means of spectral and chemical methods.


The present study focuses on understanding the effect of load and temperature on Acoustic Emission (AE) signal propagation in an Aluminium 2024-T3 panel. In addition, the ability of an AE system to locate damage under these operational and environmental conditions was evaluated. The work was performed in two stages. In stage one, the wave group velocities of guided Lamb waves were measured for a range of temperatures from -40 ?C to 70 ?C. At each temperature level, six different static loads were applied that ranged from 0 MPa to 250 MPa in increments of 50 MPa. A mathematical analytical model for the effect of temperature on the wave group velocities was re-produced in order to verify it through experimental and FEM results. Furthermore, experimental and FEM results have been obtained for the effect of load and the combined case. It was observed that the variation of temperature and load altered the wave group velocities. The results showed that an increase in the temperature resulted in a decrease of the wave group velocity and vice versa. Furthermore, external applied loads resulted that the change group velocity varies linearly with increasing stress and has a sinusoidal dependence with the angle between sensor path and loading direction. Which meant that the wave group velocity decreased for small angles, increased for large angles and varied with a sinusoidal behaviour for the other angles between the propagation path and the loading direction. The effect of temperature and load can be super imposed onto each other. Experimentally obtained wave group velocities with temperature were within an error of 6% to the analytical solution and for the FEM results this was within 3%. In stage two, a representative AE signal, simulating a fracture phenomenon was emitted from a randomly selected point. Using values of wave velocity measured in stage one, the location of the representative AE signal under these conditions was calculated and errors were determined. It was found that the location algorithm was not sensitive to wave group velocities changes due to temperature and loads, thus providing an accurate location of the source within 1cm, for a specimen size of 65 by 60 cm. The experimentally obtained localization results were also supported with results from a numerical model that calculated location errors for many locations in and outside the array. The effects of temperature and load were taken into account in the Time Differences Of Arrival (TDOA) function for a known location. These TDOA were then fed into a location algorithm (Geiger's method). It was found that location errors due to temperature or load were within 1.5 cm and were at some areas more significantly affected than at other locations. The reduced location accuracy of these source locations can be related to the angle dependent effect of load on wave group velocities. Source locations that have an angle between most sensors paths and loading direction that fits the largest change in wave velocity were found to be more significantly affected. The experimental results also presented problems with threshold selection during the experiments. A low AE threshold could translate into too much noise in the acquired signals, which can result in wrongfully triggering, while a high AE threshold could translate into incorrect group velocity measurements because a later part of the waveform would be used for triggering. Therefore the development of an threshold independent trigger mechanism is a recommendation for further research as well as investigating the effect of EOC in complex or composite structures.


The effects of heating, ultraviolet irradiation, and agitation on the infectious activity of Myc. lepraemurium were investigated. The results obtained showed that the infectious activity of the bacillus was completely inactivated by heating at 55°C for 30 min, or by exposure at a distance of 15 cm for 120min. to a germicidal lamp (Shimazu GL-15). Furthermore, the infectivity of the bacillus was lost by agitation. (90/min) in a water-bath at 37°C for 5 days, whereas it was maintained for 10 days under the stationary condition.


Buddhism in Mainland China has demonstrated evident inclinations in
 recent decades towards This-worldly engagements and has accommodated
 adherents' demands for blessing and spirituality. In this process, media
 and digital technology have played an abiding and enabling role, not only
 as a new venue of preaching, but also a new frontier of social experiences
 that religions strive to shape and influence. This chapter investigates the
 entanglement of digital media and religion through a case study of the
 recent rise and popularisation of This-worldly Buddhism. In particular, it
 documents: (1) Chinese Buddhist organisations' and clergies' use of social
 media as a public engagement approach, and (2) the seemingly paradoxical
 involvement of Buddhism in secular activities such as technological
 innovation and creativity to reconcile the relationships between religion
 and technology.


