This presentation shows how OpenLearn material has been used to create accessible SCORM learning objects that can be delivered using a third party virtual learning environment (dotLRN). This work was carried out as a part of a European Union project called ALPE. The activity of adapting the OpenLearn material has helped the VLE developers further understand the activity of creating accessible learning material and help inform the development of the VLE. Introduction This presentation illustrates how OpenLearn materials have been used to create a set of standards-based accessible SCORM learning objects that can be used within a virtual learning environment called dotLRN. The dotLRN is used within the Spanish National University for Distance Education (UNED), the Spanish equivalent to The Open University. The following section describes why the OpenLearn material was chosen. This is followed by a description of some of the process used to create the learning material. An outline of changes made to the material is also presented. The final section presents what has been learnt. Why use OpenLearn? The ALPE project is a consortium comprising of the Spanish National University for Distance Education (UNED), The Open University in the UK, a well known Spanish consultancy firm (Soluziona/Indra), and a non-profit organisation in Greece (PAB) that supports people with visual impairments. The aim of ALPE is to provide assistance to private and public institutions to enable them to create accessible learning material. When establishing the project it was decided to create a series of exemplar materials to further understand some of the difficulties inherent in creating accessible content. This activity was perceived to have several benefits: it allowed a further understanding of the current advantages and shortcomings of the virtual learning environment used by UNED (dotLRN) to be understood, permitted a detailed exploration into the pragmatics of developing accessible materials and the surrounding legislative frameworks, and allowed the Open University Accessible Educational Media (AEM) team to further inform the accessibility dimension of the OpenLearn content. The dotLRN VLE provides a standards complaint SCORM player. SCORM is an abbreviation for Sharable Content Object Reference Model. Originally developed by an office from the US department of defence, SCORM is a recognised elearning standard that is used within many different VLE systems, including Moodle. OpenLearn: Researching open content in education Content development process The structure of the OpenLearn courses is mostly described using a single XML file. This single file is divided into separate sections, chapters and paragraphs which then hold the 'words' of the learning material. This file also contains additional information such as a title, a description and a set of useful keywords to describe a course. Links to other important resources such as images, videos and transcripts are also included. One of the key advantages of storing the majority of the content in such a way is that it offers content developers an opportunity to manipulate the content using a computer program allowing them to generate new material to suit their precise needs. A SCORM course can be described as a learning object: an individual unit of learning that can be combined with other units to create a course. The structure of a SCORM learning object has some resemblance to the OpenLearn content that can be downloaded from the LabSpace area. SCORM and OpenLearn 'learning objects' both use a zip file to aggregate different resources together (such as images, audio clips, PDF files and videos) and both utilise XML but in different ways. Whilst the OpenLearn learning object stores the majority of the content and structure in a single file a SCORM learning object, on the other hand, contains an XML file that can be though of a simpler 'table of contents'. This XML file (known as a manifest file) stores internal references to HTML pages or and other related resources found with same zip file Conversion from the OpenLearn to the SCORM format required four steps, (1) the extraction of content from the OpenLearn XML file to create a stand-alone web-pages, (2) making a 'table of contents' XML structure that reference the newly created XML pages, (3) creation of appropriate course metadata in the SCORM format and (4) combining together all the resources and files (including the important table of contents) into a single unit. Each OpenLearn course zip file contains a preview mechanism that allows any changes to an OpenLearn XML file to be viewed as a set of web-pages. The provision of this mechanism, primarily in the form of an XSLT transform, accelerated the SCORM conversion process. When an OpenLearn editor or 'remixer' wishes to preview changes to the OpenLearn XML a user is presented with a set of web pages by using the preview system. Each web page contains its own navigation system, allowing different pages to be viewed. SCORM does not need the integrated navigation system since each learning environment that offers SCORM usually has its own content navigation mechanism. The first and perhaps most important stage of the conversion activity was to remove the navigation mechanism by creating a new version of the preview mechanism. A number of additional modifications to the XSLT transform that were made to create a set of web pages needed by the ALPE project. These are summarised as follows: 1. Production of XHTML 4.0 compliant pages. 2. Reference of a single style sheet (CSS) file for both main content and pop-up windows. 3. Removal of selective Javascript code. 4. Using of semantic mark-up. The table of contents and the metadata used to describe the learning object were created using a tool called RELOAD. RELOAD is a packaging and learning object editing tool that is considered to be many as a reference model implementation of a number of different international learning technology standards. All the generated web pages were loaded into RELOAD and a table of contents 'organisation' was built by hand (although this activity could have been mechanised with the development of an additional OpenLearn to 'table of contents' XSLT transform). Metadata information (such as the title, description and keywords) was extracted from OpenLearn XML file by hand and attached to the table OpenLearn: Researching open content in education of contents manifest file, enabling the new material to be searched for if stored within a learning object repository. When all these items were in place, a new SCORM learning object was created by packaging these components into a single zip file. This zip file was then transferred to the dotLRN VLE system for testing. Accessibility enhancements Since the OpenLearn XML file is the primary source of the content, the accessibility of the end product depends on how complete the original XML data is and the quality of the XSLT transform that generates the resulting web pages. The modified XSLT placed emphasis on the use of semantic mark-up as opposed to earlier presentation mark-up approaches (using <em>, or emphasis tags rather than <b>, or bold tags). This allows greater control of the presentation of the material using Cascading Style Sheets which in turn assists with maintenance as well as accessibility since more content specific information is presented to assistive technologies such as screen readers. The OpenLearn XML content makes excellent provision for alternative resources. Each graphic can be given an alternative description that can be used by screen readers. Unnecessary redundancy between the alternative text and corresponding figure headings were removed since unnecessary repetition would disorientate users who access the material though a screen reader. Finally, in some cases, alternative descriptions of images were missing from the original XML source. Where omissions were found, the XML was updated and the new content generated. Conclusions The OpenLearn content has proved to be a useful tool for the development of accessibility and learning technology standards expertise throughout the project consortium. As well as understanding how to create accessible learning material, the OpenLearn content has been to understand how the dotLRN VLE could be improved. The material has helped to inform the further development of the VLE's SCORM navigation controls, benefiting a wider community of users.


This article focused on the resource scheduling in cloud computing.It proposed the ant colony optimization algorithm for cloud computing resource scheduling.In the algorithm design,we considered the time consume and cost optimization to establish and simulate the mathematical model in CloudSim platform tests.Verification showed that the algorithm model enabled the reduce of total task completion time,with lower cost.It was proved to be an effective resource scheduling algorithm.


This paper mainly deals with the development of an energy management of the platform using a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. A predictive controller is implemented above the centralized SCADA platform. The distribution net-works have been focused by a Monitor, Control and maintain equipment in the sub stations to reduce the operating cost. This re-search proposes a new energy management model is that enables a flexible and also efficient operation of various power plants. The Distribution Control Centre (DCC) is being monitored and controlled by SCADA systems and the DCC has become an important energy efficient policy concept. Based on the numerical calculations and graphical representations the renewable energy sources in both configurations, is independent of the permanent or intermittent primary energy resource availability, which can lead to effective pro-duction.


Objective To investigate MRI features of progressive muscular dystrophy and clinical manifestation as well as the diagnostic value of MRI.Materials and Methods The clinical and imaging materials of 22 cases progressive muscular dystrophy were analyzed retrospectively,which were confirmed by clinical manifestation,creatine kinase(CK),Electromyography(EEG) and muscle biopsy including immunohistochemical studies.Results MR imaging showed involved muscles to be predominantly in anterior muscles of thigh in Duchenne and Becher muscular dystrophy,in posterior muscles of thigh in girdle muscular dystrophy,in posterior muscles of thigh and anterior and lateral muscles of calf in distal muscular dystrophy type Welander,in anterior and lateral muscles of calf type Nonaka,in posterior muscles of calf in type Miyoshi,in posterior muscles of thigh and calf in congenital muscular dystrophy,in anterior and posterior muscles of thigh and calf in myotonic dystrophy.There was no consistency between the degree on MRI and the duration of disease.Various degree edemas were showed in all type of cases except Duchenne and Becher muscular dystrophy.Conclusion MR findings suggest that a specific pattern of muscular involvement is established for each muscular disease,which may be helpful for the differentiation of some kinds of muscular disorders.MRI sequence which is sensitive to fatty degeneration and edema may be helpful for understanding the pathological course and monitor therapeutic evaluation.


