On the basis of remote sensing and geographical information system,remote sensing images of Yongding River(Beijing Section) of 1978,1988,1999,2004 and 2005 have been used as the main data source.Combined with the terrain databases,area change of six land use types(water,grassland,farmland,forestland,construction site and unutilized land) have been calculated during the 31 years.By analyzing the mean dynamic state of land use,mean import and export rate of single land use,quantitative research of land use and cover change of Yongding River(Beijing Section) has been carried out.The following results have been achieved.Firstly,during the 31 years,there has shown certain fluctuation in land use pattern of Yongding River(Beijing Section).From the year 1978 to 2009,the area of each land type from large to small is like this: forest landfarm landconstruction site waterunutilized landgrassland.While from the year 2004 to 2009,the result is like this:forest landfarm landconstruction siteunutilized landwatergrassland.Secondly,during the year from 1978 to 2009,there has had severe change in the transformation among water,unutilized land and construction site.The grassland has experienced a huge change during the year from 1988 to 2004,with high import and export rate.And the area of farm land decreased while the area of forest land showed increasing trend.


Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) was first identified as a transcription factor which is activated upon T cell stimulation. Subsequent studies uncovered that a whole family of individual NFAT proteins exists with pleiotropic functions not only in immune but also in nonimmune cells. However, dysregulation of NFAT thereby favors malignant growth and cancer. Summarizing the recent advances in understanding how individual NFAT factors regulate the immune system, this review gives new insights into the critical role of NFAT in cancer development with special focus on inflammation‐associated colorectal cancer.


The question asked in this paper is if attitude studies provide us with new insights or do they merely provide us with false hopes. The paper starts with a brief resume on the nature of attitudes - the basis for this overview being the work of Fishbein and Ajzen. Following this the first question is broken down into these two pertinent problems: (1) Can knowledge of attitudes be used in the prediction of road users' behaviour?; and (2) if attitudes impact behaviour, could unsafe behaviour be changed. The author answers yes to both of the questions and concludes that attitude studies are extremely valuable for its use. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD E201756.


The aim of this paper is to characterize the exponential stability of linear systems of difference equations with slowly varying coefficients. Our approach is based on the generalization of the freezing method for difference equations combined with new estimates for the norm of bounded linear operators. The main novelty of this work is that we use estimates for the absolute values of entries of a matrix-valued function, instead of bounds on its eigenvalues. By this method, new explicit stability criteria for linear nonautonomous systems are derived.


The study of high-magnetic-field pulsars is important for examining the relationships between radio pulsars, magnetars, and X-ray-isolated neutron stars (XINSs). Here, we report on X-ray observations of three such high-magnetic-field radio pulsars. We first present the results of a deep XMM-Newton observation of PSR J1734−3333, taken to follow up on its initial detection in 2009. The pulsar's spectrum is well fit by a blackbody with a temperature of 300 ± 60 eV, with bolometric luminosity for a distance of 6.1 kpc. We detect no X-ray pulsations from the source, setting a 1σ upper limit on the pulsed fraction of 60% in the 0.5–3 keV band. We compare PSR J1734−3333 to other rotation-powered pulsars of similar age and find that it is significantly hotter, supporting the hypothesis that the magnetic field affects the observed thermal properties of pulsars. We also report on XMM-Newton and Chandra observations of PSRs B1845−19 and J1001−5939. We do not detect either pulsar, setting 3σ upper limits on their blackbody temperatures of 48 and 56 eV, respectively. Despite the similarities in rotational properties, these sources are significantly cooler than all but one of the XINSs, which we attribute to the two groups having been born with different magnetic fields and hence evolving differently.


The validity and reliability of measuring instruments determine their quality. the implementation of ehe competency-based curriculum at schools has caused basic problems to solve concerning requirements to be fulfilled related to the validity and reliabilitu of such instruments. This article to discuss the fulfillment of the requirements concerning the validitu and reliability of tests usend to measure learning achievement in educational research, or, for the interest of education of the competency-based curriculum.


A hierarchical stereo system is described that uses structural descriptions up to the surface level. Surface descriptions are computed from monocular images, by using a perceptual grouping technique. Occlusion can be a major problem in stereo analysis and is often not treated explicitly. An analysis is presented of occlusion effects in stereo, and it is shown how structural descriptions can be used to deal with them. Experimental results are given for scenes with curved objects and significant occlusions.<<ETX>>


This study aims at investigating the ideas that are (re) presented in animation film Shrek. There is only one problem in this study, that is to find ideas that are (re) presented in Shrek. This study is expected to give some useful contributions to the study of Literature, particularly to the study of animation film and postmodernism. The findings of the study are expected to give some useful insights to Indonesian learners of English Literature to get a better understanding of postmodern aesthetics and its application on animation film. The research design of this study is qualitative and the sources of data of this study are the setting, the visualization of the characters, and the dialogue in the animation film. Theories that are used in analyzing the data is theory of intertextuality and theory of deconstruction  The finding of the study is postmodern aesthetic is not merely about beauty. It concerns more on the figural expression than the discursive expression. Postmodern aesthetics also attack the formal categorization. Last, it exposes crucial issues by showing the problem from different side of view. Some of the issues presented in the film are racism, postfeminism, rejection to all of the stereotypes made by the old fairy tales, rejection to universalism, and invitation to celebrate heterogeneity.  Based on the findings of the study, several suggestions are made by the researcher. The first is that more study should be conducted on the same subject since the study has not explored all of the sides that the animation film has. The second is that more study should be conducted on animation film since it has so many interesting elements inside. The third is that the literature students may use the film in helping them understand postmodern aesthetics or postmodernism in general. The researcher also suggests that Indonesian 3d artist should continue their hard work in bringing Indonesian animation film into life. Moreover, they can also use Indonesian legends and folklore that have been ridiculed as the story of their animation film. Last, it is suggested that media practitioner should be aware that their products influence their consumer. In addition, the mass media consumer should notice that the product they consume are made based on the ideas and goal of the makers.


LBA4Background: Daratumumab (D), a human anti-CD38 IgGκ mAb, induces deep and durable responses with a favorable safety profile in RRMM pts. We report a pre-specified interim analysis of the first randomized controlled study of D (CASTOR; NCT02136134). Methods: Pts with ≥1 prior line of therapy were randomized (1:1) to 8 cycles (q3w) of bortezomib (V)/dexamethasone (d) (V: 1.3 mg/m2sc on Days 1, 4, 8, 11; d: 20 mg po on Days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12) ± D (16 mg/kg iv qw in Cycles 1-3, Day 1 of Cycles 4-8, then q4w until progression). Primary endpoint was PFS. Results: 498 pts (DVd, 251; Vd, 247) were randomized. Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were well balanced. Pts received a median of 2 prior lines of therapy (range 1-10). 66% received prior V; 76% received prior IMiD; 48% received prior PI and IMiD; 33% were IMiD-refractory; 32% were refractory to last line of prior therapy. With median follow-up of 7.4 months, D significantly improved median PFS (61% reduction in risk of progression...


Thermal expansion behavior method in reheating process was used to evaluate firing temperature of white porcelains excavated in Yanggu area, Jangpyung-Ri No.1 (J1, 17~20 centuries) and Songhyun-Ri No.5 (S5, 14~15 centuries). For standard specimen used for evaluation of the firing temperature, we used starting materials (YC) that have similar chemical composition of J1 and S5 and then they were fired at various temperatures from 800 to 1300°C. Starting temperature of shrinkage and shrinkage rate were measured in thermal expansion behavior in reheating process of the of 1st fired specimens and the base line for original firing temperature was set based on the results from the measurement of the standard specimens. Effects of particle size of starting materials for standard specimens on the thermal expansion behavior in reheating process were also investigated and the base lines were also set. As a result, we found that difference in particle size for starting materials could cause different shrinkage rate and starting temperature of shrinkage in reheating process even with the same original firing temperature.


Background: Collagenase, an enzyme produced by clostridium histolyticum (CCH), is a relatively new injection able to cleave collagen strands in vitro. While not yet available on the PBS, the side effect profile and risk of recurrence of collegenase injections are comparable to fasciectomy in appropriately selected patients. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the safety and cost-effectiveness of collagenase for the treatment of Dupuytren's disease.
Method: Twenty-five patients at our hospital received collagenase injections for treatment of their Dupuytren's disease. Data from this cohort was compared to a hypothetical group extrapolated from the literature.
 Results: Surgical treatment, excluding outpatient visits, costs on average AU$5852 per patient and collagenase costs AU$1176 per patient (gross cost difference AU$4676). Moderating this cost difference by the effect of complications using the incremental cost effectiveness ratio, the cost saving is AU$1137.71 per unit decrease in complications with collagenase treatment. Surgical fasciectomy has a lower risk of recurrence than collagenase but costs up to AU$543 more for patients for whom the condition does not recur within five years of treatment. In our cohort, 25 patients had 31 cords injected with collagenase. All but two patients achieved full range of motion of their affected joint and 20 per cent sustained minor skin tears requiring dressings.
Conclusion: This analysis suggests that the investment of public health funds in the treatment of suitable patients with collagenase should produce a substantial cost saving without increasing the risk of complications.


The MOF is a compact device (15 cm max dimension) displaying a very narrow-band spectral transmission (20 to 70 m$angstrom, single or multiple bands) with intrinsic absolute spectral reference and stability, high peak transmission (close to 50%) and imaging capability. It has been used so far mainly in solar astronomy to detect solar magnetic and velocity fields. Doppler shifts as low as 1 cm/sec equivalent velocity can be measured on the sun (whole disk) using 2 cm aperture telescope and 1 sec exposure time. Its working principle is based on magneto-optical effects on metallic vapors in a magnetic field. An overview of the theoretical model compared with experimental spectroscopic measurements is discussed in the first part. Applications in astronomy, namely helio and astero seismology and magnetographic observations are shown in the second part of this paper.