Objective To evaluate the stability and the biomechanical effect of bioglass-coating pedicle screws (BPS) in strengthening the fixation. Methods Forty-nine fresh specimens of T 11 -L 5 thoracolumbar vertebrae from 7 human bodies were employed in the study. Followed by the standard procedure, every vertebra of 38 randomly chosen vertebrae was implanted with a Titanic pedicle screw at a randomized side (control side) and with a BPS at the other side (BPS side). In 14 vertebrae, the maximum axial pulling-out strength, the relative displacement and the energy absorption during pulling out of the screw were determined after their maximum torques were measured by torque sensors. Periodical bending resistance test was made on other 12 randomized vertebrae in a gradient loading. Another 12 vertebral bodies were used in drag friction experiment to determine the friction coefficient of the coat. Results Compared with the control sides, the maximum torque of the BPS sides was higher ( P 0.05). Of the BPS sides, the maximum pulling-out strength averaged 57.71 % greater ( P 0.01), the relative displacement increased by 15.13 % ( P 0.05) and the energy absorption by 58.28% ( P 0.01). In periodical bending resistance test, BPS was found to withstand more cycles or greater loading before loosening. Under the same loading, BPS moved less with a higher friction for 21.38% than that of the control sides ( P 0.05). Conclusions Augmentation with bioglass coat can significantly strengthen the pedicle screw fixation. BPS has a prosperous clinical application for its sound biocompatibility and bioactivity, easy induction of synostosis, firm fixation and evenly distributed coat with impossible leakage into the vertebral canal or onto the surface of pedicle.


This paper proposes a method for zero-crossing approximation of a band-limited sinusoidal signal embedded by a white Gaussian noise-like distortion. It consists of passive low-pass filter and dynamic-hysteresis comparator circuits. Simplicity and wide dynamic range are the main goal of the proposed approach. Theoretical calculations were formulated to select proper circuit components values. Simulation and experimental results are then presented to show circuit performance and characteristics. The method approximates zero crossing within a certain boundary of small phase-shifts around the crossing signal. It utilized over a wide range of input amplitude and frequency variations.


A new analytical model of Scratch Drive Actuator (SDA) is proposed in this paper, which considers its deforming states and geometry characteristics. This model contains three kinds of conditions: low driving voltage, critical driving voltage and high driving voltage. The storing strain energy in the SDA is studied under different conditions because the working performance of the SDA mainly depends on it. It is shown that a good agreement between theoretical results and experimental values is achieved with respect to the critical working voltage, which verifies the validity of the new model. Furthermore, analysis results demonstrate that it is necessary to choose appropriate design parameters of the SDA so that the SDA works near the critical state. Finally, discussions and suggestions for the design of SDA are presented in this paper. It is shown that the model and simulations can be used as design tools to optimize the design parameters of the SDA and to improve the dynamic performance of the SDA.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


AbstractThis very dense book represents a significant effort to come to terms with the "national question" in radical discourse—the meaning of the nation in relation to, or in opposition to, the st...


This paper proposes a system that will accept the performance requirements of a car to be modeled as input and produce the optimal design dimensional parameters as output in an accelerated time frame by implementing neural network on a parallel GPU architecture. Wind disturbance occurs while driving a car in a number of situations such as overtaking vehicles on bridges, or driving at high speeds. The driver's poor response can lead to path deviation, thus jeopardizing the safety of the driver. Aerodynamics of a car depends mostly on its surfaces which should be designed such that the airflow shouldn't lose contact with it. This leads to minimum drag and lift force values acting on the car. The simulations of steady flow obtained after training will be illustrated using the MechSys fluid simulation tool.


In the last year our Solid Immersion Lloyd's Mirror Interference Lithography (SILMIL) system has proved to be a successful tool for evanescent interferometric lithography (EIL). The initial goal was to use SILMIL in conjunction with the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) surface states at the resist-metal interface. Through this resonance, we aimed to counter the decay of evanescent images created using EIL. By analyzing the theory in greater detail we were able to develop a better understanding of the resonance phenomena. In this paper, details of the design of SILMIL and how one may utilize it to produce ultra-high numerical apertures (NAs) are given, as well as an introduction to the resonance phenomena and the mechanism behind it. We introduce a new method that requires a gain medium (one that has a negative loss) to achieve significant enhancements, and present an effective gain medium by using a high-index dielectric on low-index media. We present results at λ = 405 nm using such an effective gain medium and also provide a feasible design example at the lithography standard λ = 193 nm.