The car satisfies diffuse transport needs. Political groups however only consider the nuisance caused by motor vehicles. Possible improvements are often hindered by regulations. In view of the threatening energy scarcity energy consumption must be decreased. Air resistance and the effects of rolling resistance of vehicles can be reduced and a good road system is needed. Measures against pollution and noise can be energy-consuming. Petrol and the internal combustion engine remain the most satisfactory. /TRRL/


Two major appointments have been announced by thc Departrncnt of Medicine and Surgery of thr Vcterans Administration. Ilr. Oreon I<. Timm, deputy to the Veterans Administration's Assistant Chief Medical Director for Operations, has been appointed the VA Assistant Chief Medical Director for Professional Swvices. Hc succeeds Dr. Irvin J. Cohen, who has left the VA to become medical director of N1:tirnonides Hospital, 13rooklyn, N. Y . In his iicw post, Dr. Tiinm will direct the professional srrvices of thc nationwide medical care program :It VA hospitals and outpatient clinics. A psychiatrist, he was Area Medical Director for the V h in St. Paul, Minn., from January 1958, until he went to Washington in August 1960. A second major appointmcnt is that of Dr. TCdward Dunner as director of the research scrvice. Dr. Dunner has been associate director of this service sincc January 1961, and has been chicf of its cooperative and clinical studies divisions before that. He served as secretary of the VA-Armed Forces cooperative study of the chemotherapy of tuberculosis and VA chief of tuberculosis rcscarch from 1955 to 1958. He came to the VA central ofice in Washington, D.C., in 1054 as chief of training and standards for tuberculosis service. Dr. Dunner has been a Governor of thc College of Chest Physicians since 1960 anti is a mcmber of the American Thoracic Society and the American Medical Association. From 1946 to 1950, he headed the Livermore, California VA hospital's study of streptomycin against tuberculosis. He also has served a t the V h hospital in San Fernando, Calif., and as area chief for tuberculosis in the VA area medical o fhe a t St. Louis. Four new members have accepted appointment to the Spccial Medical Advisory Group of the Vcterans Administration. This group is composed of outstanding non-government physicians and specialists in related fields. It meets quarterly in Washington, D. C., to advise the Administrator of Veterans Affairs and the VA Chief Medical Director on the VA medical program. Each membcr serves for five years. The new members are: ,Dr. John A. Evans, professor of radiology at Cornell University; Dr. Georgc W. Fish, professor emeritus of clinical urology at the Collcge of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University; Dr. John B. Hickam, professor and chairman of the department of medicine at the University of Indiana; and Mrs. Enolia Archinard, associate professor of social work a t Tulane University.


Relativistic calculations of the dielectronic recombination (DR) cross section and rate coefficient for Ne-like tungsten $({\mathrm{W}}^{64+})$ in the ground state ${2s}^{2}{2p}^{6}$ are performed. The DR contributions of the most important Na-like doubly excited configuration complexes, namely, ${(2s2p)}^{7}{3ln}^{\ensuremath{'}}{l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ ${(n}^{\ensuremath{'}}=3\char21{}13)$ and ${(2s2p)}^{7}{4l4l}^{\ensuremath{'}},$ are calculated by level-by-level computations. Collisional transitions following the initial electron capture are neglected. The total DR cross section is presented in the form of 5-eV-wide peaks for the purpose of revealing the detailed atomic level structure, and in the form of 50-eV-wide peaks for the purpose of comparison with planned electron-beam experiments. The ${(2s2p)}^{7}{3l3l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ complex is found to provide the dominant DR channel. The sum of the DR contributions of the ${(2s2p)}^{7}{3ln}^{\ensuremath{'}}{l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ configurations with ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}}g13,$ evaluated by applying the complex-by-complex ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{-}3}$ extrapolation method, is found to represent at most 3% of the total DR rate coefficient. The DR contribution of ${(2s2p)}^{7}{3ln}^{\ensuremath{'}}{l}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ configurations with ${l}^{\ensuremath{'}}g5$ is found to be negligible (about 0.1%). The total DR rate coefficient is fitted to a convenient analytical expression which reproduces the original data with an accuracy of about 2% or better within a very wide electron temperature range.


It is believed that the Pan African Orogeny resulted from ocean closing movement between the Congo and West African Cratons (Grant, 1969; Ajibade et al, 1987) The Orogenic belt which resulted from the Himalayan type is characterized by a series of westerly dipping napped-like folds in the eastern plate, with the deformation spreading eastwards, away from the suture zone. An important thrust zone of Pan African age is accompanied by an Ophiolite suite in Ghana (Grant, 1969) Togo and Dahormey. The Dahormey suture can be traced northwards, separating old Crystalline Basement of two provinces and is suggestive of a geosuture between two impinging litho spheric plates (Ajibade, 1988) The Ophiolite which then represents part of the ancient sea floor, thrust upward between (Kankara and Farouk, 2015)the two plates, and are only preserved along the geo-suture (Ajibade, 1988)The opening and closing of an intra-cratonic ocean between 1,100my and 600my respectively led to the crustal thickening of the Dahomeyan which produce deformation of meta sediments and formation of Older granites (Grant, 1969, and Ajibade et al, 1987) The reactivation is probably due to thermal and metamorphic effects. Mc Curry (1976) suggested that if correlation between Biuem formation, Ahaggar and anti-Atlas are correct, the ocean should be up to 3,000km long and 1000km wide, hence the ocean is comparable in size with the Red sea. Also, events that took place at the plate margins were related to evolution of the northern Nigerian and southern Maradi basement during the late Proterozoic, as suggested by Ajibade in 1988.


Many engineers have recently been developing battery chargers that have employed contactless power transmission techniques for consumer products. These have contributed to improving the convenience of charging batteries. We investigated methods of electromagnetic induction for transmission from several different types. The efficiency of power transmission was dependent on the quality factors of two coils and the coupling coefficient between them. Previous reports indicated that copper clad aluminum wire (CCAW) and magnetic-plated wire (MPW) can improve quality factors. We need to select these materials appropriately according to our individual needs in order to achieve highly efficient power transmission systems. Therefore, we examined the performance of three materials for power transmission coils in this research and found a method of selecting materials to construct a highly efficient system of transmission with a broad range of coupling coefficients.


It might be thought to be self-evident that if we want to understand pornography consumption we should include the perspective of the people who actually consume pornography. However in a 2011 book chapter the Australian academic Helen Pringle argues strongly that we should not: 'after all, we do not consult racists in formulating laws against hate speech on the basis that they are involved in and know a lot about racism' (Pringle, 2011, p. 127). Pringle's position is merely the radical expression of what is a curious characteristic of research into pornography: that in trying to understand pornography, the people who consume it are consistently silenced – or, to put it another way (as I explain below), 'Othered'.


1,3-Bis(p-phenoxybenzenesulfonyl)benzene, 4,4′-bis(p-phenoxybenzenesulfonyl)diphenyl ether, and 4,4′-diphenoxydiphenyl sulfone were polymerized with isophthaloyl or terephthaloyl chlorides in Friedel-Crafts type polymerizations. These polymers had [2,2]p-cyclophane units in the backbone, introduced by employing 3,9-bis(p-phenoxybenzoyl) [2.2]p-cyclophane as part of the polyaryl ether component. Thermolysis of the dimethylene bridge of the [2.2]p-cyclophane monomer produced diradicals which combined across polymer chains to provide crosslinks. p-Cyclophane polymers with 1,3-bis-(p-phenoxybenzenesulfonyl)benzene showed potential as high performance, thermally stable laminating resins.


The aim of the bachelor thesis is to develop a marketing strategy for the www.lookandbook.cz startup. The analytical part of this bachelor thesis is based on theoretical knowledge described in detail in the first part of the bachelor thesis. The theoretical knowledge is essential to design an effective and successful marketing strategy. The analytical part focuses on application of the theoretical knowledge to the specific case. There are marketing tools for situational analysis, action planning and implementing the action plan in the bachelor thesis.


The group of 35 students taken on tour experienced animal-health related practices which they sometimes do not have, due to a lack of equipment and infrastructure at their college. The presentations and practical demonstrations were done by Prof Mark Williams and Mr Peter Mokonoto of the Pathology Section as well as Prof Jackie Picard and Prof Banie Penzhorn from the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases.


An approach to the modeling of a Weinberg power converter system is presented which can be generalized to any switching power system. The stability of current-loop control in the power system is also discussed. Frequency responses of ten desired transfer functions of the overall system are then derived with the aid of MATLAB. Theoretical predictions are verified with experimental results.<<ETX>>


Attribute reduction is considered as an important processing step for pattern recognition, machine learning and data mining. In this paper, we combine soft set and rough set to use them in applications. We generalize rough set model and introduce a soft metric rough set model to deal with the problem of heterogeneous numerical feature subset selection. We construct a soft metric on the family of knowledge structures based on the soft distance between attributes. The proposed model will degrade to the classical one if we specify a zero soft real number. We also provide a systematic study of attribute reduction of rough sets based on soft metric. Based on the constructed metric, we define co-information systems and consistent co-decision systems, and we provide a new method of attribute reductions of each system. Furthermore, we present a judgement theorem and discernibility matrix associated with attribute of each type of system. As an application, we present a case study from Zoo data set to verify our theoretical results.


The efficiency of strain-mediated magnetoelectric composites is heavily reliant on the effectiveness of strain transfer between the different constituents. Many analytical and experimental studies have trialed various materials, geometries, and boundary conditions reporting the effect of these attributes on the magnetoelectric response. However, a more sophisticated, but not yet pursued, approach is to investigate the strain distribution in order to discern the factors that are most influential and to provide insight on how these factors should be manipulated to optimize the coupling efficacy. In this study, a mathematical model is developed to observe the radial and tangential strains in a concentric cylinder composite structure consisting of a piezoelectric outer layer bonded with a thin elastic layer to an inner piezomagnetic layer. Results from the study elucidate that the strain distribution behavior was dependent on the mechanical properties of the constituents as well as the bonding condition. Remarkably, analytical results showed that the direct magnetoelectric coefficient can be substantially enhanced, if probing takes place at strategic locations, i.e., leveraging strain localization, on the piezoelectric layer that maximize the difference between the radial displacements giving rise to higher magnetoelectric response.