Purpose: The study purpose was to examine the consequences of using dried blood spots rather than fresh sera in first-trimester Down syndrome screening.Methods: We collected and compared human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A results from clients providing dried blood spots (Cohort 1) and from other clients providing fresh sera (Cohort 2). Inclusion and exclusion criteria aimed at ensuring the two cohorts were similar.Results: The average concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A are significantly different for the two cohorts. When the results are converted to multiples of the median and weight-adjusted, the variances for human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in Cohort 1 are greater by 25% and 14%, respectively. Modeling the impact of this increased variance shows that Down syndrome detection is expected to be lower in Cohort 1 (83% vs. 85% at a 5% false-positive rate) or the false-positive rate is expected to be higher (3.9% vs. 3.0% at an 80% detection rate).Conclusions: This study of two closely matched cohorts provides indirect evidence that dried blood spots will result in slightly lower Down syndrome screening performance. Studies should be undertaken to confirm and further quantify differences in assigned risks by a direct comparison using matched serum and dried blood spots collected from the same women.


This study took place at Pasar Modern Pasir Pengaraian, the aim to determine characteristics which include parking accumulation, the volume of vehicle parking, parking duration, parking index and turnover of parking. The survey grouped on weekdays and holidays. The data obtained in the form of data registration numbers of vehicles consisting of a vehicle type cars (sedans, jeeps and pick-ups) and motorcycles. The result showed the maximum parking accumulation for motorcycles as many as 155 vehicles at a time interval 10:00 to 11:00 am, while on the car as much as 30 vehicles on the time interval 10:00 to 11:00 am. The majority of parking duration between 5-6 Hours. The maximum turnover rate for car parking occurs on a holiday at the clock 09:00 to 10:00 am for the motorcycle while going on holiday at 8:00 to 9:00am. Car parking for a maximum index of 21.429% on holiday while on the motorcycle of 55.537% on holidays. The amount of parking index value indicates that the parking capacity of Pasar Modern Pasir Pengaraian still able to accommodate parking demand that occurs at this time


Results are presented from six trials dealing with aspects of management on the cold ad libitum system of calf rearing using an acidified milk replacer containing over 600 g skim milk powder per kg. Thirty-six calves were housed in pens of six for each trial and were fed through a teat and pipeline from a storage barrel. Acidified milk replacer, pH 5·6, was mixed cold at 125 g/1 and made available ad libitum to 3 weeks. A rationed allowance was given daily, on a reducing scale, over the following 2 weeks with weaning completed at 35 days. A pelleted dry food containing 180 g crude protein per kg, together with water in buckets and barley straw in racks, was available ad libitum throughout. Each trial lasted 8 weeks. Results for the mean of the six cold ad libitum trials involving 216 calves were compared with the mean results of 10 conventional bucket-fed trials carried out separately at the same unit, involving 912 calves. All calves were purchased British Friesian male (bull) calves. Calves on the ad libitum system showed improved live-weight gains of 9·4 kg at 3 weeks, 8·8 kg at 5 weeks and 7·5 kg at 8 weeks, compared with the conventional system. The consumption of milk replacer powder was higher in ad libitum trials at 29·4 kg cf. 12·5 kg by bucket but intake of pelleted dry feed was lower on the ad libitum system at 50·7 kg cf. 71·3 kg to 8 weeks. Calf appearance scores were significantly improved on the ad libitum system which gave the main improvement in performance in the first 3 weeks.


During its 2017 NAAB accreditation, the School of Architecture at Clemson University received high marks for Integrative Design, having met this criterion "with distinction." The report stated: "There was ample evidence... from the comprehensive design studios that students possessed the necessary abilities and skills to synthesize a broad range of contextual, design, and technical considerations into an integrated design solution.... The quality of the projects is high, which is in large part due to collaborative teamwork." Undergirding the effective collaboration of the students, the Comprehensive Studio thrives on a careful schedule plus measured team-teaching from the faculty. The Studio comprises 30-40 M.Arch students, working in pairs. The projects typically range from 30,000 to 60,000ft2, and feature complex programs. The site and building design phases fill the first half of the semester, with the remainder focusing on technical development. Overseeing this is a versatile team of instructors possessing professional experience and diverse expertise – from history/theory, to zero-energy design, to structural systems. This addresses, in a critical way, the notion of integration. Too often, the design studio is set up to recognize alpha designers, under the tutelage of the sage instructor. This leads to fragmented knowledge. Our approach instead emphasizes distributed knowledge while embracing ambiguity when it arises. On the one hand, the instructors' expertise is complementary, promoting robust, integrated design solutions. On the other hand, our critiques sometimes conflict, presenting a purposeful challenge and demanding that students carefully consider each position and chart a path forward. The projects are tested and refined by the process. This methodology has been honed over six years with decidedly positive outcomes and supportive student feedback. This paper presents these methods and considers both the successes and challenges of directing integrative design studios in this manner. This analysis is supported with student samples and course feedback.


The fast developmengt of the network brings the severe challenge to the traditional English teaching of the university. Weshould fully make use of network resources to improve the English teaching of university in our country at present.we can promoteuniversity English teaching, from several main respectseses , such as: the communications of E-mial,WWW browse, BBS discussions,IRC exchanging ,etc..


Cu5Se75In10M10 (M = Ge, Te) bulk chalcogenide glasses have been prepared by melt quench technique. XRD technique has been used for structural characterization. Absence of peaks confirms the amorphous nature of the studied composites. Some
 important physical parameters have been investigated theoretically i.e., average coordination number, constraints, density, molar volume, cohesive energy, electro negativity, heat of atomization, bond energy etc. Tichy-Ticha and Lankhorst approach has also been used to study the glass transition
 temperature Tg. Theoretical analysis of composition shows that there is significant change in the structure of the glass due to rigidity percolation.


Application of conventional synthetic pesticides and agrochemicals has boosted the yield and productivity of crops by reducing pest infestation and promoting crop growth yet increasing reliance on many of these products poses serious environmental threats. This has led to growing interest in obtaining more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional pesticides and agrochemicals. Allelochemicals produced by plants, fungi, and microbes offer options for developing novel natural product-based pesticides and agrochemicals that are effective but with lower environmental half-lives. Here, we review the current state of knowledge about the potential use of juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), the allelochemical produced by black walnut trees (Juglans nigra), which has been investigated for applications across a range of different agricultural purposes. We then offer our perspective on what opportunities and challenges exist for harnessing juglone as a component of sustainable agriculture.


The invention provides configuration method and device for selecting transmitting antennae. In the method, under the condition that user equipment is configured or backed to a single-antenna port mode for transmitting a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) or PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel), the user equipment selects an antenna port which corresponds to an antenna selection mask code for transmitting the PUSCH or PUCCH, wherein the antenna selection mask code corresponds to antenna ports of the user equipment or an antenna port group. The antenna port group comprises one or a plurality of antenna ports. By the invention, the user equipment which supports the selection of the transmitting antennae can select corresponding transmitting antenna ports for transmitting the PUSCH or PUCCH in different transmission modes.


Introduction: The clinical manifestations of dengue infection range from asymptomatic infection, undifferentiated fever, an influenza-like symptom as dengue fever (DF) to a severe, sometimes fatal disease characterized by hemorrhage and shock known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). In mild degrees of DHF (WHO grades I and II), the changes in the vital signs are minimal and transient while the severe degrees (WHO grades III and IV), also known as dengue shock syndrome (DSS), the blood pressure ranges from narrowing pulse pressure ( Methods: A computerized program of scoring system for assessing the clinical manifestations and outcome of management in patients with dengue infection, was created. It was written by Microsoft Access. Sixteen items involving vital signs of pulse rate, blood pressure, duration to achieve the pulse pressure ≥ 20 mmHg, urine output; number of bleeding site; amount of required crystalloid, colloid, packed red cells and platelet concentrate; manifestations of hepatic failure, encephalopathy, respiratory distress syndrome, reshock or requiring inotropic drugs; as well as the requirement of central line application, ventilator or dialysis, were included. The scores of 3 to 10 were given to each item with a total score of 100. The scores in each item was also classified by the severity of clinical manifestations according to the patient's age. The higher scores were given to a more severe manifestation. The total scores would be automatically shown on the computerized screen when the clinical data input was added. Results : The scoring system was retrospectively and prospectively applied to children with dengue infection whose ages ranged from 5–15 years. All patients had positive dengue-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in the acute and convalescent sera determined by capture ELISA technique. The results revealed that the scores increased accordingly with the severity of the manifestations (DF 0–10, DHF grade I 5–15, grade II 10–25, Grade III 20–50, grade IV 40–75 and DSS with reshock or uncontrolled bleeding 50–100). The case-fatality was found in patients with higher scores of 75–100. Conclusion: The computerized scoring system for assessing the severity of patients with dengue infection is helpful in the clinical practice especially for the management of high risk patients with severe degree or DSS.


Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings Category: F/M Fandom: The 100 (TV) Relationship: Bellamy Blake/Clarke Griffin, background linctavia, Bellamy Blake & Octavia Blake Character: Clarke Griffin, Bellamy Blake, Octavia Blake, Marcus Kane, Lincoln (The 100) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe Modern Setting, Protective Bellamy, Torture, Dark, like hella dark, Kidnapping, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, slowburn Bellarke, triggering content, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, Recovery, Explicit Sexual Content Stats: Published: 2018-09-02 Updated: 2020-01-02 Chapters: 25/36 Words: 123919


Several memory vendors are pursuing different kinds of memory cells that can offer high density, non-volatility, high performance, and high endurance. There are several on-going efforts to architect main memory systems with these new NVMs that can compete with traditional DRAM systems. Each NVM has peculiarities that require new microarchitectures and protocols for memory access. In this work, we focus on memristor technology and the sneak currents inherent in memristor crossbar arrays. A read in state-of-the-art designs requires two consecutive reads; the first measures background sneak currents that can be factored out of the current measurement in the second read. This paper introduces a mechanism to reuse the background sneak current measurement for subsequent reads from the same column, thus introducing "open-column" semantics for memristor array access. We also examine a number of data mapping policies that allow the system to balance parallelism and locality. We conclude that on average, it is better to prioritize locality; our best design yields a 20% improvement in read latency and a 26% memory power reduction, relative to the state-of-the-art memristor baseline.


The aim of this paper is to investigate how humanitarian organizations keep track of their logistics costs. Furthermore, first insights regarding the extent of logistics costs in humanitarian operations are provided and the underlying relationships with the objectives, the forms of cooperation, and the processes of the humanitarian actors are examined. In order to answer the research questions, a qualitative case study with expert interviews in six humanitarian organizations is applied. The results show that the recording of logistics costs inpractice is rather limited.Thefiguresgiven in the literature are only realistic under certain circumstances – in some cases costs can be much lower. The degree of project autonomy and the disaster phase are shown to have the greatest impacts. This work provides first insights into the logistics costs based mainly on the investigation into six German organizations and, hence, is limited in its generalizability. However, since little empirical data and few scientific contributions are available in this context, the paper provides more specific evidence of the actual level of logistics costs and the underlying dependencies.


The effect of pinealectomy on the adrenal growth in unilaterally adrenalectomized rats was studied by evaluation of the mitotic activity of adrenocortical cells on the fifth and tenth day after operation. It was found that pinealectomy resulted in an about double increase of mitotic index on the 5th day after unilateral adrenalectomy, and on the 10th day the stimulatory effect of pinealectomy became less significant.


Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been evident to be the most successful treatment in treating individuals struggling with Scrupulosity OCD. CBT focuses on training the cognitive part of our brain to differentiate the individual's intrusive, obsessive thoughts and thoughts that are real. It helps the individual struggling with Scrupulosity OCD to be presented with factual information to provide evidence against their obsessive thoughts. In this paper, it will provide the information supporting that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most successful in treating individuals with Scrupulosity OCD. The information provided shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is successful because it focuses more on deteriorating the thought-action process that an individual with Scrupulosity OCD experiences. Therefore, it then becomes a more successful approach to treating Scrupulosity OCD.


Focuses on problems in banking that have the potential not only for disrupting the smooth provision of banking and other financial services, but also for adversely affecting domestic and even international macroeconomic activity. This work talks about fragility and regulation in different countries.


The paper presents the performance evaluation of an optical network using a simple optical cross-connect (OXC) architecture, with fixed wavelength conversion. The main advantage of a network using this OXC is the absence of any tunable components in the nodes. Obtained results show that networks with this OXC design approach the behavior of networks with ideal OXCs.


Three methods are of great importance for super-high resolution spectroscopy and in obtaining supernarrow resonances. These are as follows: the method of saturated absorption, two-photon spectroscopy, and the method of separated optical fields. The first two methods are well known and developed. Recent progress in developing these methods has been discussed in [1]. The narrowest resonances and high resolution were obtained by the method of saturated absorption. It is based on the use of a Lamb dip [2] in an absorption line. The use of absorption saturation resonances has been begun in 1967 with investigations of He-Ne lasers with a Ne absorbent which were independently carried out in Perkin Elmer laboratories [3] and in our institute [4].


Most economists assume that bond prices merely reflect fundamental factors such as the bond's interest rate, its face value and the likelihood that the bond issuer defaults.


where α,β > 0, p > 1 and b is a nonnegative function in Lp(Q). Hypotheses (1.2), (1.3) and (1.4) imply that, setting A(u) = −div(a(x, t,Du)), A is a coercive, continuous, bounded and strictly monotone operator acting between the space Lp(0,T ;W 1,p 0 (Ω)) to its dual Lp ′ (0,T ;W−1,p ′ (Ω)). In [4] and [2] it is shown that if p > 2−1/(N +1) there exists a weak solution of (1.1), that is, a function u ∈ L1(0,T ;W 1,1 0 (Ω)) ∩ C([0,T ];L1(Ω)) such that u(0) = u0 in L1(Ω), a(x, t,Du) ∈ (L1(Q))N , and Eq. (1.1) is satisfied in the sense of distributions. Moreover, u ∈ Lq(0,T ;W 1,q 0 (Ω)) for all q 1 problem (1.1) has a unique solution u. An existence and uniqueness result it is also ensured for the entropy solutions of problem (1.1) (see [15]). Recall that the notion of entropy solution has been introduced in [1] for the study of nonlinear elliptic equations with right-hand side in L1(Ω). We point out that the renormalized


For many years, gold has been regarded as a poor catalyst due to its chemical inertness towards reactive molecules such as oxygen and hydrogen. The interest in using gold in catalysis has increased during the last 20 years, since Haruta reported the surprisingly high activity in CO oxidation at low temperature for small (3–5 nm) gold particles supported on various oxides. [...]


The purpose of this study was to determine: 1) Effect of Perceived Value on Purchase Intention at the cafe Bat and Arrow Padang. 2) Effect of Green Packaging to Purchase Intention at the cafe Bat and Arrow Padang. The population in this study were cafe customers Bat and Arrow. The sampling technique is purposive sampling, the sample size used in this study was 150 repsonden. Analysis of the data used is descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results from the study showed Perceived value and significant positive effect on the Purchase Intention. And Green Packaging did not have a significant effect on the Purchase intention.


The duck pineal gland rhythmically produces two 5‐methoxyindole compounds, i.e. 5‐methoxytryptophol and melatonin. 5‐Methoxytryptophol levels are low at night and high during the day, while melatonin concentrations are high at night and low during the day. The melatonin rhythm reflects oscillations in the activity of serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (AA‐NAT; a penultimate and key regulatory enzyme in the melatonin biosynthetic pathway). The activity of hydroxyindole‐O‐methyltransferase (HIOMT; an enzyme involved in the synthesis of both 5‐methoxytryptophol and melatonin) does not exhibit any significant rhythmic changes throughout the 24‐hr period. Plasma levels of melatonin exhibited daily changes that were parallel to fluctuations in pineal melatonin content. Although plasma concentrations of 5‐methoxytryptophol were low in ducks, they showed daily variations. The mean 5‐methoxytryptophol concentration between zeitgeber time 9 (ZT9) and ZT15 was 2.4‐times higher than the mean value for samples collected between ZT18 and ZT3. These findings indicate that in the duck the pineal production of 5‐methoxytryptophol and melatonin may be inversely correlated.


Amphibole and other minerals in the hematite-bearing basic and quartz schists from the Saruta-gawa area in the Sanbagawa belt, central Shikoku were analyzed by the electron microprobe. The data presented comprise ,,+ analyses of amphibole, and 3* analyses of epidote, chlorite, garnet, muscovite, albite, hematite, magnetite and stilpnomelane. All the minerals in this study occur from the hematite-bearing schists in the albite-biotite zone of high metamorphic grade. These chemical data were used in order to discuss the Sanbagawa retrograde metamorphism in the Saruta-gawa area (Banno, ,***).


The basement RC wall which is restrained interiorly and exteriorly will crack as a result of temperature changes and shrinkage at early age.The traditional experiential formula method is difficult to forecast cracks accurately.Based on the temperature and stress field calculation theories and the heat-structure coupling simulation of two practical projects,this paper studied the distribution law of temperature and stress of wall,and gave a new crack calculation method;furthermore,finite element analysis after cracking was discussed and instantaneous temperature and equivalent load method were also put forward.At last,this paper compared the simulation and actual results,confirming that the new method can forecast cracking time and positions more accurately.The distribution law of stress of wall at early age can also be a useful reference for civil engineering technician.


The present paper uses data from revolving credit card securitizations to show that, conditional on being in a position where implicit recourse has become necessary and actually providing that recourse, recourse to securitized debt may benefit short- and long-term stock returns, and long-term operating performance of sponsors. The paper suggests that this result may come about because those sponsors providing the recourse do not seem to be extreme default or insolvency risks. However, sponsors providing recourse do experience an abnormal delay in their normal issuance cycle around the event. Hence, it appears that the asset-backed securities market is like the commercial paper market, where a firm's ability to issue is directly correlated with credit quality. Therefore, although in violation of regulatory guidelines and FASB140, recourse may have beneficial effects for sponsors by revealing that the shocks that made recourse necessary are transitory. ; Also issued as Payment Cards Center Discussion Paper No. 03-04


Centering on Shen Zengzhi who was a representative poet of the Zhejiang school with the Tong-Guang style in the periods of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China,this essay makes a research for the relationship between his academics,literature,sources and Buddhism.Just like China' s classic poetry,Buddhism and Confucianism also face the pressure of modernization.He advocates Buddhism because he wants to blend the conflict of the Eastern and Western cultures through Buddhism,which,actually,after the 1911 revolution,lagged behind the times due to the traditional Confucian idea of loyalty to sovereign.In the aspect of understanding Buddhist doctrines,he upholds the unity of Confucianism and Buddhism,and treats equally different sects of Buddhism,which lays a foundation for Master Taixu' s discrimination and criticism later.And in the textual research,he has a wide view,not only caring about the Chinese Buddhism,but also being interested in the Indian Buddhism,especially the history of Zen,for the study of which he is far earlier than Hu Shi.And in the aspect of literature,he uses a lot of Buddhist allusions in the creation of poetry,inheriting and developing the artistic style of the Zhejiang-school poets such as Zhu Yizun and Qian Zai who have a fancy for rare words and allusions.For him,Buddhism isn' t only a kind of spiritual sustenance that can settle down his disturbed soul but also a means for literary creation.


Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an increasingly popular tool in treating psychiatric conditions. The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is typically targeted for stimulation, with magnetic field intensity being calibrated by establishing resting motor threshold (RMT) at hand region of primary motor cortex (M1 hand). This presumes that scalp‐to‐cortex distance (SCD) and cortical thickness is similar at both sites. We present data from a patient who had very asymmetrical RMTs (47 and 78). We investigated SCDs in this patient at the M1 hand and DLPFC, and the M1 hand cortical thickness. We also investigated TMS electric field distribution. The M1 hand SCD and cortical thickness of the M1 hand was larger on the side with higher RMT. Electric field finite element modelling demonstrated the focal point did not effectively reach the M1 hand with higher RMT as the postcentral gyrus was shunting it. Hence, successful DLPFC treatment was based upon the side with lower RMT. This study highlights the importance of tailoring DLPFC treatment intensity not only based on RMT at the M1 hand, and upon the degree to which SCD distance differs between sites, but also based upon size, shape, and density of M1 hand, as well as electric field distribution. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:130–135, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


The increasing prevalence of e-commerce has empowered consumers with vast choices and opportunities for online shopping. This research paper focuses on two essential aspects of online shopping: price comparison and sentiment analysis of product reviews. The paper presents a methodology for scraping product prices from multiple e-commerce websites and conducting sentiment analysis on the corresponding product reviews. The findings of this research have significant implications for both consumers and e-commerce businesses. Consumers can leverage price comparison data to identify the most cost-effective platforms for their desired products, while sentiment analysis enables them to assess the overall satisfaction levels of other customers. E-commerce businesses can utilize these insights to optimize pricing strategies, identify areas for improvement, and enhance customer experiences. Performance analysis of Support Vector Machine, Logistic Regression, VADER Lexicon and SentiWordNet Lexicon is also done.


The binary complexes of Co +2 ,Ni +2 with α naphthaleneacetate(L) were prepared by the reaction of MCO 3(M=Co,Ni) with HL or by the extraction of the mixture of NiCl 2 and NaL with CHCl 3 in aqueous solution.The ternary complexes of Co +2 ,Ni +2 with α naphthaleneacetate and α furfuraloxime(L') were prepared by the reaction of NiCl 2,NaL and L'.The complexes were investigated by elementary analysis,molar conductivity,IR and UV techniques.


First-year students benefit from robotics-based programming exercises by learning how to use sensors to gain information on the (changing) world surrounding the robot, how to model this information using data structures, and how to design algorithms for performing meaningful activities. Robotics-based exercises are naturally experiential and team-based and provide among the most memorable teachable moments of first-year programming courses. We summarize the pedagogical challenges that robotics-based exercises face, even under ideal circumstances, and how a university responded to these challenges. We report on the additional challenges faced in late 2020 at the same university as a result of the COVID pandemic, and how the course staff addressed these challenges using programming language implementation and network tools. The crucial components were (1) a custom-built web-based development environment with collaborative features including a built-in compiler, (2) a portable virtual machine, (3) collaborative editing, (4) open source protocols, and (5) peer-to-peer teleconferencing software. We report on the lessons learnt and how to further improve the resilience of robotics-based programming exercises.


The paper comprehensively describes the issue of the relationship between social cognition and social T issues. A brief excursion into the history of social study in social psychology in this country and abroad is reviewed.The methodology of the psychology of social cognition can be used both for explaining the individual elements of the emerging problems, and for the understanding of the whole process. The essence of ideas by W. Wundt, K. Levin, A. Tajfel, P.A. Sorokin, V.M. Bekhterev, L.S. Vygotsky and other related problems of social psychology are presented. Current prospects of social cognition in the study of social problems are outlined. The emergence of a new specific industry of social psychology, identified as the psychology of social cognition, is mentioned. Its challenges and opportunities, the development of methods for the study of social problems in today's theory of social representations by S. Moscovici are presented. Relevance of social study today is shown. The author notes that a strong need to address significant (global) problems in the society always arises in a period of radical change, social transformations, and from this point of view, the period of reform in Russia is a situation that cries out for the need to study the existing social issues.


A chip card holding means includes a base, an elastic member, and the tray locking device. A receiving space formed in the base has a receiving port. An elastic member mounted on the base portion and received in the receiving space. Engaging assembly movably mounted on the base. A recessed space on the chip card carrier tray recess is provided with slots on the side of the tray. Engaging assembly includes a card slot cooperating with the block. Inner tray slidably mounted on the base, via a locking block received in the slot engaged with the base housing space and elastically supported on the resilient contact member. The present invention further provides a portable electronic device using the above-described chip card holding means. Chip card holding means is fixed by using the tray with the engagement assembly and the resilient member, and reliability, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of poor electrical connection of the chip card. When using the tool to unlock the locking device, the resilient member abutting slide out the tray tray to pick and place chip card, easy to operate, and to prevent misuse and loss of data.


This paper proposes an approach to use Huffman sequence in second harmonic imaging as coded excitation to improve the transmitted energy. An appropriate matched filter is applied to the Huffman sequence for compression and separation of the second harmonic components. The results show that the Huffman sequence has better performance than Chirp excitation in both second harmonic and conventional imaging. Around 50% improvement in axial resolution and 50 times improvement in energy of received signal is reported for Huffman sequence compared with Chirp. The simulations carried out by K-Wave Matlab toolbox.


This Research-to-Policy, Research to-Practice brief series focuses on issues related to the development and refinement of measures to assess the quality of early childhood and school age care settings. This series is supported under contract # HHSP233200500198U to Child Trends from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administra tion for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the direction of project officer Ivelisse Martinez-Beck. Support is also provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nicole Forry, Jessica Vick, and Tamara Halle are researchers at Child Trends. The views represented in this brief are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation of the Administration for Children and Families. Evaluating, DEvEloping, anD Enhancing Domain-SpEcific mEaSurES of chilD carE Quality Nicole Forry, Jessica Vick, and Tamara Halle


Video4Linux2 is the Application Programming Interface of programming video on the Linux system.This paper make use of the data configuration and the application function which belong to Video4Linux2 API,implement capturing the video picture of the USB camera on the Linux system,and displaying it with GTK.


SUMMARY The main features of the deep structure of the Gorringe Ridge are analysed on the basis of gravity and magnetic measurements, as well as seismic profiles, drill holes, rock dredges, submersible observations and seismicity data. The gravity and magnetic models of the Gettysburg and Ormonde seamounts, which form the Gorringe Ridge, suggest that the Moho is approximately flat and the upper part of the ridge corresponds to a northwestwards vergent fold. This structure is the result of a northwestward vergent thrust that deformed the oceanic crust, with a minimum slip of approximately 20 km. The activity of the thrust probably started 20 Myr, and produced the recent stages of seamount uplift. The seamount is mainly composed of gabbros of the oceanic crust, serpentinized rocks and alkaline basalts. The large antiform, located in the hangingwall of the thrust, is probably deformed by minor faults. This oceanic ridge is a consequence of the oblique convergence between the African Plate and the overlapping Eurasian Plate.


Examine bladder function behind an abnormal urine flow curve pattern or lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women with earlier vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).


In this paper, I argue that dialogue between legal philosophers and social scientists can be mutually beneficial. Nicola Lacey offers a vision of jurisprudence that supposes as much. I start by setting out my interpretation of her view. I then defend its potential, which she takes for granted, from the challenges posed by, first, an apparent friend—Brian Leiter—and, second, obvious adversaries—Joseph Raz and others. My response proposes an alternative to their conceptions of legal philosophy, one that is consistent with my understanding of the approach to jurisprudence that Lacey recommends.


This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum zinc levels (SZL) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk via a meta-analysis. Human studies that have reported SZL in patients with IBD and healthy controls were retrieved from different databases. Of the 123 identified articles, only 16 met our criteria and were examined for data extraction and analysis. Our analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between SZL and Crohn's disease. There was no significant relationship between SZL and ulcerative colitis. In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis indicate a significant association between low SZL and the risk of Crohn's disease, but not ulcerative colitis.


Ihe possibility of treating tuberculosis patients at home has recently been exhaustively discussed (Shennan, 1965); further, the role of the general practitioner in a domiciliary scheme has been evaluated (Rochester, 1965). Although the study described here was under taken in a general practice in Zambia some few years ago, it is felt that it has contemporary relevance in Rhodesia to this limited aspect of the problem; the study illustrates the development of a general practitioner scheme for children in an urban area, based on a local health centre.


The widely spreading Linzizong volcanic succession(LVS)is regarded as the magmatism response to the continental collision between India and Asia,which are essentially important in discovering the initial collisional time and processes.However,the present research on LVS is only limited on the typical cross-section of LVS in Linzhou basin to the northeast of Lhasa City,while that in the central-western part of Gangdese belt is rare.This study,based on the regional geological mapping results,present a systemic work of petrology,major,trace and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic geochemistry on the Nianbo Formation of LVS in Cuomai area(65~70Ma)in central-western Gangdese belt.The Cuomai Nianbo Formation is calc-alkalic to high-potassic calc-alkalic series,rhyolitic lavas,with much higher silica contents and higher alkaline compositions in comparing with the Nianbo Formation in Linzhou basin.This suggests a typical volcanic series which are occurring in the tectonic setting with postcollisional thickening continental crust.The Cuomai volcanics are enriched in Rb,Ba,Th,U,and Pb,depleted in Nb,Ta,Ti,and P,which are similar to that in Linzhou basin,both of which indicate the arc-related volcanics.The Cuomai Nianbo rocks have much enriched Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,with 87Sr/86Sr ranging from 0.709 to 0.727,eNd(0)ranging from-9.7 to-6.9,which revealing an large portion involvement of mature continental materials in the source region of the magmas,relative to the LVS in Linzhou basin.This also suggests the inhomogeneous distribution of the continental basement in southern Gangdese belt.If the age of the lower most part of LVS can be used to represent the initial collisional time between India and Asia,then one can conclude that this initial collisional time is asynchronous,with that in central-western Gangdese(Cuomai,65~70Ma)earlier than that in the eastern part(Linzhou basin,60~65Ma).