In October 2008, brown leaf spot was first detected on the leaves of a rose red lily (Lilium speciosum var. speciosum L.) in Machida, Tokyo, Japan and ever since has been observed annually in August-October. The aim of this study was to clarify the pathogenic source of this disease. Typical symptoms observed were brown leaf spots surrounding the yellow leaf margins. Over time, the lesions enlarged but did not cover the entire leaf. The causative agent was a fungal species member of Pestalotiopsis, as determined via conidial morphology and molecular data. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Pestalotiopsis sp. causing brown leaf spot disease in lily in Japan. We propose to call this disease, brown leaf spot, "Kasshoku-hanyou-byo" in Japanese.


The 2.6 kernel brings new capabilities to the Linux sound API. We cover the essentials with a working sound recording app.


Brad Weiss, ed. Producing African Futures: Ritual and Reproduction in a Neoliberal Age. Leiden: Brill, 2004. vii + 356 pp. Notes. Bibliography. Index. $65.00. Paper. This collection of ten ethnographic chapters, plus introduction and afterword, examines the sociocultural manifestations of neoliberal policies in Africa in the 1990s, a time when open market competition led to the realignment of state and corporate interests. The volume is impressive for its ethnographic scope and conceptual coherence. Authors share an analytic commitment to understanding neoliberalism from historical and comparative perspectives. Each chapter emphasizes that new patterns of governance and politics are outcomes of African communities' different and complex ways of engaging with colonialism and modernity. In the introduction, Brad Weiss proposes that the lack of present-day security in much of Africa is related to the powers of the market to include and exclude people from its forces, despite the fact that people often imbue the market with the promise of ensuring social, through financial, equity. John Comaroff and Jean Comaroff, in a perceptive afterword, consider that the current mode of cultural production in Africa is one of "retroduction"-a degenerative mode that in fact makes way for new forms of cultural innovation. Together, Weiss and the Comaroffs provide a valuable theoretical framework for synthesizing the case-specific central chapters. These chapters are loosely divided into three broad categories. The first, on personhood, includes chapters on the Senegalese Murid trade (Buggenhagen), on homosexuality and the Anglican church (Hoad), on Malian Muslim saints (Soares), and on the commodification of Ghanaian national culture (Shipley). The second, on youth, includes chapters on Zulu ritual and estrangement (White), on generational conflict over schooling in South Africa (Ngwane), and on hip-hop global imaginings in Tanzania (Weiss). The third, on moral panic, includes chapters on poetic photos in South Africa's Cape Flats (Makhulu), on spirit possession and schooling in Kenya (Smith), and on Pentecostal deliverance from corruption, also in Kenya (Blunt). But there is nothing obvious about the clustering of chapters into these categories. The contributions are so rich and overlapping that they might be connected in various ways. The personalization of religious authority as a manifestation of neoliberal ideals of human-and consumers'-rights, for instance, is evident in the studies of Soares, Blunt, and Hoad. …


In the crystal structure of the title binuclear complex, [Cu2(CH3COO)4(C13H14N2)2], the four acetate groups each bridge a pair of CuII atoms. The coordination of the metal atoms is distorted square-pyramidal, with the bonding O atoms comprising a square basal plane and the coordinating N atom of the N-heterocycle occupying the apical position. In the two N-hetercycle ligands, the benzene rings are twisted with respect to the pyridine rings, making dihedral angles of 53.1 (2) and 54.2 (2)°. Intramolecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present between the imino and carboxy groups. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a minor twin component of 21.4%.