The development of underwater robot technology provides a powerful means to obtain the local spatial distribution of an acoustic source radiated field. The local acoustic field interference characteristics can be used to locate the target source. In this paper, a deep neural network was established by taking the local acoustic intensity field as input, and the interval prediction and confidence distribution of the target source position as output. To extract multiscale features and improve network degradation problems, a 3D deep residual convolutional neural network structure was constructed. The convolution kernel was specially designed to keep the 3D spatial detail features of the local acoustic intensity field. The training and validation data sets are generated by the BELLHOP model. The performance of the trained network was evaluated using the validation set. The results show that the designed deep neural network can accurately estimate the azimuth, distance and depth interval of the target source relative to the local acoustic intensity field, and provide the confidence distribution of each interval.


From 2010, a not-for-profit community services' provider has delivered a Pacific cancer navigation patient facilitation and support service (hereafter 'the Service') for Pacific peoples residing in an area of West Auckland, New Zealand. The Service was evaluated in 2013. As part of the evaluation, both group and individual interviews were held with sixteen cancer patients, eight family members and seven key informants; in conjunction, observations and informal discussions were held with two navigators. Service personnel were closely involved from the inception of the evaluation, and this practice will be discussed as part of building an evaluation culture in the organisation. There was general agreement that the implementation of the facilitation and support Service had proceeded well, this was characterised by effective engagement with health professionals; the establishment of a support group; the provision of transport; assistance in dealings with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ); and the provision of timely and accurate information to assist patients and their families. From this common consensus, suggestions were made around increasing and ensuring ongoing funding to sustain the supporting roles of navigators and the services offered. Other invaluable features of the Service included the ability of navigators to translate from English to Samoan, and from medical to lay language, as well as the provision of the Service beyond central metro areas.


During this pandemic time while finding the (SARS-CoV-2) infected person many of the applications got active where various nations participated actively. The main device involved in the whole process is Smartphone. The existing applications are focusing on the use of Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is limited with the area it can cover and noise it produces to broadcast the messages to the neighbors. Also, while searching the position of the infected person one concern could be that is Position of the smartphone accurate? or for how long the tracing will happen? While tracing the position of the person whether infected or not infected, the compromise cannot be done. At the pandemic situation, the little mistake of the position will cost the life of a person and the growing number of infected persons will yield to an exponential cost. Also, the life of the smartphone to keep working needs energy through battery. Continuous localization will need continuous flow of the energy for that device. Thus, the smartphone needs to be charged after a period of time. So, when a person is in a public place, he will need his smartphone to be active. Our main concern with the whole paper is to find the solution through the simulation for the position accuracy of the smartphone as well as to manage the energy consumption.


Agricultural nitrogen (N) use is a major contributor to environmental problems arising from nitrous oxide emissions and N loading to groundwater. Advances in the adoption of conservation practices requires a better understanding of the agronomic context for cropping systems. This paper tests hypotheses about how agronomic and knowledge barriers influence the adoption of conservation practices for N management in orchard agroecosystems. Agronomic barriers are characterized by farm size, irrigation systems and access to water resources, and knowledge barriers are influenced by the availability of information and use of information sources. Our study focuses on the California's San Joaquin Valley where we collected 879 in-person surveys from fruit and nut growers focused on ten different conservation practices related to fertilizer use, irrigation and soil health. We used logistic regression models to identify parameters influencing adoption and differences in adoption between fruit and nut growers. Our results indicate that overall growers report higher adoption for practices for fertilizer use compared to irrigation and soil health. Growers with larger parcels, microirrigation and more water security had a higher probability of practice adoption. Nut crops are more agronomically intense than fruit crops requiring higher rates of N fertilizer and water use. Nut growers adopted significantly more practices than fruit growers, and also utilized significantly more information sources and experienced significantly fewer practice challenges. Our results collectively support our hypotheses that agronomic and knowledge barriers differ between fruit and nut growers, and help to explain the variance in adoption of conversation practices in orchard agroecosystems. Furthermore, the significance of our work offers a case study for other regions and agroecosystems to address the need for linking agronomic and knowledge barriers to adoption in an effort to promote global climate-smart and regenerative agriculture initiatives.


In other words, O'Neill — consciously or unconsciously — found it almost impossible to write a play in which he did not use — sometimes incidentally, but usually fundamentally — the idea of mental unbalance. The idea appears in many verbal forms — madness, craziness, insanity, frenzy, imbecility, idiocy, queerness, half—wittedness, distraction, nuttiness, lunacy, loco, and so on. He uses these words in their various grammatical forms in both the literal and the figurative senses, and often in such purely casual and colloquial expressions as "Are you crazy?" But even such instances as the last indicate how deeply rooted in his mind was the idea of the widespread imbalance of the easily disturbed human mind.


International student enrolments are an increasingly important part of global higher education. Researchindicates that the cost of education is an important factor which influences the students' choice of studydestination. Given the rising cost of education, a comparative analysis of the cost of education is likely to givecertain countries a competitive edge. The primary focus of this paper is to compare the cost of undergraduatebusiness education in countries competing for a share in the international student market. Data for this paper wasdrawn from a range of published secondary sources and includes tuition fees, living costs and visa expenses asthese components are considered unavoidable for international students. Findings from this study suggest thatMalaysia and the UAE have an advantage over the other competing countries in terms of cost. The paperconcludes with implications for universities and policy makers and directions for further research.


or collected into groups. The other form consists of long spindleshaped bodies placed closely side by side, and forms fibro-cellular bands very similar to the structure of the spindle-celled sarcoma or recurrent fibroid tumour. The nerve-fibres are atrophied and destroyed. The vessels of small size and capillaries are very few in number, but in all cases their walls are greatly thickened by proliferation of the nuclei, and their course is tortuous and irregular. It will thus be seen that at the site of the lesion in the left hemisphere of the brain there is a wasted and atrophied state of the cortical substance, with destruction of some of the layers, while the subjacent white substance is altered and transformed into a dense fibroid structure in which the nerve-elements are no longer seen. Rermarks.-It will be perceived from the foregoing descriptionl. That the lesion was very well defined and of limited extent; 2. That the convulsions were of a constant character, and that the sequence of the spasm was always the same. It may therefore, 1 think, be reasonably concludedi. That the nmotor centres for the muscles which were affected in the slight form of fits are sittuate in and about the seat of the lesion 2. That, in the more general convulsions, the irritation which originated in and about the lesion spread to surrounding and more distant (convolutions) parts. This localisation is confirmed by Ferrier's experiments. He has shown (Proceedzings ofRoyal Societv, No. i6 i, 1875) that in the case of monkeys, on irritation of the lower termination of the ascending parietal convolution and the region of the inferior termination of the intraparietal sulcus (Circle i, Fig. ii), there is retraction of the angle of


Because the foundations between main building and podium buildings may have sedimentation difference,it is more critical how to deal with the adverse effects of sedimentation difference on the structure.Based on many years' engineering design experiences,some treatment suggestions and methods were put forward.


This paper presents the development of an agent-based negotiation approach to integrate process planning and scheduling (IPPS) in a job shop kind of flexible manufacturing environment. The agent-based system comprises two types of agents, part agents and machine agents, to represent parts and machines respectively. For each part, all feasible manufacturing processes and routings are recorded as alternative process plans. Similarly, alternative machines for an operation are also considered. With regard to the scheduling requirements and the alternative process plans of a part, the proposed agent-based IPPS system aims to specify the process routing and to assign the manufacturing resources effectively. To establish task allocations, the part and machine agents have to engage in bidding. Bids are evaluated in accordance with a currency function which considers an agent's multi-objectives and IPPS parameters. A negotiation protocol is developed for negotiations between the part agents and the machine agents. The protocol is modified from the contract net protocol to cater for the multiple-task and many-to-many negotiations in this paper. An agent-based framework is established to simulate the proposed IPPS approach. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed system. The performance measures, including makespan and flowtime, are compared with those of a search technique based on a co-evolutionary algorithm.


Based on the Logical MDPs with Negation, a model of Relational Reinforcement Learning, proposed in [1], we define the self-loop degree and the common characteristic of abstract states formally, and propose an evolution process collaborated with Theta(lambda)-learning according to the formal definitions. The abstract state space will be self-organized in the evolution process rather than given manually by human. The experiments show that the agent can catch the essence of the given task, and the self-organized states are rational.


Hydrates are solid phases composed of water cages enclosing gas molecules that may host large quantities of recoverable natural gas and may serve to sequester CO2 on geological time scales. Most hydrate studies focus on hydrates containing a single gas component, such as CH4 or CO2. Yet, there are several settings in which multiple components form hydrate mixtures, or mixed hydrates, including a subsurface injection technique that claims to simultaneously recover CH4 and sequester CO2 called "guest molecule exchange." Here, we combine multicomponent phase behavior for hydrate‐forming systems with a multiphase fluid flow simulator to understand the evolution of hydrate and nonhydrate phases during subsurface injection. We simulate various scenarios for systems composed of H2O, CH4, CO2, and N2. Our study probes the impact of injection composition, initial reservoir composition, and transport of each component through the model domain. We observe chromatographic separation from the combined effect of compositional partitioning in each phase, variable flow speed of each phase, and compositional dependence of phase stabilities. We show that N2 drives chromatographic separation to create a CH4‐free zone and a CO2‐free zone that are connected by a continuous N2‐dominated vapor phase. While our results are theoretical and should be validated experimentally, they imply that guest molecule exchange acts as two sequential processes rather than as a simultaneous process. Furthermore, they show that injections into reservoirs with and without free water have vastly different behaviors, which has implications for the interpretation of the guest molecule exchange field test and various laboratory studies.