"Shaky Foundations: The Politics-Patronage-Social Science Nexus in Cold War America." Mark Solovey. Rutgers University Press. April 2013. ---
Numerous accounts have exposed the deep impact of sponsorship and patrons on the production of scientific knowledge and its applications. Shaky Foundations aims to examine a new patronage system for the social sciences in the USA that emerged in the early Cold War years, showing how social scientists were presented with new opportunities to work out the scientific identity, social implications, and public policy uses of academic social research. An important read exposing how money has functioned in determining the contemporary conditions of knowledge, writes Kye Barker.


THIS passage has given a great deal of trouble to commentators, and has been variously misunderstood. Mr. Mooney, following de Mirmont, translates it : ' The circlets of it are wrought of gold (it is made of circlets of gold, de M.), and around each of them wind double curving rings; but the joinings are hidden, for a spiral of blue runs over all of them.' He takes this to mean that the ball was made of a number of separate circlets of gold, which were kept in position by two rings enclosing them on the outside, and that the joinings of the KtixXa and o -̂tSe? were concealed by the spiral of blue. Seaton, on the other hand, follows the explanation of the scholiast di/riSe?ol <rvva<f>ai, and translates, ' All of gold are its zones. . . ' Now that is not how an ancient ball was made; and even if a ball were made of golden circlets stitched together, Hephaestus himself would have his work cut out to make it conform with these translations. An ancient ball was commonly made of a core of hair-stuffing enclosed in a cover, which consisted of several pieces of cloth or skin (<f>v\\a) sewn together. The seams were often disguised by designs or colouring; cf. the epigram et? afyaZpav (Jacobs, 2, p. 563 ; Anth. Pal. 14, 82):


Elliptic curves are one of the most important objects in algebraic geometry and, in general, in mathematics. The theory of elliptic curves is rather complicated and wattled by many conjectures. On the other hand, the elliptic curves have many practical applications, for example, in cryptography, in factoring of positive integers and in primality testing. To study the properties of elliptic curves H. Hasse introduced L-functions attached to these curves. Let E be an elliptic curve over the field of rational numbers Q defined by the Weierstrass equation


SUMMARY Man-made and natural disasters pose special challenges for people with diabetes. The disruption of healthcare delivery systems can have both short- and long-term health impacts. Disaster training programs should educate people with diabetes and their caregivers, emergency personnel, and other healthcare professionals about disaster prevention, mitigation and recovery. Early planning can prevent later disaster-related exacerbations of diabetes.


An incompressible fluid of constant thermal diffusivity D flows with velocity u = Sβ(ωt) y in the x direction, where S is a scaling factor for the velocity gradient at the wall y = 0, and β(ωt) is a positive function of time t, with characteristic frequency ω. The region 0 [les ] x [les ] l of the wall is occupied by a heated film of temperature T1, the rest of the wall being insulating. Far from the film the fluid temperature is T0 < T1. Using boundary-layer theory, we calculate the heat transfer from the film by means of two asymptotic expansions, a regular one for small values of the frequency parameter $\epsilon (x) = \omega(9x)^{\frac{2}{3}} D^{-\frac{1}{3}} S^{-\frac{2}{3}}$ and a singular one (requiring the use of matched asymptotic expansions) for large values of ε. We notice the appearance of eigenfunctions in the large-ε expansion, where they are to be expected on physical grounds in order to take account of upstream conditions. Numerical computations are made for the case of sinusoidal oscillations, where β(ωt) = 1 + α sin ωt, α < 1 (three values of α, = 0·2, 0·5, 0·8, were chosen); there is seen to be no satisfactory overlap between the two expansions–the small-ε expansion is quite accurate for ε < 5·0 (especially for the smaller values of α) and the large-ε expansion is quite accurate for ε > 10·0. Approximate overlap is declared to occur at ε = 8·0. The theory is used to calculate the response in oscillatory flow of the hot-film anemometer developed by Seed & Wood (1970a, b) to measure blood velocities in large arteries. The velocity gradient over the film (embedded in the surface of a larger probe) is obtained from the theory of the companion paper (Pedley 1972) on the assumption that the probe resembles a semi-infinite flat plate. The deviations observed in unsteady calibration experiments between the unsteady response of the anemometer and its steady response are predicted qualitatively by the theory, but quantitative agreement is in general unsatisfactory. The probable sources of this error, and the possibility of removing them, are discussed. The quasi-steady calibration curve used by Seed & Wood (1971) is suspect at low instantaneous velocities, but is shown to be adequate for the turbulence measurements of Nerem & Seed (1972). The theory is also applied to the experiments of Caro & Nerem (1972) on mass transfer to segments of arterial wall, and it is shown that oscillations characteristic of the cardiovascular system will have a negligible effect on the mean mass transfer.


The present article provides an up-to-date reading of the so called 'historical novels' or 'city novels' by Carlos Droguett. In particular, his novels focused on the conquest and founding of the city of Santiago (100 Gotas de Sangre y 200 de Sudor and Supay el cristiano) mark the droguettian narrative project first's coordinate, oriented towards a remaking and rewriting of the Chilean and Latin American history, in a literary-historiography which looks for its sources, its documentary evidence, within the enormous archive conformed by all that blood, all those deaths eluded "with silence or noise". 100 Gotas de Sangre y 200 de Sudor and Supay el cristiano are the first pages of what we here call Chilean History according to Carlos Droguett. But, in addition, both novels would be tributary of the documentary source previously elaborated by the historian Crescente Errazuriz in his Historia de Chile bajo Pedro de Valdivia.


Current strategies for infrastructure resilience in the past often focused on sector specific risk assessment and management activities. But from the regional development planner's perspective, infrastructure sites and corridors like highways, rail tracks, transmission lines and water or gas pipelines cannot be considered as separate and independent from their environment. As damage of infrastructure components may have cascading effects, mutual influences resulting from proximity, intersections and interconnections to other infrastructures have to be considered. The proposed methodology analyses the density of infrastructures in relation to their cross-sectoral and accumulative relevance using geospatial data samples from Germany. It maps spatial criticality by defining a proximity factor which is multiplied with an indicator representing the prominence of each component. This allows the identification of hot-spots of highly accumulated critical infrastructures in a spatial (or geographical) context.


The ionic conductivity a is studied in the temperature range 470-1145 K for three compositions of the nonstoichiometric crystalline phase of Ba 1−x Gd x F 2+x : the disordered solid solution with the fluorite structure (x = 0.25) and two solid solutions with trigonal distortions of the fluorite structure (x = 0.40-0.41). It is found that the ionic conductivities in these solid solutions decrease as the degree of ordering in the rare-earth sublattice increases: σ(x = 0.25) > σ(x = 0.40-0.41). The values of the activation enthalpy of the migration of mobile defects are 0.77 and 0.9-1.0 eV for Ba 0.75 Gd 0.25 F 2.25 at 470-870 K and Ba 1−x Gd x F 2+x (x = 0.40-0.41) at 800-1145 K, respectively


Abstract : This report concludes and details the efforts expended during 2004 and 2005 by Nomadics under the bridging effort for SERDP Project CU-1298. The scope of the work performed involved miniaturizing the SERDP Project CU-1298 Phase I explosives sensor in order to deploy the sensor in a two-inch groundwater monitoring well without compromising the performance of the sensor, as well as adding data logging capability to the sensor. A prototype sensor capable of deployment in a two-inch groundwater monitoring well was constructed and tested extensively in the lab, and its performance is comparable to the previous laboratory prototype constructed under SERDP CU-1298 Phase I. Hence, the project objectives were successfully accomplished. The integration effort involved miniaturizing the flow cell, optics stack, PC board, and supporting hardware. A miniaturized prototype sensor was constructed, assembled, tested, and debugged. This prototype sensor was engineered using technology from two other Nomadics sensors, an underwater TNT sensor (SeaDog) and the Fido TNT vapor sensor (Fido). Both sensors employ patented Amplifying Fluorescing Polymer (AFP) technology. The vapor sensor is capable of detecting TNT at the parts-per-quadrillion level, and the aqueous phase sensor can detect TNT in water at low parts-per-billion levels. Both sensors have been tested extensively in the field. Several technologies have been borrowed from the Fido sensor and used in the prototype sensor including data logging capability. Data logging was implemented in order to record data while sampling, which will allow users to analyze the traces for TNT presence at a later time. The existing hardware from the previous SERDP effort was too large to meet the size requirements for deployment in a two-inch well. Therefore, the optics stack, flow cell, and circuit board were miniaturized in order to achieve this goal.


Globalisation, the unavoidable process which the world entered, is affecting everyone of us in different ways. Globalization means growing permeability of all the boundaries such as time and space, national and state borders, borders of economy, branches and organizations and less tangible boundaries such as cultural standards and their assumptions. The advent of Internet has also a large effect on the acceleration of globalisation and the commerce in special. Electronic commerce (e-commerce) refers to forms of transactions which are based on electronic data processing, among other things text, sound and picture, with the participation of organizations and individuals, on the Internet. Goods sold through the internet are: travel, clothes, groceries, consumer electronics and the pay of the invoices This paper present some aspects of the e-commerce process in Europe and Romania in 2006-2011 periods.


