T is probably the most public act committed by a board of directors. Annual general meetings come and go and dividends rise or fall, but a few column inches in the Financial Times, to be read by professionals rather than the public at large, is probably the most attention these will attract for the vast majority of companies. A little attention will be given by local newspapers to expansion plans, and redundancy decisions by a board will gather a few column inches; but, unless thousands of jobs are involved, the decisions will never make the headlines (even in this case, redundancy after a take-over is somehow more newsworthy). But, announce a take-over bid and the column inches will accumulate; bid high enough and the television news will be yours too. When the boards' position becomes that public, it becomes difficult to separate the board's reputation as a whole from its success in making the current take-over a fact. Indeed, as the chairman of a company valued at over £100 million put it: "I would not like to think that we had been beaten in a bid battle". [l] Not every chairman would like to be so explicit, nor would all agree with the sentiment expressed but certainly the pressure to succeed is there. In this article 'g* analysis' is put forward as a rapid check on the prices successively offered in a take-over battle, a check that has been found useful in practice.


Shariful et al.3 also experimented that the elastic performances of cotton spandex woven fabrics were controlled with appropriate temperature treatment. Temperature application could control the elastic limit of the specimen. Shariful et al.4 proved that the acoustic performances of needle punched nonwoven were improved with the application of sustainable natural fibers which were biodegradable and ecofriendly.


Review of the dental literature and current textbooks on periodontology indicates that there is general agreement on the following statements: 1. Traumatic occlusion is defined as an occlusion which results in definite changes in the teeth, periodontium, and/or temporomandibular joint. The term "traumatogenic" occlusion suggested by Box' seems preferable but has not been widely accepted. "Periodontal traumatism" is the term used to describe the pathologic changes in the periodontium which occur when occlusal forces exceed physiologic limits. 2. The periodontium is modified readily to meet alterations in function. Reactions of the periodontium of presumably normal animals to changes in occlusal forces are well known. Studies of these adaptations in humans have been largely from autopsy material, usually with incomplete or no clinical histories. Coolidge2 and Orban and Weinmann3 reported on studies of material from human jaws obtained at autopsy and found in almost every jaw (where teeth had been extracted but not replaced by bridges) signs of trauma similar to those found in experiments of traumatic occlusion in dogs. There was no observed connection between changes in the periodontium and gum disturbances. Ramfjord and Kohler4 reported on observations of periodontal adaptations to a known functional increase and decrease in occlusal stresses in fifteen teeth from fourteen humans sixteen to sixty-eight years of age. The altered stress was present for from fourteen days in two cases to 198 days in one case. In all patients, they noted remodeling and partial rebuilding of the alveolar process in response to changes in functional occlusal stress which was comparable to that found in laboratory animals. In addition, they reported that the most stable periodontal structures with regard to functional changes in occlusal stress appeared to be Sharpey's fibers entering the cementum and the periodontal fibers coronal to the margin of the alveolar crest. Also, they observed that disuse atrophy of functionally oriented periodontal fibers in adults is a slow process. In general, one can assume that changes in humans will parallel those from animal experiments. 3. Added occlusal stresses, if within physiologic limits, will result in a stronger tooth attachment: denser periodontal ligament, wider periodontal membrane space, denser supporting bone, thicker cementum. These changes can sometimes be striking enough to be detectable radiographically as a wider periodontal space, thickening of cribriform plate, and increased trabeculation of bone. 4. Reduced occlusal stresses will result in narrower periodontal membrane space, fewer fibers in the periodontal ligament, and loss of trabeculation of the alveolar bone. 5. Added occlusal forces, if severe enough, can cause the condition called "periodontal traumatism" with thrombosis of blood vessels, hemorrhage, hyalinization of the periodontal fibers, and sometimes actual necrosis of fibers and bone in areas of "pres-


Chromosomal cytology of Acanthaceae is one of the research programmes of our department. The family is represented by about 25 species in Chandigarh and its neighbourhood, the area of present work. Chromosome numbers of some acanthaceous taxa from this region have been earlier documented by Verma and Dhillon (1967), Mehra and Gill (1968) and Mehra and Vasudevan (1972). The present communication incorporates the cytological findings in twelve species belonging to eight genera.