This chapter explores the genetic toolbox available for the study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology, the immunology relating to M. tuberculosis infection, and relevant animal models to probe the corresponding disease course. The development of better vaccines is contingent on an understanding of the mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis evades the innate and adaptive immune responses. A primary tuberculosis (TB) infection in humans generally results from the inhalation of a small number of bacilli. These bacteria are deposited in the lungs and are taken up by alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells (DC). M. tuberculosis is moderately resistant to many forms of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) due to the expression of typical detoxification enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase-peroxidase-peroxinitrase (KatG). Transmission electron microscopy experiments performed in the late 1960s by D'Arcy Hart suggested that M. tuberculosis resides within tightly associated membranous vacuoles that fail to fuse with lysosomes. Programmed cell death has a role in controlling mycobacterial replication, as decreases in the bacterial burden are correlated with macrophage cell death. Infected cells are detected by T cells through the recognition of antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules by the receptor on the CD4 T cells, leading to the initiation of the bactericidal activity of macrophages. The immune-system evasion mechanisms of M. tuberculosis are fundamental for the success of the pathogen, and a clearer understanding of these processes will advance vaccine and chemotherapy development.


This work investigated the viability of tungsten-titanium barrier layers for silver metallization. Reactive sputtered W-Ti was deposited on a Si wafer followed by an Ag thin film over layer. These samples were then annealed in vacuum at temperatures up to 700 °C. Characterization of these samples included using x-ray diffractometry, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, scanning transmission microscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and four point probe analysis. The results indicated that the metal/diffusion barrier stack was stable up to 600 °C. Silicon started moving into the tungsten-titanium film at temperatures above 600 °C. Movement of Si resulted in local Si voiding. These results showed the promise of W-Ti as an effective barrier layer for silver metallization for process temperatures below 600 °C.


Understanding customers' preferences can be vital for companies to improve customer satisfaction. Reviews of products and services written by customers and published on various online platforms offer tremendous potential to gain important insights about customers' opinions. Sentiment classification with various machine learning models has been of great interest to academia and practice for a while, however, the emergence of language transformer models brings forth new avenues of research. In this article, we compare the performance of traditional machine learning models and recently introduced transformer-based techniques on a dataset of customer reviews published on the Trustpilot platform. We found that transformer-based models outperform traditional models, and one can achieve over 98% accuracy. The best performing model shows the same excellent performance independently of the store considered. We also illustrate why it can be sometimes more reliable to use the sentiment polarity assigned by the machine learning model, rather than a numeric rating that is provided by the customer.


objective: This paper analyzed the methods of assessing the perception of body size discussed in scientific literature. Method: The information search was bases on computerized databases from 1975 to 2010 (Medline, Bireme, EBSCO and Scopus). We used the keyword "body image" and the combination of the terms "size perception" and "size estimation" for the scientific survey. r esults: There were four methods found to evaluate and quantify the dimensional perception of the body by applying a body perception index. The methods differ in their form of execution, use tools, whe ther or not visual feedback from the evaluation, use of tactile stimulation or not to generate the response evaluated. Conclusion: The Image Marking Procedure (IMP) was appropriate for the evaluation of body size on eating disorders by the possibility of evaluating the degree of distortion of the body and specific body segments without visual and cognitive interference and any external referent compared to other tests that showed limitations on these aspects. We suggest that the IMP test could be used in future researches to assess the dimensional aspect of body perception.


This paper discusses the teaching and research potential of library special collections material for student internship programs and curriculum support within the university environment. Two recent case studies from the Fryer Library at The University of Queensland serve to demonstrate how objectbased learning engages students by providing context and evidence for theoretical concepts while sparking curiosity and inquiry. This ultimately leads students to pursue individual research at a deeper level. The first case study discusses the relevance of the Julian Burnside and Kate Durham Collection for teaching object-based classes to Anthropology and Law students. In collaboration with course coordinators, librarians selected asylum seeker material such as letters, or hand-made objects, for students to read, view, and touch. The power of the original letters and documents provided unique insights for Anthropology students studying borders, and Law students studying asylum seeker law. The second case study looks at records in The University of Queensland Press Archive and the associated papers of its writers. For student interns pursuing a project on writing and publishing, the correspondence, minutes, editorial files and draft manuscripts provided a wealth of research potential. The source material in this collection was drawn upon, as the students collaborated on a digital story, which included written research, and digital surrogates taken from the original items.


Open testing of large-scale instruments was efficient to cultivate innovative talents.The operation mode of centralized management and open testing was put forward by the instrumental Analysis Center of Changzhou University,which was composed of unified training,certificates,online booking,practice and consolidation,specific guidance and timely maintenance.These realized four functions such as experimental teaching and practice testing theory,scientific research of students and teachers,serving for society.The management mode was helpful to enhancing the quality of teaching and the students' analysis abilities.Furthermore,the utilization of the large-scale instruments was improved significantly.