In 1975 CEPAL submitted a request to a distinguished Uruguayan intellectual, Carlos Real de Azua, for a study on the special economic and political development problems that small nations have to face, The author prepared a first draft in that same year, but, for various reasons, never completed the final version. Now, when all who knew him are lamenting his untimely death, we wish to pay him the modest tribute of publishing part of his study in the form of an article.


Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of the therapy of Sanjiao acupuncture combined with drug cupping for hemifacial spasm.Methods Totally 80 patients with hemifacial spasm,from September 2011 to July 2012,were according to random number table method divided as trial group and control group,with 40 in each.The patients in the trial group received Sanjiao acupuncture at Shanzhong,Zhongwan,and Qihai as well as bilateral Xuehai,Zusanli and Waiguan,with additional drug cupping for local face.While the patients in the control group received acupuncture at ipsilateral Yangbai,Sizhukong,Sibai,Quanliao,Jiace,Yingxiang,Daying,Dicang,Shuigou,and Hegu,with even reinforcing-reducing manipulation,with conventional cupping for local face.The clinical effect and symptom score of the two group were observed.Results After three courses of treatment,the symptom score of the trial group was better than that of the control group 〔(1.12 ± 0.40) vs(1.55 ± 0.64),P 0.01〕.Ridit analysis showed the clinical effect was better in the trial group than in the control group(u = 2.45,P 0.01).Conclusion The therapy of Sanjiao acupuncture plus drug cupping is of better effect for patients with hemifacial spasm.


Modern consumers are interested in healthy food to ensure healthy ageing, with the aim of ensuringa healthy ageing. Research expects industry level achievement for fortified fruit as an alternative. Thisstudy assesses the useful life time cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fortified with vitamin E usingthe technique of vacuum impregnation (IV), depending on the colour, texture and stability of vitamin Eat different storage conditions. The active components of vitamin E are quantified by HPLC and levelsin the fruit are reported based on 100 grams fresh capegooseberry. The answer to the IV is affected bythe area and the distribution of the pores of the apex, which contributed to obtain levels of fortificationin the final product exceeding the criteria set (100% of the Consumer Daily Recommendation (RDC)Colombia): 159,8 ± 38,0% RDC ≅ 35,15 ± 8,35 mg dl-α-tocopherol acetate with a time of useful lifeof 15 days. The process IV and vacuum packaging were significant in color (darker) and the texture(more soft).


Excellence and Institutional Mission: Focusing on Quality David Pierpont Gardner Address given at the Eighty—Seventh Annual Meeting of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, March 29, 1982


Effective force testing (EFT) is a test procedure that can be used to apply real-time earthquake loads to large-scale structural models. The implementation of the EFT method requires velocity feedback compensation for the actuators in order to apply forces accurately to test structures. Nonlinearities in the servosystem have a significant impact on the velocity feedback compensation and test results when large flow demands are present, which can be caused by large structural velocities and/or large forces applied to the test structure. This paper presents a nonlinear servosystem model, upon which a nonlinear compensation scheme is proposed. The model and compensation scheme are experimentally verified. The results indicate that the proposed model accurately describes the servosystem behavior, and with the nonlinear velocity feedback compensation, real-time dynamic testing can be conducted using the EFT method.


Position-sensitive gamma-ray spectrometers, like pixelated CdZnTe detectors, record the energies and 3-D positions of gamma-ray interactions. This information allows one to perform Compton-image reconstructions which can determine the source direction in the 4-pi space surrounding the detector. This work describes several image-reconstruction algorithms for use in scenarios where motion is involved. In the absence of motion, standard simple back projection and maximum-likelihood image-reconstruction techniques are appropriate. When the source is close to the detector or the detector is moving relative to the source, 3-D image reconstruction is possible. This reconstruction allows one to localize the source position in 3-D rather than just the source direction. The 3-D reconstruction method using a moving detector is demonstrated by mapping radiation sources in a room and provides a convenient way to view the results overlaid on an optical image. In contrast, when the source is moving relative to the detector, images produced by standard image reconstructions are blurred by the source motion. If the source motion is known, the reconstruction can account for the motion by adjusting the reference frame of the reconstruction to keep the source in the center of the field of view. This type of compensation works well when a single source is present, but it cannot simultaneously reconstruct multiple sources. Thus, this work introduces a new binning structure that allows multiple moving or stationary sources to be reconstructed with minimal blur related to source motion. This method is demonstrated using experimental data of multiple moving and stationary sources. Finally, when the source motion is unknown or there are too many sources to track, the time domain must be included to reconstruct radiation movies instead of radiation images. Simply adding time binning works well when the source is strong and there are many counts reconstructed in each time bin. However, when there are only a few counts per time bin, the maximum-likelihood reconstruction method is modified to enforce smoothness in the time domain which produces much improved results over the standard maximum-likelihood reconstruction. This method is also validated with experimental data.


Two tobacco cultjvars (Hongda and NC 89) were exposed to different levels of osmotic stress created by PEG-6000 and the changes in the relative permeability of the plasma membrane, MDA content and the antioxidant system in the roots were studied. The permeability of the plasma membrane, and MDA and H2O2 contents increased with osmotic stress. During osmotic stress, SOD and CAT activities in tobacco roots showed a rise, followed by a drop, POD activity kept rising and ASP activity dropped. The contents of the antioxidants (AsA and GSH) increased under low osmotic stress and decreased under high osmotic stress. A negative correlation was present between antioxidant enzyme activity and antioxidant content in the roots, on the one hand, and the level of membrane-lipid peroxidation and the permeability of plasma membrane, on the other. A certain difference existed between the two cultivars tested in the response of their antioxidant system to the osmotic stress.


As an artificial heart valve material, titanium oxide is superior to low temperature isotropic pyrolytic carbon in terms of mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The irregular shape of a heart valve makes conventional fabrication techniques like Ž . Ž . beam-line ion implantation and ion beam enhanced deposition IBED difficult. Plasma immersion ion implantation PIII does not suffer from the line-of-sight limitation and is an excellent technique for this purpose. In this work, titanium oxide thin films are synthesized on Ti6Al4V by titanium metal PIII and oxygen PIII. By controlling the depositionrimplantation rate of titanium and oxygen plasma density, TiO films with different compositions and properties can be fabricated. The film properties are x Ž . Ž . evaluated by techniques including atom force microscopy AFM , X-ray diffraction XRD , and various mechanical testing methods. AFM results reveal that the TiO film surface is quite dense without gross voids. The microhardness is enhanced with x increasing oxygen partial pressure between the range of 0]3=10y2 Pa and reaches a maximum value of 17 GPa at an oxygen partial pressure of 3=10y2 Pa. The wear resistance is also much better than that of Ti6Al4V. In spite of our encouraging results, the TiO films synthesized in our experiments are still too thin. In order to exploit its full potential as an artificial heart valve x material, the films must be thicker. It can be achieved by using a more efficient metal arc source or by increasing the PIII duty cycle. Q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


Introduction: Noise induced hearing loss is one of the most common public health problems occurring due to use of headsets.The usage of earphone/ headphone has been increasingly used in the recent times due to online learning. Objective: To determine the usage practices of headphone/earphone and associated effects among college students of Tamil Nadu.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among college students in Tamil Nadu from January to February 2022. Snowball sampling technique was used, and 640 students respondedto a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire circulated through online platform. Results:Out of 640 students, 57.1% were female students, 71.5% students used earphones for less than 5 hours, 32.5% students cleaned earphone daily, 46.6% didn't share their earphone, whereas 83.1% of students experienced at least one symptom or sign on using earphone. Conclusion: Due to online learning, earphone usage and its effects was increased among students in our study, so awareness about rational use of earphones is much needed among the younger generations.


Quality and quantity analysis were conducted during the three years examinations (200-2002) of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). Two species were identified:Coccinella septempunctata L., and Adonia variegata Gz.
The examinations were conducted on three locations in Strumica region. No significant differences were noticed between the localities in the presence of the most important insect species.


For portable multimedia applications, low power, low cost and multimedia processing capability of DSP chips are essential. However, existing multimedia DSP chips having millions of transistors are not suitable for portable applications and existing fixed-point DSP chips are not suitable for multimedia processing. This paper designs and implements a low cost multimedia fixed-point DSP (MDSP) chip for portable applications. MDSP can process various packed data types-8, 16, 32, 40 bit. In addition, MDSP can perform two vector operations in parallel with two parallel data movement. The prototype MDSP chip has been fabricated, is running at 30 MHz and the total gate count is about 68000. The performance comparisons show an improvement in various multimedia algorithms.


Sheep and cattle are prey to many parasitic worms, including the trichostrongylid nematodes. Conventional control involves the use of anthelmintic drugs, but in this article HadjJ Abroad Hashmi and Roger Connan discuss the possible biological control of these nematodes by means of a 'livlng lasso', the predacious fungus Arthrobotrys. Trichostrongylid nematodes are a major constraint on the growth of young ruminants. In the early grazing season calves become infected with larvae that have overwintered on the pasture and as a result eggs are subsequently deposited in their faeces. As the season advances, the ambient temperature rises, and eggs develop progressively more successfully and more quickly, and from midsummer a major new peak of infective larvae appears on the pasture ~. Similar events occur on sheep pasture except that the ewes, as well as the lambs contaminate it 2. It is this new generation of infective larvae, appearing in midsummer, which normally causes disease.


A novel two-dimensional layer manganese(II)-disulphide complex, [Mn(2,2′-DTDN)(H2O)2]n·2nH2O (DTDN2-=dithiodinicotinate) was synthesized and characterized, in which DTDN2- comes from the oxidation of MNA (2-mercaptonicotinic acid) followed by a deprotonation process in aqueous solution under aerobic condition. Hydrogen bond interactions among layers lead to the formation of three-dimensional network structure.