Bi-Metallic Nanoparticles (BMNPs) have been extensively researched for applications in various fields of Nano-engineering, Nano-medicine, and Nano-biotechnology. Methods used in synthesizing them (top-down and bottom-up) have also been vastly explored. From the past reviews, extensive usage of chemical approaches (such as Sol-Gel, polymer precursor, micro-emulsion, hydrothermal, sonochemical, etc.) has been reported. However, by usage of pre-cursors, harmful and toxic chemical agents, longer reaction time, there is a limited or no contribution towards green environment. Producing BMNPs at a commercial scale in such a scenario would have detrimental effects which are still un-realized. Also, some of the biomedical applications, demand usage of pure and stable nanoparticles Therefore, the need immediately arises to opt for a greener synthesis method. One such available physical approach Laser-assisted synthesis (LASIS) gives effective control, as well as stable, pure BMNPs, is obtained. This review focuses on the recent work done in Laser-assisted synthesis of BMNPs with a focus on their properties and different nanostructures formed using this technique for bio-imaging, anticancer, and drug delivery applications and thereby its contribution in being an environment-friendly and green technology.


Two Nostoc species were used to study the toxic effects of two commonly used insecticides: sumi-alpha [(s)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (s)-2(4-chlorophenyl)-3methylbutyrate] and Dursban [O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-Pyridyl) phosphorothioate) ] to soil microflora. The heterocystic filamentous Nostoc minutum Desm. ex. Born. et Flah. & Nostoc puniforme Ag. ex. Born. et Flah. were exposed to different concentrations of sumi-alpha and dursban. Differential growth effects were observed on the two cyanobacterial species exposed to different insecticide concentrations. Selected parameters of the tested cyanobacteria (dry weight, Chl a, photosynthetic O2 evolution, total soluble sugars, nitrogenase activity, total soluble proteins, total lipids and fatty acid contents of the total lipids) were measured and examined. The data revealed a marked inhibitory effects in all measured parameters in both Nostoc species under different insecticides concentrations of sumi-alpha and dursban except the total lipids. This suggests a potential hazard of these insecticides on soil microflora and subsequently natural ecosystem. Key words, Cyanobacteria , Insecticide Toxicity, Sumi-alpha, Dursban. Introduction Much more attention has been paid to the effects of various insecticides on microorganisms. The contamination of aquatic environments with both sumialpha and dursban insecticides is a long-term problem because of the chemical stability and potent toxicity of these pollutants. Of the many organophosphorous (dursban) and pyrethrins (sumi-alpha) are among the most ubiquitous and are the most prominent contaminants in the aquatic biota. Contamination of aquatic habitats by sumi-alpha and dursban is an unavoidable characteristic of aerial spraying of forests. These insecticides enters the aquatic system primarily via direct application by spray air craft or indirectly from spray drift and surface runoff (Abd-El Hafez, et. al., 1996). In Egypt the surface-water concentrations of studied insecticides ranged from 1L to 600mL per Fadan for both dursban and sumi-alpha, respectively. Several detailed reviews (Kunert & Boger, 1981, Nikolenko, and Amirkhanov, 1993, and Kent & Caux, 1995) addressed sumi-alpha and dursban degradation and persistence in aquatic environments. These provide the necessary context for their exposure, duration profile and subsequent potential toxic hazard to phytobiota.


Abstract : Because of the falling oil revenues throughout the 80's, Saudi Arabia, as most of the OPEC countries, was forced to introduce fiscal austerity programs. However, little is known about the criteria followed in setting expenditure priorities, particularly with reference to the transportation and communication sector. The paper deals with issues such as: how the Saudi Arabian authorities revised their allocations to the major budgetary categories following revenue developments during the fiscal year; the topic of supposed systematical unanticipated changes intervenes; the related issue of which categories gained or lost; and finally the possible insights as to the strategy followed by the government in setting budgetary priorities.


Interactive direct volume rendering has yet been restricted to high-end graphics workstations and special-purpose hardware, due to the large amount of trilinear interpolations, that are necessary to obtain high image quality. Implementations that use the 2D-texture capabilities of standard PC hardware, usually render object-aligned slices in order to substitute trilinear by bilinear interpolation. However the resulting images often contain visual artifacts caused by the lack of spatial interpolation. In this paper we propose new rendering techniques that significantly improve both performance and image quality of the 2D-texture based approach. We will show how in ulti-texturing capabilitiesof modern consumer PC graphboards are exploited to enable in teractive high quality volume visualization on low-cost hardware. Furthermore we demonstrate how multi-stage rasterization hardware can be used to efficiently render shaded isosurfaces and to compute diffuse illumination for semi-transparent volume rendering at interactive frame rates.