"Posttraumatic Cardiac Contrecoup: In Vivo Evidence by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging" We thank Hamilton-Craig et al for their remarks on our recent article1 about a young subject with hypothetical posttraumatic myocardial damage. We respectfully disagree with some points, and we present the following additional arguments. Hamilton-Craig et al suggest that the presented clinical and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) findings could be referred to acute myocarditis and subsequent ventricular dysrhythmia causing the motorcycle accident. We acknowledge that this hypothesis could be taken into account, although in our opinion this seems to be a highly unlikely explication in our patient. The medical history in a completely asymptomatic healthy sportsman who remained conscious before, during, and after the motorcycle accident is inconsistent with the hypothesis of myocarditis. The detailed analysis of the dynamics of the accident assisted by a third person proved that the patient was forced to rapidly change the direction of his motorbike to avoid another vehicle. The relatively rapid normalization of the Troponin I values does not favor myocarditis. Our CMRI findings with a transmural myocardial edema on T2-weighted images and a midwall late Gadolinium enhancement are, in our opinion, most likely related to the important thoracic trauma causing in addition a rib fracture. Typical changes of acute myocarditis on CMRI are subepicardial with late Gadolinium enhancement in the lateral free wall2 and less frequently associated with midmyocardial late enhancement, as in our case, although overlap may occur. CMRI has the potential to show the extension of acute myocardial damage with the presence of edema on T2-weighted images and to exclude posttraumatic myocardial infarction by the absence of subendocardial late Gadolinium enhancement. In contrast to the statement of Hamilton-Craig et al, the most likely pattern of blunt cardiac trauma is not only ventricular, arterial, and valvular rupture but also the spectrum of cardiac trauma ranging from injuries with no cellular damage (cardiac concussion) to cardiac chamber rupture.3 The clinical history, the sequence of events, and the CMRI presentation are much more in favor of a posttraumatic cause. However, we agree with the authors that the denomination of a "contrecoup" injury to the heart remains, as stated in our article, somewhat hypothetical. The future role of CMRI in cardiac trauma has to be established by prospective studies.


Due to specific shape of electromagnetic circuit in disk-type motors, electromagnetic calculations should make use of three-dimensional models. However, such calculations are very time-consuming and this poses practical problems. The answer might be to use other alternative methods (not based on 3D models), which would make it possible to obtain appropriately accurate results. Comparison of calculation results obtained with elaborated alternative computational methods for electromagnetic circuits of disk-type induction motors is given in this paper. The results have been compared with FEM 3D results and verified by lab test results (tests run with a physical motor model). When definite simplifications are adopted, the alternative computational methods make it possible to reduce computational time in a significant way. The achieved results are highly convergent with results acquired for real model.


The existence and formation of a carbonate shell at the surface of the particles of CaO-based sorbents is investigated in this paper. Two sorbents were tested: natural Kelly Rock (KR) limestone and synthetic pellets (KR-CA-14) prepared from the same limestone and calcium aluminate cement (CA-14). Various different series of calcination/carbonation cycles were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) apparatus, and the sorbent samples produced after those cycles were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is shown that sintering during cycles is more pronounced at the surface of sorbent particles, which results in the formation of nonporous areas or even a totally nonporous shell that surrounds a partially reacted CaO core. However, the dependency of shell formation upon cycle number is difficult to elucidate by SEM because increasing cycle numbers achieve lower conversion levels, which reduce the chance of shell formation. Prolonged carbonation after a series of cycles showed that...


One of the most viable options to decarbonise the aviation industry is to operate existing engines and aircrafts through alternative jet fuels (AJFs). The key advantages of these fuels are that they work with existing engine technology, allowing a seamless transition between conventional petroleum jet fuels and more sustainable feedstocks. Lifecycle Assessment models have introduced datasets which attempt to estimate the emissions of AJFs' process pathways from various feedstocks. To assist with inherent uncertainty in decision making and policy formation in AJFs, a more relativistic uncertainty in the performance of different technology solutions must be assessed to provide an impartial picture of technologies. Here, we propose an integrated multi-criteria decision analysis-based framework to improve performance uncertainty of competing AJF pathways. While existing studies tend to measure effectiveness via cost-benefit analysis or carbon reduction, our proposed framework will provide an in-depth understanding of competing technologies under four dimensions: financial (e.g., capital cost, running cost, feedstock prices; and revenues), environmental (e.g., CO2 emissions savings), technical (e.g., technology maturity; transferability) and social (e.g., social acceptance; wealth and job creation). Compared to standard approaches, our framework can handle data in different forms of uncertainty. Furthermore, we also discuss how different AJFs might be produced more effectively and stress practical points on the need for government and stakeholder integration on the large-scale production of AJFs. By focusing on motives, attitudes and decision making of experts, end-users and stakeholders – rather than merely the pure techno-economic or environmental aspects of AJFs'– this paper makes a new contribution to the field.


Abstract The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is comprised of 3 subpopulations, each being small, geographically isolated, and vulnerable to extinction. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts in 2005, potentially altering habitat occupied by this federally threatened subspecies. We used data collected on radio-telemetered bears from 1993 to 1995 and pre-hurricane landscape data to develop a habitat model based on the Mahalanobis distance (D2) statistic. We then applied that model to post-hurricane landscape data where the telemetry data were collected (i.e., occupied study area) and where bear range expansion might occur (i.e., unoccupied study area) to quantify habitat loss or gain. The D2 model indicated that quality bear habitat was associated with areas of high mast-producing forest density, low water body density, and moderate forest patchiness. Cross-validation and testing on an independent data set in central Louisiana indicated that prediction and transferability of the model were good. Suitable bear habitat decreased from 348 to 345 km2 (0.9%) within the occupied study area and decreased from 34,383 to 33,891 km2 (1.4%) in the unoccupied study area following the hurricanes. Our analysis indicated that bear habitat was not significantly degraded by the hurricanes, although changes that could have occurred on a microhabitat level would be more difficult to detect at the resolution we used. We suggest that managers continue to monitor the possible long-term effects of these hurricanes (e.g., vegetation changes from flooding, introduction of toxic chemicals, or water quality changes).


Considering the time forward difference scheme for one-dimensional heat conduction equation,puts forward the key idea of variation bounded method,then applies it to the analysis and gets a sufficient condition for judging the stability of the scheme.


Wind power is becoming a mainstream energy source that U.S. utilities are tapping into nationwide as a means of adding clean, domestically sourced energy to balance their generating portfolios.To identify where wind will take us, POWER's senior editor talked to experts from diverse industry stakeholders about current and future developments.


The present invention provides an improved hydraulic gear apparatus comprising a pair of meshing gears is mounted between the inlet side and the outlet side of a housing, may be rotated in the opposite direction, for forming the gear relative to a rotation axis, is substantially lateral fluid flow. Ring gear at its opposite rotation is formed in the corresponding mating configuration progressive engagement between the teeth. At least one of said progressive meshing configurations, in at least one cross-section of the gear, the fluid trap between the respective teeth may form at least one closed region. The enclosed area may be reduced, until which said corresponding mating configuration independent progressive engagement between the teeth disappeared, now out of the at least another independent progressive engagement configuration at.


Abstract Recently, there is large scale of infiltration of renewable energy resources based distributed generation Systems (DGSs) into the power grid as cheap power can be available at local-end with less maintenance. However, islanding state of DGSs may enforces severe stability and security issues. Therefore, islanding condition in power system network need to be detected and addressed as soon as possible. For that an appropriate islanding detection technique is required. Vast research going on this topic and numerous techniques are found in literature till 2020 and some latest papers of 2021. New researchers need idea about available detection techniques. This paper may server for that purpose. Although some other significant review works on islanding detection technique are also available in literature in previous years but the necessary extensive analysis is also feature of this paper. Also, it includes some of the latest developed but distinct islanding detection techniques. In this paper, a thorough description and their classification of islanding detection techniques has been discussed. The classification structure has been built on control strategy, control variable types of circuitry, non-detection zone and weakness. This paper is intended to serve as a convenient reference for future researchers working on islanding issue for the DG power system.


Cities are expanding and more and more citizens are exposed to air pollutants both indoors and outdoors. This may have adverse effects on citizens' health. In this paper, we present AirSense, an opportunistic crowd-sensing based air quality monitoring system, aimed at collecting and aggregating sensor data to monitor air pollution in the vicinity (building/neighbourhood) and the city. We introduce a light weight, low power and low cost air quality monitoring device (AQMD) and demonstrate how AQMD and smartphones in a crowd collaboratively gather and share data of interest to the cloud. In cloud, collected data are analyzed and an aggregate view is generated from data collected from various sensors and from different users for providing an air pollution heat map of the city. Unlike previous works, both micro and macro level air quality monitoring is possible with Airsense. End user can view his/her pollution footprint for the whole day, the neighborhood (local) air quality and AQImap (air quality index map) of the city on his/her smartphone. The system is implemented and the prototype is also evaluated.


This paper presents a constructivist framework for design thinking based on the recognition that there are different kinds of generative propositions. Five different "What if … ?" questions are identified. It is offered that subsequent design development occurs in two ways. First, intensive development seeks an increasingly precise understanding of a proposed change by refining the generative proposition with respect to the initial "What if … ?" question. Second, extensive development seeks an increasingly comprehensive understanding of a proposed change by applying, adapting, and adjusting the generative proposition with respect to the other "What if … ?" questions. It is suggested that when both kinds of design development are performed successfully, the generative proposition of change becomes a reasoned argument for change.