Aim: To analyze aggressive behavior towards healthcare workers before and during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Poland and confront the obtained results with reports on this phenomenon from the scientific world.
Material and methods: The study included 999 respondents constituting healthcare workers from all over Poland. The proprietary questionnaire consisting of three parts was the research tool.
Results: Only 1% of healthcare workers indicated that they informed the Healthcare Aggression Monitoring Registry. A similar rate was observed during the pandemic. The predominant reason was "long waiting time".
Conclusions: Aggression being a relatively constant and unchanging problem in the healthcare system, according to the authors, requires the development of new, more effective solutions to improve the situation of victims. Encouraging staff to report aggressive behaviors and actively supporting them in these actions could lead to more frequent legal consequences for aggressors, increasing the chance for more respectful treatment of medical staff and disrupting the false sense of impunity in perpetrators of these acts.


The increase in service provision over the internet as well as the trend to establish global open service markets supply a basis for business scenarios in which e-commerce applications become more and more important. To survive in the arising competition situation between different service providers, services have to be offered not only in a wide range and for a suitable price, but additionally they have to be deployed in an efficient way, promising a good quality and performance in service provision to satisfy the customers. Because existing internet infrastructures have to be integrated and used in service provision, it becomes necessary for service providers to develop new concepts for the management of the arising service-oriented distributed systems. This paper discusses mechanisms for the management of such services in distributed environments. A trader is used as a central component, supporting a customer in choosing a service and a provider in delivering this service efficiently. For this purpose, the trader is enhanced to consider as well quality aspects of a requested service, as the global state of the distributed system when selecting a service. To fulfil performance characteristics of a mediated service at usage time without the necessity to involve application developers and users, a load balancer and management proxies are integrated into the trader for a proactive management of the service usage process.


The invention provides a refinement method of thiocyanate erythromycin. The method comprises the following steps: a. taking an erythromycin thiocyanate crude product, adding a solvent and a mixed alkali solution for dissolution, and removing insoluble substances to obtain a supernatant, wherein the mixed alkali solution is a water solution comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, the mole ratio of the sodium hydroxide to the sodium carbonate in the mixed alkali solution is 9:1-1:9, and the solvent is an alcohol solvent or acetone; and b. adding sodium thiocyanate into the supernatant in the step a, regulating the pH value to 6.0-9.0, crystallizing, filtering, and drying to obtain the erythromycin thiocyanate finished product. The erythromycin thiocyanate finished product prepared by the method has the advantages of high light transmittance, high yield and high product quality, and has favorable industrial application prospects.


W. P. Shepherd, Chansons de Geste and the Homeric Problem. An indication and discussion of some analogies between the Greek and French epics from the standpoint of a student of the latter. Archer Taylor, The Judas Curse. An elaborate discussion of the various forms under which this curse appears, the various uses to which it was put, political, ecclesiastical, or private, with examples in several languages. G. M. Boiling, Vulgate Homeric Papyri. A testing of the theory already propounded in other articles, in the light of additional material now available; this new material gives 292 lines for the Odyssey, for 189 of which papyrus evidence was not available before, and 1223 lines for the Iliad, 260 of which had not previously been found in papyri. B. claims that this evidence entirely supports the hypothesis that the vulgate began by agreeing line for line with the edition of Aristarchus and afterwards suffered interpolation. Clara M. Knight, The ToParticiple in Vergil. Collects a number of cases in which the toparticiple is used in Vergil without a past meaning, but is clearly associated with a present idea, and suggests that the usage is an archaism, a remnant of the ' timeless' sense of the form which is preserved in the free use (in the case of deponent verbs) found in early writers. Edwin H. Tuttle, Dravidian Notes. Suggests tha t ' vowel-consonants,' like the English n and /, were common in early Dravidian, and gives examples of various dialectical forms in support of this view. G. Bayley Dolson, I.T., Translator of Boethius. Suggests that the translator is not, as commonly supposed, the Fleming, John Thorie, but John Thorpe, a noted architect and friend of Sackville, Earl of Dorset, to whose widow the translation was dedicated. XLII. 4. 1921.


Starting from the ore deposit geological feature research,the article analyzed the ore type,the mineral association and the production order in detail.Meanwhile it analyzed the mineralization rule,summarized the prospecting symbol to guide production prospecting.It provided reference for the same types of mining to prospect.


Magnetic fields induced by galvanic coupling between zinc and gold in an acidic media have been evaluated using a superconducting quantum interference device which operates at liquid nitrogen temperature. The goal was to study whether magnetic fields induced by electronic current from cathode to anode within a metal could be canceled by that induced by ionic currents from anode to cathode within a solution. A line scan over a zinc plate was made to evaluate the vertical component of the magnetic field. The present study shows one case in which the magnetic field gradient was not very clear over the zinc plate coupled to gold in 0.1 mol dm Na 2 SO 4 (pH 3) solution. This could he attributed to the fact that two components of the fields happened to he almost same in magnitude but opposite in direction. An artificial obstacle set in a solution to modify the path of ions enabled clear detection of the field gradient caused by electronic current. In separate experiments, the field gradients were evaluated as a function of ionic and electronic currents, respectively. The magnitudes of the field gradient were proportional to both electronic and ionic currents. The slopes for both gradients were found to he almost same for the present configuration of electrodes. The results indicate in general that magnetic fields caused by practical corrosion do not always disappear but can be canceled partly depending on the configuration of electrodes.


This project reports on the use of a generic assessment framework in Agricultural Science as a tool for teacher development, in response to an external imperative to implement criterion-referenced assessment (CRA) across the University of Tasmania. The framework uses a unique diagrammatic approach to describe four key criteria and sub-criteria of knowledge, analysis, practical skills and communication. The relative emphasis on assessment of student proficiency in each of the four years of the degree course are represented by polygons. The project incorporated: (i) ascertaining the number and type of assessment tasks and use of CRA; (ii) two on-line surveys on staff use of and attitude towards CRA over a six-month period; and, (iii) an evaluation of peer-to-peer professional learning in the use of a generic assessment rubric. CRA was used either consistently or some of the time by 70% of teaching staff who responded, when averaged across the two surveys. The process of implementing CRA and the development of the generic assessment framework resulted in a small increase in staff understanding of the structure of assessment rubrics. The majority of staff considered that CRA was of potential benefit to their teaching and to student learning, although there were a few exceptions; potential reasons for this are discussed. Qualitative feedback from the surveys and workshop identified further issues regarding assessment for discussion within the school. The process of developing the generic assessment framework, which meets the assessment requirements for agricultural science, could be adapted for use in other disciplines within the University of Tasmania, or at other universities.


Hydrogen production via thermal decomposition of methane using a solar reactor is analyzed for two different applications: (1) for a fueling station and (2) for power production. For the fueling station, the selling price of hydrogen is controlled by the high cost of hydrogen storage and compression, combined with storage limitations of the system, which prevents maximum hydrogen production. Two alternate scenarios to lower the hydrogen production cost are evaluated: (1) sending the hydrogen directly to a pipeline network and (2) adding a small electric heater, which provides heat to the solar reactor when the hydrogen supply is low. For power production, the economics of two options for the carbon produced from the solar process are evaluated: (1) selling the carbon black and (2) burning the carbon to produce more power.


The Phobos gravitational environment presents a set of unique conditions to study the complex interactions between a moon and its host planet. Due to its proximity to Mars, Phobos experiences large tidal forces that have likely shaped and altered its surface geology throughout its history. In this study, we explore how Phobos' slightly eccentric orbit (e = 0.0151) causes librations that lead to local variations in surface gravity slopes. These slopes can vary by up to 2 degrees for every orbital period (7hr 39 min). We will present direct numerical simulations of Phobos' regolith that show that these variations can trigger small landslides in regions that have gravity slopes close to critical values. This presents a new and unique mechanism for regolith mobility on a small body's surface. We use pkdgrav, a parallel N-body code, which simulates the regolith surface of Phobos using spherical particles through a soft-sphere discrete element method (SSDEM). We first calibrate our simulation parameters with the expected range of angles of repose of Phobos material. Then, we show that small variations (1-2 degrees) in the gravity slopes is sufficient to trigger small amounts of mass motion for material that has already experienced granular flow or is close to its angle of repose. By simulating this slope variation over 1 Phobos orbit, we deduce an expected excavation rate (volume flux per unit time) and produce a map of the expected resurfacing rate on Phobos. We find that high-slope regions that experience moderate-to-high variations in surface slopes are correlated with blue geological units on the moon's surface. In particular, we find that this may explain the mass-wasting features that appear on Stickney's eastern ridge and extends eastward towards the sub-Martian point. Our findings suggest a continual shifting of regolith on the surface of Phobos that transforms its surface by


Business process automation is a booming multi-billion-dollar industry that promises to remove menial tasks from workers' plates -- through the introduction of autonomous agents -- and free up their time and brain power for more creative and engaging tasks. However, an essential component to the successful deployment of such autonomous agents is the ability of business users to monitor their performance and customize their execution. A simple and user-friendly interface with a low learning curve is necessary to increase the adoption of such agents in banking, insurance, retail and other domains. As a result, proactive chatbots will play a crucial role in the business automation space. Not only can they respond to users' queries and perform actions on their behalf but also initiate communication with the users to inform them of the system's behavior. This will provide business users a natural language interface to interact with, monitor and control autonomous agents. In this work, we present a multi-agent orchestration framework to develop such proactive chatbots by discussing the types of skills that can be composed into agents and how to orchestrate these agents. Two use cases on a travel preapproval business process and a loan application business process are adopted to qualitatively analyze the proposed framework based on four criteria: performance, coding overhead, scalability, and agent overlap.