A method is proposed, called <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$l$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-formula, to design efficient successive cancellation (SC) decoding of polar codes with medium-dimensional binary kernels (dimensions up to 16). Our <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$l$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-formula method obtains the simplified recursive formulas of the SC decoder in the likelihood ratio domain for any binary kernel. We confirm that the complexity of the SC decoder based on <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$l$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-formulas achieves considerable advantages over the straightforward SC decoder for polar codes with medium-dimensional binary kernels.


A network element, a terminal and a method of allocating a radio channel to a connection between a terminal and a base station in a telecommunication system are provided. The number and properties of potential interferers in a plurality of available radio channels are determined, and channel allocation is performed on the basis of the determination.


Wheat cultivars of different gluten types were used for investigating the changes of starch synthase gene expression,starch synthase activity and starch accumulating rate.Results showed that,1) During the entire filling of wheat the expression levels of starch synthase genes(AGPase1,GBSSI,SSSIII,SBEI),the activities of starch synthases(AGPase,GBSS,SSS,SBE) and amylase,amylopectin,and total starch accumulating rates were recorded in a descending order of Zhongyou 9507(a strong-gluten cultivar),Huaimai 18(a medium-gluten cultivar),Ningmai 9(a weak-gluten cultivar),and Wx11(a Waxy variety).2) The relationship between the maximum expression levels of AGPase1,SSSIII,SBEI and the peak activities of AGPase,SSS,SBE was significantly correlated at 0.01 levels,while there were no significant correlations between the maximum expression levels of GBSSI and the peak activities of GBSS.3)The maximum expression levels of the four starch synthase genes were highly significantly correlated with the peak of amylase,amylopectin,and total starch accumulating rates.4) There were highly significant correlations between the four starch synthase activities and amylase,amylopectin,and total starch accumulating rates.


A great success this season was 0.917, by Lee Hyon-hwa, an example of experimental drama in a Western mode. It opened on March 2, 1984, as a production of the Cecil Drama Group, under the direction of Chae Yunil. After more than 200 performances, 0.917 became this country's longestrunning original play. According to the playwright, the title refers to the specific gravity of ice, in contrast to that of water which is 1.0. Lee explained he wants to show through the drama's title that what is smaller is stronger.1 0.917 has a complicated message about the inner life of people in contemporary society. Each of the play's three acts tells a different, but thematically connected, story. Basically, this social drama depicts the unusual psychosexual behavior of four children toward adults in society. The work has a sensational grotesque quality because of the sexually explicit language expressed by children, who shock both the adult characters on stage and the adult audience. The fact that a controversial, experimental drama can attract very large audiences and become a popular and commercial success suggests a deepening maturity of the audience for modern drama in the Republic of Korea. The most talked-about production of a Western play this season is John Pielmeier's Agnes of God, by the Shilhom (Experiment) Theatrical


Varieties grown for fibre-only will be established, managed and harvested differently than varieties grown for seeds or dual-purpose. The aim was analysed yield productivity and length of vegetation period dependency of the two types of hemp variety and identified perspective hemp variety for highest yield under different meteorological conditions in Latvia. Varieties/line from diverse European and Latvian origin (seed hemp varieties/ line 'Adzelvieši', 'Pūriņi', KA-2-2011, 'Finola', 'Henola' and fibre hemp varieties 'USO 31', 'Futura 75', 'Austa') were sown in randomized field experiments in Latvia. Biomass, stem, seed yield, fibre contents and vegetation period length were assessed across tree growing seasons from 2020 to 2022. Results show that hemp, seeds and fibre varieties/line, performed well giving high yield productivity between variety. Agrometeorological conditions for hemp growth and yield were favourable in 2022. In Latvian local climatic conditions, the seed hemp line KA-2-2011 and fibre hemp variety 'Futura 75' identified significant higher of biomass and stem yield as well as the seed hemp variety 'Henola' and fibre hemp variety 'Austa' significant higher of seed yield and fibre contents. The yield potential dependent from length of vegetation period length. The trial analyses identified positive and significant correlations between length of vegetation period and biomass (r = 0.97), stem yield (r = 0.98), and negative between length of vegetation period and seed yield (r = -0.89).