After the results of the NLST (National Lung Screening Trial) (1) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grade B recommendation for lung cancer screening with annual low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) (2), healthcare systems began implementing lung cancer screening. Despite evidence for a reduction in lung cancer mortality associated with lung cancer screening (1), uptake of lung cancer screening has remained low, especially among underserved populations (3). Given that lung cancer disproportionately affects populations that struggle with poverty, lower levels of education, and reduced access to care (4), it is important to develop effective interventions to increase lung cancer screening in these underserved, hard-to-reach populations. In this issue of the Journal, Quaife and colleagues (pp. 965– 975) presented the results of a randomized trial aimed at increasing lung cancer screening uptake (5). In both arms of the trial, participants received brief letters from their primary care provider with a prescheduled time for a screening LDCT and an informational flyer. The difference was in the flyer received: the control arm received a traditional text-based flyer (six pages) containing detailed information about lung cancer screening, and the intervention arm included a twopage flyer with less-dense information and more images, hypothesized to be more patient friendly. In both arms, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss lung cancer screening in person with a clinician on the day of the scheduled LDCT appointment. The authors hypothesized that the stepped approach to information provision represented by the intervention arm would increase screening uptake compared with the control arm. Although the trial results showed no difference in lung cancer screening uptake between the two study arms, this study had several strengths that merit consideration. First of all, this study should be commended for its focus on a high-risk and understudied population; 61% of the study population met deprivation index criteria for being in the most deprived quintile, another 35% were in the second most deprived quintile, and 75% were current smokers. Thus, the study population targeted those who are at high risk for lung cancer mortality but who were medically underserved far more effectively than the NLST. In order for lung cancer screening to close, and not widen, health disparities in lung cancer mortality, it must reach populations similar to the ones included in this trial. Second, the approach used in both arms of this study, which consisted of a series of patient mailings, was low burden to patients and the healthcare system. This is an important consideration, because resource-intensive, complex interventions may be difficult to sustain after study completion (6). Finally, the study's randomized design controlled for potential confounding, allowing for evaluation of the intervention between comparable groups. Despite these strengths, there are also potential concerns about the intervention selected for this study. First, there is conflicting evidence regarding its potential for success in this type of healthcare setting and with underserved populations. Although some studies suggest that carefully designed, tailored leaflets can positively affect cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and informed decision making (7, 8), other studies have failed to show improved cancer screening uptake with leaflets (9, 10). Second, the design of the leaflet in the Quaife and colleagues study may thwart true shared decision making (5). This concern is particularly important, because shared decision making for lung cancer screening is recommended by guidelines and required for reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The intervention leaflet only mentions potential benefits of lung cancer screening, with no mention of potential harms. Although there is an opportunity for a fuller discussion of benefits and harms when the individual presents for their LDCT appointment, this opportunity may come too late. Once people have already taken the time to arrange their schedule and transportation to come in person for their LDCT appointment, they have likely already made up their mind to proceed, even if they learn new information about potential harms that might have otherwise led them to decline screening. Regardless of the merits or deficiencies of the intervention leaflet, this trial reported an impressive rate of lung cancer screening uptake. Although multiple observational studies show rates of lung cancer screening hovering at ,10% of eligible individuals in the U.S. population (3, 11), the study by Quaife and colleagues achieved screening rates of .50% (5). Although some of this difference may be attributed to all participants in the Quaife and colleagues study having established primary care providers (which is not the case for population-based studies), the proactive approach of mailing eligible individuals letters with scheduled appointments for LDCT examinations and informational flyers may also have been effective at increasing uptake among this socioeconomically deprived population (5). This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). For commercial usage and reprints, please contact Diane Gern (email@example.com).


A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, a toe assembly 122, and an expandable assembly. The toe assembly may be a leaf-spring like elongate beam. The expandable assembly is a linkage including a plurality of pivoted links 118, 120. The linkage is coupled to the actuator such that the actuator expands the expandable assembly which in turn expands the toe assembly. In operation, during one stage of expansion radial forces are transmitted to the toe through both interaction of a roller 124 on the toe with a ramp 117 on the expandable assembly and pressure of the linkage assembly directly on an inner surface of the toe.