The popularization of the Internet has made shopping through online stores and online auction websites increasingly common. Trends in online group purchasing and encouragement from social networks have changed consumption habits and shifted attention to the development of e-commerce. Previous studies have indicated that relative to physical stores, consumers still perceive higher risk in online shopping. The purpose of this study mainly aims to explore the importance of perceived risk in online shopping from a website quality perspective. A structural equation model is developed to test casual effects within a conceptual model. The empirical results show that (1) system quality and information quality do not have significant negative effects on perceived risk; (2) only e-service quality has a significant negative effect on perceived risk; (3) perceived risk has a significant negative effect on online loyalty; and (4) the negative relationship between perceived risk and online loyalty on consumer-to-consumer platforms will be stronger than that on business-to-consumer platforms. The managerial implications for online marketing managers and limitations are discussed.


of the Thesis Energy-Performance Characterization of CMOS/Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) Hybrid Logic Circuits by Fengbo Ren Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of California, Los Angeles, 2011 Professor Dejan Marković, Chair Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) devices are CMOS compatible with high stability, high reliability and non-volatility. All these features are promising for building non-volatile CMOS/MTJ hybrid logic circuits that do not consume offstate leakage current and that supports ultra-low-power operation. However, most existing proposals for this purpose so far lack an energy-performance analysis and a comparison to CMOS circuits. In this work, we analyze and compare the energy-performance characteristics of a wide range of CMOS/MTJ hybrid circuits over the device, circuit and architectural levels. This will include device switching energies, logic-in-memory MTJ (LIM-MTJ) logic circuit, two MTJ reading circuits and two CMOS/MTJ hybrid lookup table (LUT) architectures. Our analysis shows that the existing LIM-MTJ logic style has no advantage in energy-performance over its equivalent CMOS design, and that with the switching energy of MTJ considered, the CMOS/MTJ hybrid circuit requiring frequent MTJ switching is hardly energy efficient. Our simulation results also show that the cross-coupled inverter based MTJ reading circuit has 4 times greater perfor-


For most couples the birth of their baby is an unforgettable event. Trauma to the mother and baby and maternal pain associated with the delivery can have long lasting psychological sequelac and may influence the decision for further pregnancies or affect the attitude to a subsequent pregnancy. Scvcral studies have clearly shown that maternal trauma is significantly less with the vacuum extractor than with the forceps (Vacca & Keirse 1989). As part of a randomized controlled trial of vacuum extraction and forceps delivery, Garcia et al. (1985) found that women in the vacuum extraction group reported less pain but had more worries about their babies; the views of the medical staff were also surveyed. In our recent two-centre controlled trial comparing the Silc-cup and forceps we found a three-fold increased risk of severe maternal trauma with the forceps although the Silc-cup was associated with a significantly higher failure rate (27%) than the forceps (10?'0), there was no difference in neonatal morbidity (Johanson et al. 1989). This report concerns the maternal views of perineal pain at delivery and the puerperium, concerns about the baby and their contribution to the delivery.


Perhaps the title of my Presidential Address will strike some of you as rather uninspired. In the context of our annual meeting, it may even border on demonstrating a reassuring grasp of the commonplace. After all, what is our annual meeting if not a celebration of scholarship and a reaffirmation of our scholarly values? If I'm wrong about this, I have a lot to explain to my family about why I've disappeared for one week each August for the past 20 years. The reason I have chosen this title is that I believe reaffirming our scholarly values although clearly important in and of itself takes on special significance in the broader context of the changing environment and challenges confronting business education. Business schools and, by implication, each of us are being challenged to change in a number of important ways. We are being asked to expand our roles as faculty members and to make greater contributions in a variety of different areas. These demands have taken on a new sense of urgency with the publication of the Task Force Report on Faculty Leadership by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a report I'll refer to later. In this address, I touch on two important themes. First, what are the implications of the changing environment of business education for our scholarly values? Do the changes taking place in our environment pose a fundamental threat to our scholarly values? Alternatively, do they provide an opportunity for us to reaffirm our scholarly values? Second, what are the implications of the changing environment of business education for the Academy of Management? What is the role of the Academy of Management as a professional faculty association in shaping the future of business education? Presently, our association is not a key player. Should the Academy of Management get involved and, if so, how?


This paper presents a study on the four-leg VSI based distribution static compensator (D-STATCOM) for compensation of neutral, source & PCC current harmonic distortion, PCC voltage regulation and compensation of unbalanced in current waveform. This solution could be used for three-phase four-wire nonlinear and unbalanced load medium voltage distribution system. The proposed control algorithm is developed based on synchronous reference frame theory with the PI controller. The obtained reference current signal from control algorithm is compared in hysteresis band current controller for a better switching of the D-STATCOM. The performance of the system with implementing the D-STATCOM is also analyzed and compared. The proposed control method is implemented on 11/0.4kv medium voltage distribution system and provided effective compensation for reactive power and harmonic distortion mitigation. The simulation results are obtained using MATLAB/SIMULINK.


Abstract The invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium kewense is found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate zones. The rate of spread and ecological impact of the flatworm will depend in part on its reproductive strategies. Members of this species reproduce primarily by fission of posterior body fragments. Herein we report, for only the second time in over 120 years of international study, the production of a fertile egg capsule by B. kewense. The capsule was produced by a flatworm from Texas, hatched in 21 days, and it contained 7 juveniles. Although the capsule structure, incubation period, and litter size were similar to those characteristic of the sexual species, B. adventitium, the B. kewense capsule was larger (112 mg) and produced larger offspring.


As a natural and key resource for human survival, water has had a great economical and political importance. The worldwide shift of capitalism towards neoliberalism of the last years caused a huge discussion of how to manage natural resources: by state, by private enterprises or by user groups. This discussion includes a debate of the used knowledge, distinguishing between a scientific knowledge of external experts and a local knowledge of the users. Because of the environment, the Mayan people developed an elaborated water management system and a huge local knowledge. The aim of the present study is to investigate the current local knowledge about water management of the Mayan people, the collective actions in this management and structure, rules, property rights and problems of water projects. Between May 2006 and January 2007 these questions was investigated in the village Vista Hermosa (Guatemala) with the help of 59 research partners through observations, interviews and participatory methods. Key informants gave a first view of the local water management system and starting with them, the snowball principle was used to know the other informants. The data (interviews, maps…) were coded and analysed for example according to frequencies, differences or similarities of the codes. The water supplying system of Vista Hermosa by various small water projects which are run by user groups using a rotation of persons in representative positions, a collective elaboration of rules, a collective maintenance, and a collective resolution of the conflicts in the projects. Because of the communal organization of the water management in Vista Hermosa, the local knowledge of its inhabitants it's wide by the knowledge about the management of a communal infrastructure. The state neglect of rural water supply helps to establish an auto-organisation of water management and prevents that local and scientific knowledge are in contrary positions. Further, it leaves the property rights of the water supplying system and the water itself in the hands of the local population.


Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner. Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum. New York: Ecco, October 2015. 336pp. 6X9". 16-page color insert. ISBN: 978-0-06-229285-8. $27.99.Theoretically, this could have become a great book that got to the heart of the various problems in Africa and how Americans can help local NGOs to solve them. But, instead, the authors have used it to write in a novelistic style, using two first-person voices. Instead of gradually and specifically explaining each of the problems and the steps they have taken to solve them, they wrote it like an action movie. The story opens from Kennedy Odede's slum in 2007. He is hiding under the bed, amidst the rats, as military men are "spraying bullets" at the slum buildings, and killing his neighbors as they search for him. He escapes, and the first thing he does is call a number on his cell phone. Then, the story moves back from December to September and is now from Jessica Posner's perspective. She is waiting for a call at a minibus station under the hot sun. Jessica stops to describe Daphne, "tall, athletic and beautiful, with a Canadian father and Greek mother. She grew up traveling..." (10). Across all these pages, if the reader has not read the back cover summary, he or she still has no clear idea regarding why Kennedy is hiding from the military or why Jessica is waiting for a bus in Africa. The information is given in small doses, as when Kennedy's best friend, Antony, comments, "'Kennedy knows how to make sure everyone feels like SHOFCO belongs to them.'" Jessica then summarizes other things that Antony explained about Kennedy, "He gives out small loans from his meager earnings, and then requires that instead of paying the loan back, the recipient designate a new person to receive a loan. The chain of loans has launched barbershops, water stands, vegetable stalls and many other small enterprises" (19). Jessica overhears this information as the volunteers for SHOFCO. Since one of the major problems with African aide is that it frequently gets into the hands of corrupt politicians instead of reaching the poor, the narrator should realize at this point that a detail like these informal loans has to be fully explained. If a new loan is made to somebody else, then certainly the person has to repay the loan in order for the funds to go to somebody else-this sounds less charitable, but it's a more realistic funding model than if Kennedy keeps giving all of his hard-earned money away to a string of "loans," none of which are ever repaid. …


The utility model discloses a steel seal detector for bobbin paper, comprising a linear scanning imaging device, a linear light source and a rotary encoder. The linear scanning imaging device and the linear light source are both set above a paper belt. The rotary encoder is installed on a delivery wheel of a cigarette machine. The linear scanning imaging device and the rotary encoder are respectively connected with an image collecting card, and a computer is respectively connected with the image collecting card and a linear light source ejector. The utility model triggers the linear scanning imaging device to collect the steal seal image of cigarettes by the synchronizing impulse singles of the rotary encoder, the collection of images is hardly affected by the speed of the cigarette machine and the imaging quality is reliable, so the utility model can satisfy the detecting requirements of the cigarette machine with different speeds.