The carbonate facies of the Middle and Upper Ordovician of Central Pennsylvania show repetitive sequences of micrite, bioclastic limestone and siliciclastic shale. Five repetitive patterns based on sedimentologic and paleontologic data are present. These sequences are a result of storm deposition, as indicated by shell and intraclastic lags, fining upward trends, abrupt contacts between the beds, and the multidirectional sole marks. The series of sequences is a result of the decreasing effects of these storms on the deepening carbonate platform-ramp during the Middle and Late Ordovician.


BACKGROUND
Although abstinence has traditionally been considered the only suitable outcome for alcohol treatment, reduced drinking is also associated with improved functioning and medical and psychiatric outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) risk drinking levels (RDLs) have been shown to be valid outcome measures in treatment trials for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of two 12-week, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in which a total of 308 individuals with problematic alcohol use received topiramate or placebo treatment. We compared the utility of the WHO RDLs with other treatment outcomes, including self-reported measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and quality of life, and the biomarker gamma-glutamyltransferase.

RESULTS
Topiramate treatment was associated with small effect sizes for both a 1-level (d=0.26) and a 2-level (d=0.19) reduction in WHO RDL, effects that were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No heavy drinking days, one of the outcome measures recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration for alcohol medication registration trials, also exhibited a small effect (0.21), while an effect size for abstinence could not be calculated. There were medium effects of topiramate on continuous measures of percent heavy drinking days (d=0.49) and alcohol-related problems (d=0.41).

CONCLUSIONS
Topiramate is an efficacious pharmacotherapy for AUD. Although continuous measures of drinking and alcohol-related problems yielded larger effect sizes than the WHO RDLs, the latter capture changes in drinking behavior in response to treatment with topiramate and provide a categorical alternative for use in both clinical care and pharmacotherapy trials.


Nevada has a vast potential for electricity generation using solar power. An examination of the stock of renewable resources in Nevada proves that the state has the potential to be a leader in renewable-electric generation--one of the best in the world. This study provides estimates on the economic impact in terms of employment, personal income, and gross state product (GSP) of developing a portion of Nevada's solar energy generation resources.


Impaired insulin signaling in conditions of over-nutrition and obesity leading to insulin resistance is a major component of the cardiorenal metabolic syndrome and leads to the development of diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Dysregulation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone (RAAS) axis is thought to play a major contributory role to the development of insulin resistance in overweight and obesity. The Insulin Receptor Substrate protein 1 (IRS-1) is a critical signaling and docking molecule in the insulin signaling pathway. IRS-1 mediates both upstream and downstream components of the insulin signaling cascade through binding of the Insulin Receptor (IR) to its N-terminus, as also allowing docking of the p85 subunit of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) upon tyrosine phosphorylation, thereby facilitating glucose uptake through phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt). IRS-1 is tightly regulated principally through the mechanism of phosphorylation and has been known to undergo proteasomal degradation in the cytosol upon excessive serine-threonine phosphorylation on its residues. Multiple stimuli, including components of the RAAS, namely angiotensin, and aldosterone, as well as several different serine kinases acting through different pathways, have been shown to play a role in IRS-1 mediated degradation. In recent years, aldosterone has emerged as a key modulator of the insulin metabolic pathway, primarily through its ability to cause cellular oxidative stress leading to degradation of IRS-1, thus reducing glucose uptake. However, to date, no studies have been carried out on the effect of aldosterone in cardiac cells. Since insulin resistance is a major factor in the development of CVD, we show here time and dosedependent degradation of IRS-1 by aldosterone in HL-1 cardiomyocytes, using over-expression studies of fluorescentlylabeled recombinant IRS-1 protein. We further show, through the use of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-specific antagonist eplerenone, that this effect is mediated primarily by the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR), mostly by causing increased oxidative stress and rendering the cardiomyocytes susceptible to impaired cellular function and damage