Sensitization of potential transplant recipients by formation of lymphocytotoxic antibodies can be a result of prior blood transfusions, pregnancy, or failed allograft transplantation. While the presence of preformed anti-HLA-A and -B lymphocytotoxic antibodies does not appear to influence the survival of liver allografts,1 this has been a contraindication in renal transplantation because of the high incidence of hyperacute rejection.2

We report a case of successful transplantation of a renal allograft, in the face of a positive warm T cell crossmatch sequentially following a prior hepatic allograft transplantation from the same donor.


Given that the nature of research work involves computers and a variety of skills and expertise, Digital Humanities researchers are working collaboratively within their institutions and with others nationally and internationallly to undertake the research. This work typically involves the need to coordinate efforts between academics, undergraduate and graduate students, research assistants, computer programmers, librarians, and other individuals as well as the need to manage financial and other resources. Despite this use of collaboration, there has been little formal research on team development within this community. This article reports on a research project exploring the nature of Digital Humanities research teams. Drawing upon interviews with members of the community, a series of exemplary patterns and models of research collaboration are identified and outlined. Important themes include a definition of team which focuses on common tasks and outcomes as well as a need for responsibility and accountability to the team as a whole; elements of a successful team which include clear task definition and productive working relationships over the life of the project and beyond, a need for balance between digital and face-to-face communication and collaboration tools, and potential for more deliberate training in collaboration and team work. The article concludes with recommendations for the individual team members, project leaders, and teams.


The purpose of this study is to understand the characteristics of the common people and the furniture they used and to investigate the general characteristics of traditional Korean culture in the late Chosun Dynasty in order to study the Characteristics of Bandagein Gyeongnam province. Local charact...


The internal structure and work theory of the 4-wire resistive touch-screen are introduced.The feature and working model of the special A/D chip for the 4-wire resistive touch screen——ADS7843 are simple introduced.At the same time the four-point coordinate transform method are given out.At last,discussed.the realization of the thouch-screem in μC/GUI.


The tumor also called as neoplasm, a growth in the abnormal tissue can be distinguished by its composition from the embracing tissue. A tumor prompts a cancer, a notable leading cause of death and responsible for about 13 % of all deaths worldwide. The incidence rate of cancer is rising at an unprecedented pace across the globe. Incredible radiological knowledge and expertise is required for accurate detection of tumors in medical imaging. Tumor detection automation is needed as there could be a shortage of professional radiologists during an era of unimaginable need. This paper examines the processes and techniques used as part of tumor detection in light of the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRD in medical imaging. The techniques are considered based on computer vision can discern tumors in various kinds of medical imaging that aid with the diagnosis of myriad diseases, almost at a specialist level.


Objective:To study effects of the different compatibility of MahuangTang(MHT) on the ratio of Glu and GABA in the prefrontal cortex of the rats. Methods:Use HPLC/UV to determine the content of amino acids.Results:Ramulus Cinnamomi,Semen Armeniacae Amarum and Radix Glycyrrhizae had significantly reduced the relative value of Glu and GABA(P=0.021,0.007,0.028).The two-way interaction of Radix Glycyrrhizae and another factors had significant effect on the ratio of Glu/GABA(P=0.014,0.009).Conclusion:The different compatibilities of MHT had regular influence on the ratio of Glu/GABA.


The Heston model is a stochastic volatility model. We show that the option price in the Heston model is convex in the underlying asset for convex contract functions. We verify this using the explicit formula for European call options and extend to the general case using an approximation argument. Some other properties of the Heston model are also discussed. Finally, we illustrate the results using numerical methods.


Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India, more so in the vast rural areas. It also contributes a significant figure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Sustainable agriculture, in terms of food security, rural employment, and environmentally sustainable technologies such as soil conservation, sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity protection, are essential for holistic rural development. The research paper tries to find out the contribution agriculture sector in India and to assess the impact of agriculture on various developmental activities. Increasing trend in share of industries in GDP is also found out. It is found out that there is less stability in GDP in agricultural industry in last 10 years among other industry.


Abstract In the paper, an analysis method is applied to the lateral stabilization problem of vehicle systems. The aim is to find the largest state-space region in which the lateral stability of the vehicle can be guaranteed by the peak-bounded control input. In the analysis, the nonlinear polynomial sum-of-squares programming method is applied. A practical computation technique is developed to calculate the maximum controlled invariant set of the system. The method calculates the maximum controlled invariant sets of the steering and braking control systems at various velocities and road conditions. Illustration examples show that, depending on the environments, different vehicle dynamic regions can be reached and stabilized by these controllers. The results can be applied to the theoretical basis of their interventions into the vehicle control system.


Whether or not the term spectacle was originally taken from Henri Lefebvre's Critique de la vie quotidienne, its currency emerged from the activities in the late 1950s and early 1960s of the various configurations now designated as presituationist or situationist.1 The product of a radical critique of modernist art practice, a politics of everyday life, and an analysis of contemporary capitalism, its influence was obviously intensified with the publication of Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle in 1967.2 And twenty-two years later, the word spectacle not only persists but has become a stock phrase in a wide range of critical and not-so-critical discourses. But, assuming it has not become completely devalued or exhausted as an explanation of the contemporary operation of power, does it still mean today what it did in the early '60s? What constellation of forces and institutions does it designate? And if these have mutated, what kind of practices are required now to resist their effects? One can still well ask if the notion of spectacle is the imposition of an illusory unity onto a more heterogenous field. Is it a totalizing and monolithic concept that inadequately represents a plurality of incommensurable institutions and events? For some, a troubling aspect about the term spectacle is the almost ubiquitous presence of the definite article in front of it, suggesting a single and seamless global system of relations. For others, it is a mystification of the functioning of power, a new opiate-of-the-masses type of explanation, a vague cultural-institutional formation with a suspicious structural autonomy. Or is a concept such as spectacle a necessary tool for the figuration of a radical systemic shift in the way power functions noncoercively within twentieth-century modernity? Is it an indispensable means of revealing as related what would otherwise appear as disparate and unconnected phenomena? Does it not show that a patchwork or mosaic of techniques can still constitute a homogenous effect of power?


INTRODUCTION
The availability of the interferon beta in its three forms at the moment available in our country and of glatiramer acetate has marked a point of flexion in the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the high cost of these treatments cause that its use is questioned. In this work we have studied the effectiveness and efficiency of the processing with interferon beta, and the cost-utility of these treatments in MS in Spain has been also analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
For this work we studied 102 patients affected of RR MS, treated with the three interferons beta which we have available in our country. We used as control 330 patients who had participated in the pivotal clinical interferon trials with both interferon beta 1a. In these patients in addition to effectiveness data, we have studied the disability measured as area below curve and the quality of life (AVACs). We also calculated the economical costs, considering the relation cost-utility in our country.

RESULTS
Besides to confirm the data of effectiveness of three interferons, in this study a saving of 23 days/year is demonstrated what corresponds to 0.063 AVACs. The additional cost of interferons is greater than the avoided cost until the fifth year of treatment in which the tendency is reversed in favor of the group of treated patients, if we assume that the same effectiveness that we found in the first years is maintained in the long term.

CONCLUSION
The use of the treatment with interferon beta is justified by its effectiveness, efficacy and efficiency. The additional cost of the treatment will be compensated in the long term if the effectiveness of the interferon beta is maintained.


SUMMARY

Salt-spray was estimated along a gradient in a coastal beach and dune system on the Island of Schiermonnikoog by analyzing the chemical composition of rain. The annual airborne input of NaCl on the beach amounts to 1460 kg NaCl/ha.year, which decreases to 150 kg NaCl/ha.year at a distance of 2 km landinwards.

Elytrigia junceiformis (foredunes), E. pungens (salt-marshes) and E. repens (inland sites) were compared in their response to varied levels of salinity in the rooting medium and of airborne salinity. E. pungens was most resistent, E. junceiformis intermediate and E. repens the most sensitive to high soil salinity, while E. junceiformis was most resistent to salt-spray, with E. repens being more sensitive. Resistence to salt-spray in these species seems to be based on exclusion of foliar ion uptake. The role of the leaf structure and the epicuticular wax layer is discussed.


In this paper our aim is to find the radii of starlikeness and convexity of the nth derivative of Bessel function for three different kind of normalization. The key tools in the proof of our main results are the Mittag-Leffler expansion for nth derivative of Bessel function and properties of real zeros of it. The main results of the paper are natural extensions of some known results on classical Bessel functions of the first kind.


Intertemporal discount rates vary widely across contexts and individuals. We propose that a sizable fraction of this variation results from differences in how relative attention is allocated to different features of the decision, such as immediate versus future rewards. We tested this hypothesis using an experiment in which subjects chose between receiving a smaller-sooner and a larger-later monetary payment, while an eye tracker recorded their eye movements. We found that cross-trial variation in the allocation of attention explained between 27% and 35% of the subjects' ability to choose the delayed option. Additionally, cross-subject variation in the allocation of attention explained between 20% and 35% of the individual differences in discount rates. In a second experiment, we manipulated the allocation of attention and found that shifting attention to the monetary amounts made subjects more patient, which is consistent with the existence of a causal pathway from relative attention to behavior.