As the main body of Social development,the people themselves freely to promote the comprehensive development of the country's political justice are the decisive force in construction.At present,the development of society in our country,the idea of human rights by traditional habits and old patterns of thinking,there are a number of shortcomings.in order to promote the political impartiality in the further,he basic values of our human rights need a more modern adjustments.


The present invention is a polypeptide, in particular factor or factors Ⅶ Ⅶ containing associated polypeptide, chemically as well as physically stable regarding kits and compositions, keep this composition at room temperature, and handling, and the like can be used.


W ith the rap id development o f com puter technology, security threats b rough t by com puter v irus have become m ore and more serious. T he trad itio n a l N -G ram a lg o rith m is d if f ic u lt to capture bytes o f d iffe re n t leng th ,lead ing to the lack o f e ffective s ignature and the geheration o f huge signature sets, and creating a waste o f storage space. Instead o f using fixed -leng th N -G ram feature th a t the trad itio n a l w ay dose, an im proved com puter v irus signature autom atic ex trac tion a lg o rith m based on variab le-length N -G ram was proposed to solve these problems. I t extracts the effective sig nature to generate variab le-length v irus signature. T ak in g the corre la tion o f s ignature frequency in to account, the algo r ith m uses signature concentration to ex trac t the N -G ram feature o f m alware samples and generates a data d ic tiona ry to save the storage space. In the experim ent re su lts , compared w ith the trad itio n a l a lgo rith m w h ich uses fixed -leng th N G ram feature , the proposed m ethod can e ffec tive ly decrease the false rate o f s ignature extraction.


This paper attempts to demonstrate that whilst parallel trade (also referred to as "grey market trade" in the United States, or as "arbitrage" in economic theory) in the European Union is subject to a remarkably favourable legal regime, the economic case supporting this approach remains to be made. To this end, it shows that the position of the EU Courts, and more generally of the EU institutions, is far from unquestionable in light of the relevant economic literature.


Syntactic priming in language production refers to the phenomenon that speakers tend to reuse a previously processed construction although having structural alternatives which convey the same meaning. The repetition of words, especially of the verb, boosts this tendency (cf. Pickering & Ferreira, 2008). Current debate is whether or not the lexical boost by verb repetition is caused by the same mechanism which is responsible for the verb-independent persistence of the abstract syntactic structure (cf. Bock & Griffin, 2000; Chang et al., 2006; Jaeger & Snider, 2013; Segaert et al., 2016).


Convenient syntheses of [Rh(NRH2)5X]2+(R = Me, Et, Prn, Bun, or Bui; X = Cl or Br), trans-[Rh(NR′H2)4Cl2]+(R′= Pri, cyclohexyl, or Ph), and trans-[Rh(pyr)4Cl2]+(pyr = pyrrolidine) are reported and [Rh(NRH2)5Cl]2+ is shown to be a convenient starting material for the synthesis of trans-[Rh(NRH2)4Cl2]+. Polarographic half-wave reduction potentials are reported together with physical and spectroscopic properties. The rate of exchange of amino-protons in trans-[Rh(NMeH2)4Cl2]+ and the rate constants and activation parameters for the substitution of chloride by bromide in [Rh(NRH2)5Cl]2+ and trans-[Rh(NRH2)4Cl2]+(R = Me, Et, or Prn) have been determined and are compared with data on related complexes of RhIII, CoIII, and CrIII.


Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of brushwood, black plastic mulch, herbicide, and artificial perch on the natural regeneration of native species in Urochloa grassland. The experiment was conducted between February 2014 and February 2016 in the Dense Ombrophilous Forest, in the municipality of Morretes, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The treatments were: herbicide, herbicide + perch, black plastic mulch, black plastic mulch + perch, brushwood + herbicide, brushwood + herbicide + perch, and a control treatment. The evaluations were carried out at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months after the installation of the experiment, by counting and identifying regenerating woody species and estimating visually the percentage of herbaceous coverage. Initially, brushwood and black plastic mulch reduced the Urochloa grasses; however, this effect was lost over time due to the rapid growth of the grasses from the edges to the center of the plots. The use of perches in the treatments does not allow a significant increase of other species because of the continued inhibiting conditions for the establishment of seedlings. The herbicide is effective in removing the grasses; however, the recruitment of woody species is only satisfactory when perches are used to attract the dispersing fauna. For a successful ecological restoration of pastures, there is a need for the local elimination of Urochloa grasses.