A theoretical approach upon the Consciousness versus the Body aims at re-defining Mind-Body problem according with an ideal stratum of the nature (as matter and reflection). Information-rational subject, brain-mind-body, nature-consciousness-society would be the main pieces of this stratum, involving both Cognitive Science and Interdisciplinary Sociology. Our real (hypothetical systemic) body comprises both paradoxes and limitations regarding (hypothetical non-systemic) consciousness : * 1: Ancestors-successors images and mental insight upon consciousness (non-personal body); * 2: Face / hands / nude / clothes / sensors acquired shapes (static and dynamic balanced items - as aggregated substancee * 3: Individualc * 4: From dolls toward photos album (a chronological humankind passage); * 5: Equilibrium between: energetic needs, sexual behavior, knowledge eliciting (the convergence of the body mental concept as pattern). In this context two complementary paradigms of mind and society would prove a normality according with a fuzzy/subtle topos: #1 The divergence of the body mental concept is a meta-equilibrium pattern between: "will - must - can" humankind triad; #2 There is a fuzzy/subtle centered topos through the open domain: * 1 -* 5. Focusing upon the sustainable balance: nature and paradigms #1-#2, there is a circular flow: "the intelligence/I stage/ of the body" - "mind-body problem" - "paradigms of mind and society" - "consciousness inputs and emergence" - "the intelligence/II stage/ of the body".


Neglecting the short-range ground ray, it is assumed that short-wave propagation is due to single or multiple total reflection between the earth and one or more ionized layers in the atmosphere. For single reflection at a single layer an equation is developed giving the wavelength in terms of the skip distance, the height of the layer and the degree of ionization of the layer. The curve represented by this equation is discussed. The equation, in conjunction with experimental data, shows the height of the layer which governs the skip distance in daylight to be about 230 km, and its ionization about 7.0×105electrons per cu. cm. It is thought that, in daylight, higher layers of greater ionization do not exist. But there may be lower ones of lesser ionization. The theory is then applied to the case of multiple reflection in daylight. The data lead to a value of 10.4 meters for the shortest useful wavelength for daylight work. The case of two or more layers is next discussed, and experimental data for darkness are used, by means of the theory, to estimate the structure of the ionized regions at night. On winter nights there appear to be at least two layers, one at a height of about 520 km and with an ionization of about 2×105electrons per cu. cm, the other at a height of the order of 40 km and with an ionization of the order of 3.5×104electrons per cu. cm.


To what extent is it possible today to make authoritative, graded assessments of educational quality? While acknowledging the slippery nature of the concept itself, an attempt was still made to map sources of quality-related information about Norwegian higher education, and to assess what this information can tell us. The paper scrutinises relevant national and international sources and evaluates their information value for each of a number of quality aspects/factors. The 'short' answer is that existing sources are very far from adequate for such a purpose. In particular, the richest source, current external quality assurance activities, yield less than what might perhaps be expected. To what extent then are our views on quality dependent on rather loosely founded assumptions? After a discussion of the realism of aiming for graded assessments in this area, some measures and methodologies are suggested that may at least shed more light on quality status, including quality variations within the sector, directed specifically at the students' learning outcomes.


The automated vial handler for liquid scintillation counting uncaps, fills, and recaps scintillation vials automatically under microcomputer control. A schematic diagram of the design is included along with a detailed description. The reliability of the vial processor was evaluated over a 3 1/2-month period during which 13,103 samples were processed with 208 processing errors occurring in the first pass. This corresponds to a first pass processing accuracy of >98%. The delivery precision of the apparatus was found to be <+1% for each of the cocktails tested. Of the errors, some were due to caps being overtightened by the sample submitters; however, the majority of the other failures were due to a misalignment of the photocell and light source.


Material management is one of the primary components of enterprise management.High level material management will helpful for the improvement of benefits.Based on the J2EE/MVC model,have designed and implemented an administrative system of goods and materials in common use.Introduces the main function module of the system and the key technology.


Forest fragmentation is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, directly affecting the ecological processes. This study aimed to evaluate tree diversity, structure, and composition parameters in three sectors of a forest fragment with distinct disturbance records. The arboreal vegetation was evaluated in twenty-four 10 × 10 m plots, sampling a total of 1,228 living individuals. We calculated Shanon's diversity index, Pielou's equability, and jackknife estimators of first and second orders. The sampled individuals were distributed in diameter classes and the importance value (VI) was calculated for each species. It was made a Detrended


An expression for the four-potential of an em field is derived as a path integral involving the fields, the formula being analogous to one given in elementary vector analysis.


We propose and demonstrate a simple self-protecting architecture for WDM PON. The protection time was less than 10 ms, and the power penalty caused by the protection process was negligible.