Time synchronization problem and solution are entirety discussed in this paper,and time switch modules are designed based on IEC 61131-3 programmable logical language according to standard time and UNIX time. The time switch modules perfectly solve the time synchronization problem of Guangzhou Metro Line 128 supplementary vehicle through test,simulation and corroboration,and have been applied on some city railway projects including Guangzhou Metro Line 128 supplementary vehicle.


IZA DP No. 16515 OCTOBER 2023 Are Immigrants Particularly Entrepreneurial? Policy Lessons from a Selective Immigration System* Firm ownership is a dening feature of immigrant adaptation: 41% of immigrants own a firm at some point in their first 10 years post-arrival. We use Canadian data linking immigrant arrival records with individual and firm tax data to examine the process of entering firm ownership for immigrants. Higher immigrant firm ownership rates are mainly due to nonincorporated firm ownership, which looks like a last resort. Human capital plays no role in the opening of preferable, incorporated firms. Immigrants are not more entrepreneurial in terms of opening incorporated firms with employees, and standard policy levers appear to have limited effects. JEL Classification: J61


The invention relates to sodium borohydride hydrolysis hydrogen generation, in particular to a sodium borohydride hydrolysis hydrogen generation device. The device comprises a sodium borohydride catalytic reactor, a sodium borohydride aqueous solution raw material storage tank, a micro metering pump, a gas-liquid separator and a hydrogen purifier, wherein the sodium borohydride aqueous solution raw material storage tank is connected with a material inlet pipeline of the catalytic reactor through the micro metering pump; a product material inlet of the catalytic reactor is connected with a material inlet of the gas-liquid separator through a pipeline; a gas outlet of the gas-liquid separator is connected with an inlet of the hydrogen purifier; a liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separator and a waste liquid outlet of the hydrogen purifier are connected with a waste liquid collection device through pipelines; and a gas outlet of the hydrogen purifier is connected with a hydrogen collection and utilization device through a pipeline. The system can provide high-purity hydrogen for a fuel cell.


The artificial potential fields (APF) method is attractive for mobile robot navigation, and solutions to the difficulties of their application are investigated here. The basic problem induced by early convergence in local minima is solved by using a systematic local reshaping of the APF. It enables one to destabilize, and to extract the robot from the local basin of attraction. A theoretical analysis of kinematic and dynamic constraints has led to the use of Speed Dependent APF (SDAPF) for avoidance. This concept allows one to generate a controlled centrifugal force that respects the constraints. Simulation results for data close to sensor capabilities are very satisfactory.


Abstract Social marketing is an effective process to create behaviour change among groups of individuals for the promotion of positive health behaviours. The concept of social marketing has ideal applications for patient-centred care research and practice efforts, particularly when the issues at stake require an understanding of multiple layers of a system, from delivery of healthcare, to the psychology and social epidemiology of patients, to the culture of the community. This paper describes how the social marketing process can be used in the context of encouraging patient-centred care. It also describes the tools used to help pilot communities in Friendly AccessSM, a national effort to improve access to and use of prenatal care and birth services in the USA. The tools introduced here were used to collect and analyse consumer data to aid in health practice delivery decisions. An explanation of how these tools were used by the Friendly AccessSM pilot communities is presented as a case study.


Based on the intanton approximation of Skyrmion and recent progresses on the holographic approach, we study baryon properties using Skyrmions generated from holographic instantons. First we employ Atiyah and Manton's early observation to show that the instanton approximation gives the correct infrared behavior for the Skyrmion solution, and thus those of the electromagnetic form factors of the nucleon. We then use Skyrmions generated from flat-space instanton solutions to study various baryon properties, treating the instanton size as an arbitrary variable. It is found that, a large instanton size is required to reproduce the physical axial coupling. From such an instanton configuration, the predictions for other baryon quantities in the Skyrme model improve the original results quite a lot. Some of the results reproduce those by quantizing the full instanton solution, while no fine-tuning of the mesonic parameters are needed. From these we conclude that the baryons in the low energy region can be effectively described by large instantons.


Recent advances in the fields of eye banking, ophthalmology and regenerative medicine are challenging the traditional activities of eye banks. Serum-free media are being evaluated for corneal storage at 30.5–37°C (organ culture) or 2–6°C (cold storage). Autologous serum eye drops and amniotic membrane transplantation are being offered as complementary or alternative remedies for ocular surface disorders. While penetrating keratoplasty remains the most common procedure for cornea transplantation, advances in corneal surgery have led to the development of lamellar keratoplasty as a way to replace only the anterior stroma or the posterior stromal and endothelial layers. Progress in femtosecond lasers and microkeratome-based techniques in creating pre-cut endothelial donor tissues are at the basis of the success of lamellar procedures. Autologous-cultured limbal stem cells have been used to restore damaged corneal surfaces in hundreds of patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Strategies aimed at the regeneration of conjunctival epithelium and corneal endothelium through cell therapy and genetic engineering of corneal stem cells are also under evaluation. Many of these developments might eventually lead to new therapeutic services and treatments offered by eye banks to patients with ocular surface diseases.


(57) Abstract: Purified genes encoding T cell surface antigen from a mammal, reagents related to purification gene containing purified protein, specific antibodies, and nucleic acid encoding the antigen is provided. How to use this reagent and diagnostic kits are also provided.


Use of management skills by a paediatric nursing student, demonstrated in a case study concerning the assessment and care of a child with asthma in the emergency department. Skills including problem-solving, prioritising care, communicating with the patient and family and working with colleagues are described. [Original] 18 references Source: BNI Available in print at ULHT journal article requests. Complete the online form to obtain articles. 2. Extending iterative matching methods: an approach to improving covariate balance that allows prioritisation. Author(s) Ramsahai, Roland, Grieve, Richard, Sekhon, Jasjeet Citation: Health Services & Outcomes Research Methodology, 01 December 2011, vol./is. 11/3/4(95-114), 13873741 Publication Date: 01 December 2011 Abstract: Comparative effectiveness studies can identify the causal effect of treatment if treatment is unconfounded with outcome conditional on a set of measured covariates. Matching aims to ensure that the covariate distributions are similar between treatment and control groups in the matched samples, and this should be done iteratively by checking and improving balance. However, an outstanding concern facing matching methods is how to prioritise competing improvements in balance across different covariates. We address this concern by developing a 'loss function' that an iterative matching method can minimise. Our 'loss function' is a transparent summary of covariate imbalance in a matched sample and follows general recommendations in prioritising balance amongst covariates. We illustrate this approach by extending Genetic Matching (GM), an automated approach to balance checking. We use the method to reanalyse a high profile comparative effectiveness study of right heart catheterisation. We find that our loss function improves covariate balance compared to a standard GM approach, and to matching on the published propensity score. Source: Health Business Elite Available in print at ULHT journal article requests. Complete the online form to obtain articles. 3. Are medical graduates ready to face the challenges of Foundation training?. Author(s) Tallentire VR, Smith SE, Wylde K, Cameron HS Citation: Postgraduate Medical Journal, September 2011, vol./is. 87/1031(590-5), 00325473;1469-0756 (2011 Sep) Publication Date: September 2011 Abstract: PURPOSE OF STUDY Previous research demonstrates that graduating medical students often feel unprepared for practice and that their perceptions of preparedness correlate only partially with those of their supervising consultants. This study explores the components of preparedness for practice from the perspectives of both newly qualified doctors and their educational supervisors. STUDY DESIGN A questionnaire study was undertaken at the University of Edinburgh, involving feedback on preparedness for practice over three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009, against 13 major programme outcomes,


Unsteady numerical simulation was used in this paper to calculate the flow field of a ship intake system.The resistance influence of silencer,silo and helicoid was concerned.And on the basis of steady simulation,the resistance induced by inlet shutter,filter and silencer was determined. unsteady simulation was carried out on the variation of pressure difference induced by the inlet conditions between front and back intake system.The relation between the inlet conditions and the pressure difference and the influence on the flow field of helicoid outlet were analyzed in detail.


Abstract This study examines the time-space structure of the standard deviation of daily summer and winter mean sea level pressure over the Southern Hemisphere, as identified in 20 years of analyses generated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and two long simulations with a GCM. The unfiltered variability derived from the operational analyses generally display a deal of zonal symmetry, particularly during the summer period, with maxima in the midlatitudes. The percentage of the temporal variance which is explained by the bandpass and low-pass components is calculated; in January and July the percentage of the variance explained by the bandpass data is maximized between 30° and 60°S and assumes values of typically 25%. In general, the low-pass data account for more of the variance and tends to achieve its maxima in low and high latitudes. The greatest contribution to the low-frequency field comes from the planetary-scale waves, particularly at higher latitudes. The synoptic and small-scale waves are ...


Covalent cross-linking of enzymes to magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MNPs) is one of the useful enzyme immobilization methods which provides repeated use of the catalyst, facilitates enzyme separation from the reaction mixture, and sometimes improves biocatalysts stability. The aim of this study was to immobilize α-amylase onto MNPs via covalent attachment using carbodiimide (CDI) molecules. MNPs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The size and the structure of the particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of different operational conditions of direct α-amylase binding on MNPs in the presence of CDI were investigated by using the shaking method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the success of immobilization. The optimum conditions and catalytic properties of immobilized α-amylase were also evaluated. The efficiency of immobilization and the residual activity of the immobilized α-amylase were dependent on the mass ratio of MNPs: CDI: α-amylase and the immobilization temperature. The optimum pH for the free and immobilized amylase was 6. The free and immobilized α-amylase showed maximum activity at 20∘C and 35∘C, respectively. The immobilized α-amylase was more thermostable than the free one. The retained activity for free α-amylase after 19 storage days was 57.7% whereas it was 100% for the immobilized α-amylase. In repeated batch experiments, the immobilized α-amylase retained a residual activity of 45% after 11 repeated uses. The Km and Vmax values for the immobilized enzyme were larger than those of the free enzyme. The immobilization of α-amylase on MNPs using CDI improves its stability and reusability.