Preliminary designs or small solar thermal systems require inexpensive methods for predicting long-term energy performance. The /f-chart method combines two approaches. Usability can be defined as the amount of incident solar radiation that can be converted in usable heat. If only radiation above a specific intensity is usable, then we can define a statistic of solar radiation, called "usability," as the fraction of the total radiation that is received at an intensity higher than the usable level. Multiplying the average solar radiation for a given period by this fraction provides the figure for total usable energy. In turn, the f-chart method provides a procedure for estimating the fraction, f, of the total monthly heating load that can be supplied by an active solar energy system. In this study, we use the /f-chart method to investigate the annual energy performance of a hot-water solar thermal system under different climatic conditions, for different Brazilian locations. The effect of heat losses in the hot water storage tank is also investigated.


Degradation of CODcr of fracturing fluids is difficult due to the various types of additives and the complex or-ganic components.A five-step treatment process,i.e.″coag-ulation-oxidization-micro electrolysis of Fe/C-catalytic oxi-dization of H 2 O 2 /Fe 2+ -active carbon adsorption″,is developed through laboratory experiments and taking backflow fractur-ing fluid from exploratory wells in Henan oilfield as study objects.It is used to treat backflow fracturing fluid from other wells.Application shows that this process is simple and that treatment effects are good.


Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) operates the one and only research reactor in Malaysia, Reactor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP) of Mark II type, commissioned on 28 June 1982. It has a nominal power of 1 MW designed to effectively implement various fields of basic and applied nuclear research or services, education and training. Among the facilities are in-core dry tubes, wet central thimble and the rotary rack for isotope production for medical and radiotracer purpose, as well as neutron activation analysis (NAA). Of the four existing beam ports, two are already used for small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron radiography (NR). Besides these, feasibility studies to undertake various developments such as prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA), new neutron radiography at the tangential beamport and the development of the thermal column for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) have been carried out. Collaborative projects with the institutions of higher learning to develop these facilities are currently being undertaken.


Solar sail spacecrafts can provide motivation rely on reflecting the sun photons,so that it is suitable for long distance interstellar transfer task.Aiming at the problem of solar sail interstellar transfer orbit control,a new analytical control law is presented.This control law can realize the combination control of each orbit elements by setting the blending weights.The modified equinoctial orbital elements are introduced to the optimal derivation of the analytical optimal control law,and numerical simulations for the method are performed based on mercury exploration mission.Simulation results show that,the proposed control law has higher computational speed and the capability of realizing the combination control of each orbit elements,thus the solar sail interstellar transfer orbit can be obtained,which can satisfy the requirements of the project.


Provided is a method for producing a surface-modified lithium-containing composite oxide having excellent discharge capacity, volume capacity density, safety, charge / discharge cycle durability, and rate characteristics, and which are low in manufacturing cost. General formula Li p N x M y O z F a (N is one or more selected from Co, Mn and Ni, M is selected from transition metal elements other than Co, Mn and Ni, Al, Sn and alkaline earth metal elements) More than one species, 0.9 p 1.3, 0.9 x 2.0, 0 y 0.1, 1.9 z 4.2, 0 a A method for producing a surface-modified lithium-containing composite oxide containing a lithium titanium composite oxide in a surface layer of lithium-containing composite oxide particles represented by 0.05), which is impregnated with a solution in which a lithium source and a titanium source are dissolved, and heat treated at a predetermined temperature, The titanium contained in the surface layer of the surface modification lithium containing composite oxide obtained is 0.01-1.95 mol%, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Transition Metal Element, Alkaline Earth Metal Element, Lithium Titanium Composite Oxide, Impregnated Particles