Test S-02-6 of the Semiscale Mod-1 blowdown heat transfer test series was conducted to supply data for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Standard Problem Six. To determine the credibility of the data and thus establish the validity of Standard Problem Six, an analysis of the results of Test S-02-6 was performed and is presented. This analysis consisted of investigations of system hydraulic and core thermal data. The credibility of the system hydraulic data was investigated through comparisons of the data with data and calculations from related sources (Test S-02-4) and, when necessary, through assessment of physical events. The credibility of the core thermal data was based on a thorough analysis of physical events. The results of these investigations substantiate the validity of Test S-02-6 data.


The biogeographical peculiarity of a given geographical area is directly linked to the number of its endemic species. This paper aims to formulate an index directly linked to the biogeographical peculiarity of an area. A graphical model and an index of the biogeographical peculiarity are proposed, based on a cumulative sum (i.e., including all the amounts that were added previously). An example of the computations is proposed, based on the number of different types of geographical ranges (i.e., chorotypes) characterizing two different ecosystems; their biogeographical peculiarity of was evaluated on the basis of presence versus absence of carabid species. Both the graphical model and the index mirrored the different faunistic compositions of the ecosystems, because the index reached a higher value where more endemic species have been found. Our investigation has found a new method for evaluating the biogeographical peculiarity of a given area or biota in a simple way. The index could be used for either conservation biogeography (e.g., monitoring of biotic homogenization) or for theoretical studies integrating ecology and biogeography.


Objective:To approach the clinical significance of Hepatistis B virus(HBV) Pre-C and basic core promoter(BCP)mutation, and the application of gene chip in the clinical detection of chronic type B hepatitis.Methods:Using gene chip to detect the serum samples of chronic hepatitis B patients with HBV DNA positive, during the analyse on the result, divided the subjects into two groups according to the data of detecting the HBV serum symbol: the HBeAg(+)group and the HBeAg(-)one, then we compared and analyzed the clinical data of the two groups to evaluate the clinical significance of HBV Pre-C and BCP mutation, also according to the different mutation rate in different type B hepatitis.Results:Gene mutation on HBV Per-C was detected in 63.0%(51/81),74.1%(60/81) in BCP. The gene mutation in HBeAg(-)group is significantly higher than HBeAg(+)group. The arte of detection in mutant stock is highest in chronic serious hepatitis and lower in midrange chronic type B hepatitis.It dedicated that gene mutation in HBV Pre-C is connected with the pathogeneitc condition and serous signal of e system and has nothing to do with sex and age.Conclusion:It is high efficient and reliability to detect the gene mutation in HBV with gene chip, and it is useful to estimate the pathogenetic condition and good for prognosisand medication.


The incident which has occurred on the Civaux power plant has shown the nocivity of thermal loading and the difficulty to take into account at design level. The objective of this paper is to study the initiation and the propagation of crack under thermal loading. In this aim the CEA developed a new experiment named FAT3D. The various experiments carried out showed the harmfulness of a thermal loading, which makes it possible to rapidly initiate a network of cracks and to propagate one (or some) cracks through the totally thickness of the component under certain conditions. These experimental results associated with a mechanical analysis put at fault the usual criteria of damage based on the variations of the equivalent strain. In addition, the study of the propagation stage shows the importance of the plasticity which, in the case of a thermal loading, slows down the propagation of the crack.


At a given reaction temperature (175–275 °C), the reaction rate constant of glucose decomposition in hot-compressed water (HCW) is found to decrease by almost 1 order of magnitude with increasing the initial glucose concentration from 0.01 to 1000 mg L–1 (equivalent to 5.6 × 10–8–0.0056 M). The results demonstrate a clear shift in the glucose decomposition mechanism at various initial glucose concentrations. Fructose is always the dominant reaction product with a high selectivity at the early stage of glucose decomposition, suggesting that it is a key primary product from glucose decomposition in HCW. The initial glucose concentration also influences the selectivity of glucose decomposition products substantially. The hydroxyl ion appears to play a controlling role in catalyzing the isomerization and retro-aldol reactions under all conditions in this study. At an initial glucose concentration less than 10 mg L–1 (i.e., 5.6 × 10–5 M), particularly when it is close to or less than the molar concentration of...