The effects of the ephedrine isomers were studied in the isolated guinea-pig tracheal chain preparation (which is believed to contain only beta adrenergic receptors). Cumulative dose-response curves were determined in the presence of methacholine-induced tone. The relaxation produced by the isomers was converted into percentage values with maximal effect as produced by isoproterenol or papaverine considered as 100%. In the normal preparation the isomers showed no striking differences in potency, although L(+)- ephednine was the least potent. In preparations from reserpine-pretreated animals (5 mg/ kg i.p., 16-24 hr) the effects of the D(-) isomers were not reduced but the effects of the L(+) isomers were. In similar preparations propranolol reduced the effects of all isomers. The results indicate that in the guinea-pig trachea D(-)-ephedrine and D(-)-pseudo-ephedrine are essentially directly acting drugs, whereas L(+)-ephedrine and L(+)-pseudo-ephedrine possess an appreciable indirect component in their action and that all four isomers probably act at beta adrenergic receptors.


Development of railway transportation capabilities towards high-power, high-speed and heavy axle-load makes the dynamic interactions between the electric drive subsystem and the mechanical subsystem of a locomotive more intensive and complicated, which may threaten the locomotive operational safety. However, the included dynamics mechanism and influencing law have not been revealed completely. Based on the co-simulation method and vehicle-track coupling dynamics, a model which enables considering dynamic interactions between the electric drive subsystem and the mechanical subsystem of a locomotive through an electromagnetic coupling interface and motor control subsystem is developed in this paper. By using this co-simulation model, the dynamic responses of the mechanical subsystem and the electric drive subsystem are analysed under complicated dynamic excitation, such as the time-varying gear mesh stiffness and the track geometric irregularity. The results indicate an obvious interaction between the electric drive subsystem and the mechanical subsystem, where the vibration status of the major mechanical components can be reflected by the electric current signals. Besides, the characteristic frequencies of the gear transmission can be extracted from the frequency spectrum of the traction motor current signals, which provides the possibility for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of the locomotive mechanical components through the electrical signals.


Stokes' drift velocity is given for edge waves in a sample hydrostatic ocean model with a small constant bottom slope. The importance of this second-order nonlinear effect is determined by the magnitude of the ratio of long-shore wave slope to the bottom slope. This ratio must be assumed small as compared with unity in the derivation of the drift velocity, but under certain oceanographic conditions it may approach unity, indicating relatively large drift velocities.


Graphics for tables and models come together in the visualizations for Chapter 7, "Log-linear and Logit Models." As the book has progressed, the focus has evolved from display of data to display of results from and evaluation of the models. A wide variety of models are described in this chapter. The chapter draws on visualizations developed throughout the course of the book. Friendly (1991) used SAS to do familiar graphical displays. Here the subject is not SAS; rather it is graphical analysis for data and models. This book is a textbook on categorical data analysis and modeling that emphasizes the use of both familiar and novel graphical displays. For users of categorical data-analysis methods in SAS, particularly those familiar with Stokes, Davis, and Koch (2000), whose second edition was reported by Ziegel (in press), this book is another essential part of one's SAS reference library.


Four freshwater fish species including grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idellus),common carp(Cyprinus carpio),crucian carp(Carassius auratus) and bighead carp(Aristichthys nobilis) were taken from Beijing market for the analysis of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in brain,vesicle,lives and muscle. Based on the contents of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in fish samples,the distribution characters and potential risk to human health were analyzed.The results show that the contents of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in fish samples range from nd to 0.82(ng/g)(wet wt.) and nd to 0.14(ng/g)(wet wt.),respectively,and that the mean concentrations are(0.09±0.14)(ng/g)(wet wt.) and(0.02±0.02)(ng/g)(wet wt.),respectively,which are much lower than those presented in literatures.The concentration of heptachlor in vesicle is higher than those in other issue/organs,while difference of heptachlor epoxide contents among issue/organs is not detected.There is also no difference among four fish species.Significant logarithm correlations are observed between the contents of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide and the lipid content.The heptachlor concentrations in issue/organs are found to be lower than the FAO/WHO recommended permissible limit for human consumption.


This article examines several irregular procedures in Rhesus as well as parallel or near-parallel procedures in other extant tragedies. It divides the former into two groups: those which were consciously adopted and those which probably were not purposeful. It concludes (1) that the author sought the unusual and unconventional as means for provoking strong reactions from his audience; (2) that the emotional effects that he aimed at do not all seem consistent with each other; (3) that his work is very derivative; (4) that he is not likely to have written the play earlier than the late fifth century; and (5) that while he had a broad literary knowledge of fifth-century drama, he was not thoroughly familiar with the limitations imposed upon tragedians of the period by the theater in which they worked and by conventions of tragic structure.


BEATRIX-II was an in situ tritium recovery experiment. This in situ tritium recovery experiment provided data on the performance of Li{sub 2}O and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} under irradiation conditions covering a range of sweep gas compositions and temperatures. The experiment consisted of two separate irradiation cycles which in turn included two vented tritium recovery canisters each. Phase 1 operated for 300 Effective Full Power Days (EFPD) while Phase 2 operated for 203 EFPD of irradiation. The tritium recovery behavior of Li{sub 2}O and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} was characterized using temperature transients, sweep gas composition changes and reactor power changes to effect changes in the tritium inventory. The high neutron flux level in FFTF resulted in high tritium generation rates which combined with a responsive tritium measurement system allowed detailed observations on the tritium recovery behavior of Li{sub 2}O and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3}. During the course of the experiment a number of observations were made which did not appear consistent with a simplified view of the tritium recovery behavior of these materials. These observations included small negative tritium recovery peaks preceding the typical primary positive peaks; and, for specific temperature ranges, changes in tritium inventory which where opposite to the characteristic expected changes.


Eight cases, 5 in the esophageal region and 3 in the pyloric gland region, of gastric ulceration and perforation in foals have been recorded. The esophageal region ulcers are considered to be mechanical-traumatic in origin, while the pyloric region ulcers may be related to chronic "stress" and/or drug therapy.


Objective: To compare ADHD patients who failed a symptom validity test with those who passed the test to explore whether there are signs of negative response bias on group level. Method: In our outpatient department, 196 adults were diagnosed with ADHD using a comprehensive diagnostic strategy featuring a detailed clinical history, clinical interview, observer rating, several self-rating scales, and neuropsychological attention tests. The Amsterdam Short Term Memory Test (AKGT) was applied as a symptom validity measure. Results: Sixty-three patients (32.1%) scored below the AKGT cutoff level. The two groups did not significantly differ regarding self-report and observer ratings. Those who failed the AKGT had higher reaction time variabilities in selective, auditory and visual divided attention, and higher omission errors in sustained attention. Conclusion: We found no strong indicators for negative response bias in ADHD patients who failed a symptom validity test. New measures and approaches to detect feigned ADHD should be developed.


This paper presents the findings of a research that compares the academic performance of students of the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Degree program based on the student's entry levels. In this study, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) was used as the key performance index. The longitudinal progress was studied based on two consecutive intakes of students in July 2005 and July 2006 from Matriculation. It is interesting to note that there is a correlation between students' ability at entry level and their academic performance upon graduation, namely their CGPA. It is hoped that the findings can help Program Head, faculty management and stakeholders to decide on entry requirements into the Program. It is also hoped that the findings can help counselors and academic advisors to give proper advice to the students.


The achieved results are based on the new comparison principles, which help us decrease the problem of the wavering between the third and first-order equations. Examples are given to prove the significance of new theorems.


New copolymers have been synthesized by anionic or radical photopolymerization of ε-caprolactam or methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of dissolved polyimides bearing hexafluoroisopropylidene, fluorene or other groups. Using diimides as models it was shown that the kinetics of anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam depends on the nature of spacer between the imide cycles. The mechanical and tribological properties of copolymers, their water absorbance and the microstructure of copolymer films were studied. It was found that upon the selection of polyimide activator it was possible to gain the desirable control over the polymer properties, namely, the gel fraction content, phase composition, compression modulus, notched Izod impact strength, friction coefficient and temperature of frictional contact. The kinetics of radical polymerization of MMA in the presence of polyimide and model diimide has been studied by differential scanning photocalorimetry and infrared spectroscopy. From the results of the reaction kinetics and the study of polymer structures by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, size-exclusion chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis it has been established that radical photopolymerization of MMA in the presence of polyimide leads to the formation of copolymers owing to chain transfer reactions and/or chain termination by the relevant condensation polymer. It has been established that the imide cycles play a significant role in the formation of both copolymers with ε-caprolactam and MMA, respectively.


PURPOSE: To improve counting ratio without degrading space resolution by, through a filter having an inverse function of transmission function, of signal originator, as a transmission function, separating accumulated pulses, for accurate integration calculation. CONSTITUTION: To a γray camera comprising a collimator 2, a fluorescence material 3, a photomultiplier 6, a resister circuit, and x + , x - , y + and y - signal circuits 7, a fast A/D converters 52, 54, 56 and 58 are added, and, a pulse is sampled at multiple positions and then converted into digital, and then accumulated pulses are separated with digital filters 62, 64, 66 and 68 of a transmission function h -1 (t). The transmission function h -1 (t) is an inverse number of the transmission function corresponding to the impulse response of circuits (fluorescence substance, photomultiplier, resister circuit, transmission circuit) of the γray camera. Digital integrators Z72, 74, 76 and 78 are provided behind a filter F for obtaining XN + , XN - , YN + and YN - , and coordinate X, Y is decided with a calculating device 90 and applied to a display device 21. COPYRIGHT: (C)1993,JPO


Of course, the measured frequency response function (FRF) can be viewed also but with only one FRF it may very difficult to identify how many modes exist. This is a problem because all of the modes may not be active in the particular FRF measured. The modes may be directional and from one measurement all the modes may not be easily observed. This might also be especially true of the drive point measurement where all the peaks will have the same phase; two very closely spaced modes may be very difficult to observe. So to assist in the process of pole selection, many different tools have been developed over the years. The main tools used are: SUM – Summation Function MIF – Mode Indicator Function MMIF – Multivariate MIF CMIF – Complex Mode Indicator Function Stability Diagram So let's discuss each of these. For an example structure, a simple plate will be used as shown in Figure 1. But this plate has some closely spaced modes which will tax all of the mode indicator tools. The plate is subjected to MIMO testing with 2 shaker reference points and 15 accelerometer locations.


Zimbabwe at the turn of the new millennium has seen the land issue dominating the discourse on development. The situation has received wide spread attention, firstly as it exposed not only the very weaknesses through which independence was negotiated and betrayed but also the very fundamental structures that underpins colonial and post colonial political and economy. Secondly, it threatens the very existence of the neo liberal capitalist states, which benefited and continue to benefit from the currents structure of international political economy. The paper seeks to examine these structural causes of the land problem in post colonial societies where the settler colonialists had sought and continued to live as not only the prosperous agriculturalist but as the owners of the basic means of production depriving the indigenous people of the same much needed and central resources for production. The paper will also address the issues surrounding the impasse on the land issue both within and from an international point of view.


Digital interconnectivity is one of the most relevant challenges of our time. Many societies have become as dependent on this space as on energy, money or language. Ultimately, this interconnectivity is inseparable from the acceleration of mundialization in the last seven decades, making every corner of the planet more dependent on and related to every other corner of the planet, one way or another. The much-hailed digital revolution played its part in this growing planetary interconnection, strengthening and transforming it in the last twenty years. In other words, a digital mundialization is underway and advancing rapidly and irreversibly, creating an interdependent reality from village level to global scale, with all the ups and downs this entails. Far from being a peripheral change, this state of interdependence, which both makes up and goes beyond the digital dimension, causes a major shift in the sociopolitical architecture.


The objective was to evaluate the physical-mechanical performance of extruded fiber-cement composites produced with surface-modified cellulose fibers. The silanes used for surface modification of the cellulose fibers were methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and isobutyltrimethoxysilane (IBTMS). Surface modification is an attempt to reduce water absorption of the fibers, and it was confirmed by MEV/EDS measurements of the Si content on the fibers. Moisture absorption was reduced in the modified fibers. The cement composites were fabricated with water/cement ratio of 0.3. The treatment of pulps with silanes positively affected MOR and MOE values of the fiber-cement under bending. MTMS-modified fibers led to significant reduction of water absorption of the composites, in relation to those reinforced with unmodified fibers. The modification of the fibers resulted in distinct surface characteristics for water absorption at the cellulose pulp fibers, which led to important changes in the physical and mechanical properties of the fiber-cement performance.


The International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) Project's DEBITS Activity has formulated as its first task the Composition and Acidity of Asian Precipitation (CAAP) Experiment, for which a Planning Workshop was held at the National University of Singapore from20-24th August 1990.


A portable focused-beam X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was designed and manufactured taking into account a huge variation in material, size and shape of museum objects. The spectrometer is equipped with a vacuum chamber enclosed with a Kapton-window allowing the detection of chemical elements from Na upwards, which enables the characterization of glass and enamel objects. Two low-power X-ray tubes, one with a Mo-anode the other with a Cr-anode, operating from 4 to 50 kV and 0 to 2.5 mA with a maximum power of 50 W and a point focus of about 180 µm can be used as excitation source alternatively. A polycapillary lens with a spot size of 150 µm is used for focusing the primary beam to access small details of the different objects, e.g. fine brush strokes in paintings. The vacuum chamber can be evacuated to about 1 mbar.

A miniature camera is installed inside the chamber for inspecting the analyzed area through the Kapton-window. Two laser pointers mounted inside the chamber coincide with the focal point of the polycapillary at the investigated spot. The excitation and X-ray fluorescence radiation paths in air are about 1 mm each, minimizing the absorption losses. The spectrometer was designed to maximize the accessibility to all parts of the investigated objects through the use of translation stages and an innovative design of the detection head, especially the vacuum chamber. This article shows the capability of the spectrometer to reach measuring positions in concave parts of objects and presents the determined detection limits of elements. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Professional students are having experience of what they find more enjoyable in using Android games using internet and how they are learning through various application gives valuable information for the design of new model intended for them. In this paper, we explore new concept consist of games application design model in E-learning cloud using Cloud as a medium to reach end user students. What will be outcomes in regard to the user interface and contents of the learning environments under E-learning cloud development. In Addition, we present importance related to designing new Games application model in E-learning cloud through Simulation. So, we need to focus on what we want them to learn through games application. This gives is main concept of games application design model.


An effective method for the chemoselective, liquid-phase heterogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of some pyridinecarbo-nitriles [4-, 3-or 2-pyridinecarbonitrile (4PN, 3PN, 2PN)] to the corresponding pyridyl- or piperidylmethylamines over a Pd/C catalyst was...


Diffuse infiltrative carcinoma of the large intestine is uncommon and the prognosis is very poor. A recent case of this disease showed rapid growing of the tumor as well as previous cases experienced at the department is described. A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a one-month history of constipation and anal pain. Barium enema examination showed stenosis 3cm in length in the rectum. On admission, digital examination was performed by the finger and a diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative carcinoma was made. Ten days later, however, on the colon fiber examination, digital examination was inposible because of adbance of the stenosis. Miles' operation was carried out, resulting in non-curative resection because of positive surgical margine. Chemotherpy with 5"-DFUR is started after the operation. There has been no sign of recurrence as of 3 month after the surgery. The patient is enjoying disease-free dailyb life.


In the era of Web 2.0, users strongly contribute to blogs,
providing their opinions and useful information about specific topics;
typically, users that are interested in a topic looks for related blogs in
pull mode. But social networks have become even more effective in dis-
seminating opinions and information in push mode, because users directly
receive tweets and posts.
In this context, what is the best source of information ? That is, what is
the best blog with useful contribution about a given topic, expressed by
a non trivial user query ? Furthermore, what is the Tweeter user that
sent the best contributions about a given topic ?
We think that a solution to this new emerging problem is a novel class
of search engines, that we can call Socially-enabled Search Engines, i.e.,
search engines that exploit social contributions to rank sources of infor-
mation. In this paper, we present the prototype search engine we are
developing: in particular, we present the main ideas, the retrieval model
and the query engine of our prototype.


This paper first compares Chinese and American performance auditing in terms of its background,theory and present situation,and then finds that there exists a great difference in choice of auditing objects,auditing projects,evaluating standards and legal systems of the two countries.Finally,the authors put forward some tentative proposals to enlighten the development of China government performance auditing.


The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid in the population of the Nizhny Novgorod region against the background of COVID-19.Materials and methods. The work was carried out according to a unified methodology developed by Rospotrebnadzor with the participation of the St. Pasteur. The selection of volunteers for the study was carried out by the method of questioning and randomization. The exclusion criterion was active COVID-19 infection at the time of the survey. A total of 2829 volunteers were surveyed, divided into seven age groups. Venous blood samples were taken from all volunteers from EDTA vacutainers. In the blood plasma, the content of specific IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid was determined by the enzyme immunoassay.Results. The population level of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the surveyed volunteers was 8,4% (95% CI 7,4–9,5). The largest proportion of seroprevalent persons was found among children aged 1–6 years — 15,9% (95% CI 8,2–26,7), the smallest in the group of volunteers aged 18–29 years — 6,0% (95% CI 3,8–8,9). During 3-stage serological monitoring, the proportion of seroprevalent volunteers increased to 22,5% (95% CI 20,3–24,9)%, or almost 2 times from the initial level (p<0,05). of the population of the Semenovsky district (22,7% (95% CI 10,9–41,8)), the smallest — in the city of Dzerzhinsk (2,4% (95% CI 0,5–7,1)%) Among convalescents after COVID-19, specific antibodies were detected in 47,2% (95% CI 30,5–69,6), which is 5,6 times higher than the average for the population. Among those who had verified contact with patients, specific IgG were detected in 17,6% (95% CI 12,9–23,5), which is 2,1 times higher than the average for the population. Among asymptomatic persons who had a positive PCR result, 53,3% (95% CI 30,5–86,6) were seropositive, which is 6,3 times higher than the average for the population. Of 225 seropositive people, 188 (88,4% (95% CI 76,6–101,6)) had the disease asymptomatic.Conclusion. The relatively low proportion of seroprevalent persons among the population may indicate a significant risk of further development of the epidemic process caused by COVID-19 in the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod region.