. In this research two composite materials were fabricated by using two matrix materials and one common reinforcement material. The two matrix materials were Polypropylene and Nylon 6. Reinforcement material was Aluminium honeycomb core. Compression moulding machine was used for the fabrication of these composite materials. Two body abrasive wear experiments were conducted by using a pin-on-disc Tribotester under dry sliding condition and at room temperature. The design process parameters for two-body abrasive wear test were normal load, sliding velocity, sliding distance and abrasive paper grit size. The output responses were Coefficient Of Friction (COF) and Specific Wear Rate (SWR). The design of experiments is based on L 9 Taguchi orthogonal array. Grey fuzzy logic algorithm was used for the optimization of input process parameters. For polypropylene composite material the highest Grey Fuzzy Reasoning Grade (GFRG) is obtained at 30 N normal load, 0.523 m/s sliding velocity, 450 m sliding distance, 320 grit size of abrasive paper and these are the optimum level of process parameters. For nylon composite material highest GFRG is obtained at 30 N normal load, 1.046 m/s sliding velocity, 150 m sliding distance, 400 grit size of abrasive paper and these are the optimum level of process parameters. The optimum level of process parameters were also validated with conformation experiments.


In this paper, we discuss the use of integrated circuit (IC) technology as a tool to improve the current state-of-the-art in electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy instrumentation to render ESR a viable candidate for future generations of portable, point-of-use food quality assessment systems. To this end, in addition to a quick introduction into ESR and its potential applications in food quality control, we discuss the shortcomings of a conventional ESR spectrometer concerning its miniaturization and cost reduction capabilities and highlight how IC technology based approaches can be used to overcome these limitations. As an extension to the state-of-the-art in IC-based ESR, we present an analytical model and experimental results for VCO-based rapid scan ESR experiments, which can be used to improve the achievable sensitivity in inductively detected ESR.


Frequency-domain fluorescence spectroscopy, commonly referred to as phase fluorometry, is a classic approach to study the lifetime dynamics of fluorescent systems. Here we report an interesting phenomenon: unlike conventional fluorescence lifetime phase fluorometry in which the fluorescence trace always lags behind the modulated excitation source, the detected signal from certain fluorophores can actually exhibit fluorescence anomalous phase advance (FAPA) as if the fluorescence is emitted "ahead" of the source. FAPA is pronounced only within a range of modulation frequencies that are outside quasi-static and quasi-equilibrium conditions. We attribute FAPA to photoinduced dark state hysteresis, supported by both simulations of photodynamic transitions and experiments with dark-state promoters and quenchers. Being a fast and straightforward frequency-domain reporter, FAPA offers a unique and specific contrast mechanism for dark state dynamics sensing and imaging.


This book is a selection of VoxEU.org columns that deal with the ongoing global financial crisis. VoxEU.org is a portal for research-based policy analysis and commentary written by leading economists. It was launched in June 2007 with the aim of enriching the economic policy debate by making it easier for serious researchers to contribute and to make their contributions more accessible to the public.


【Task】 Excellent as a medicament (3R, 4S)-7-hydroxymethyl--2,2,9- trimethyl-4- (phenethylamino) -3,4-dihydro -2H- pyrano [2,3-g] quinoline-3 providing a crystalline form and a method of manufacturing the same ol. A (3R, 4S)-7-hydroxymethyl--2,2,9- trimethyl-4- (phenethylamino) -3,4-dihydro -2H- pyrano [2,3-g] quinoline-3-acetic acid ester ol solvents, aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, nitrile solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, ketone solvents, production method and the resulting crystalline form is crystallized from ether solvents. .FIELD 1


A simplified rail gun model is established and three dimensional finite element method of electromagnetic (EM) field is used to analyze the model parameters. The parameters include: inductance gradient, resistance gradient, magnetic induction intensity, magnetic force etc. The simulation result indicates that the load of rail gun may be equivalent to the nonlinear resistance, inductance and back electromotive force.


Through the need of fostering the ability on AD design and planning,constructing the practice teaching system on AD Theory and Practice,optimizing contents of teaching,we achieve satisfactory effect on teaching by carrying out scientific practice training procedure and reform measures on assessment criteria.


Abstract The Stieltjes constants γk(a) are the expansion coefficients in the Laurent series for the Hurwitz zeta function about its only pole at s = 1. We present the relation of γk(1) to the ηj coefficients that appear in the Laurent expansion of the logarithmic derivative of the Riemann zeta function about its pole at s = 1. We obtain novel integral representations of the Stieltjes constants and new decompositions such as S2(n) = Sγ(n) + SΛ(n) for the crucial oscillatory subsum of the Li criterion for the Riemann hypothesis. The sum Sγ(n) is O(n) and we present various integral representations for it. We present novel series representations of S2(n). We additionally present a rapidly convergent expression for γk = γk(1) and a variety of results pertinent to a parameterized representation of the Riemann and Hurwitz zeta functions.


In this research work, copper core yarns with cotton/polyester sheaths were produced by friction spinning machines and their woven fabrics were made by looms with varying fabric structures for electromagnetic (EM) shielding purposes. The effect of varying structures, varying materials, varying numbers of layers, core sheath ratio, and lay-up angle on EM shielding effectiveness were studied. The shielding effectiveness of copper core yarn fabrics was measured by using a Network Analyzer - EM shielding test (ASTM D4935-99) in the frequency range from 20—18,000 MHz.


Adaptive gender expression in simultaneous hermaphrodites will reflect the relative costs and benefits of each sexual function. The net gain through either or both functions may vary with body size. Shell length measurements of Physa gyrina and P. heterostropha in the laboratory and P. heterostropha in the field revealed that successful mating generally involved smaller sperm donors and larger recipients. In contrast, attempts by larger snails to donate sperm were contested by smaller snails. These data suggest substantial plasticity in gender expression in accordance with a game-theoretic extension of Ghiselin's (1969, Q. Rev. Biol., 44, 189–208, 1974; The Economy of Nature and the Evolution of Sex) size-advantage model. Specifically, the larger of two interacting snails is more fecund, so the smaller snail has more to gain by donating sperm. This asymmetry creates a contest in which the smaller snail can afford to escalate the contest more and still profit, so long as escalation costs are not greater for the smaller snail. In the present study, the usual form of contest escalation was a visually obvious shell-swinging display, which attracts predators. Thus, the smaller of two contestants can use the risk of predation as a weapon in contest escalations (i.e. a game of chicken), rather than using a purely physical contest that might favour the larger contestant. ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Ghiselin's (1969) size-advantage model explains size-based sex allocation in hermaphrodites. Although the model was primarily derived to explain sex change in sequential hermaphrodites, many theoretical discussions suggested its potential use to explain behavioural strategies in simultaneous hermaphrodites (Ghiselin 1969, 1974; Charnov et al. 1976; Charnov 1979, 1982, 1993). The size-advantage model is based on size asymmetries in potential fitness gains through male and female function. If increased size differentially improves efficiency in one sexual function, then larger individuals should specialize as that sex, either through physiological changes in the allocation to male and female tissues (e.g. sex change) or by behavioural shifts. The form of facultative sexuality that evolves largely depends on the nature of the environment (i.e. the grain of the environment; sensu Levins 1968). If the relative values for reproducing as male and female change only occasionally or gradually, physiological allocation shifts are expected to evolve to mitigate the payoff fluctuations (Charnov 1979). For hermaphrodites that undergo allocation shifts, the size-advantage model has been successfully used to predict both the size at which sex change occurs (reviewed by Warner 1988), and the intermediate levels of allocation found empirically (e.g. St Mary 1994). However, the value of the sexual functions may change frequently and unpredictably in many hermaphrodite taxa. In these cases, we can expect selection for pure simultaneous hermaphroditism and behavioural gender choice. The term gender is used to indicate the behavioural nature of sexual function in a simultaneous hermaphrodite, because such organisms cannot be labelled as either sex. The physiological and behavioural aspects of sexuality for hermaphrodites may be correlated and difficult to separate. For example, in the hermaphroditic goby Lythrypnus dalli, most individuals allocate to both egg and sperm Correspondence: T. J. DeWitt, Center for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, T. H. Morgan School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0225, U.S.A. (email: firstname.lastname@example.com). 0003–3472/96/020345+07 $12.00/0 ? 1996 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour


Processor is arranged to execute multiple instructions having a plurality of instructions. Processing apparatus includes a plurality of issue slots IS1, IS2 arranged for parallel execution of multiple instructions, a register file accessible RF1, RF2 a plurality of issue slots, for coupling the plurality of issue slots and the register and a communication network CN. Processing apparatus further first result of the first identifier on the validity of the data RD1, reasonable of second result data RD2 made by the second issue slot IS2 made by the first issue slot IS1 It is arranged to produce a second identifier for sex. Communications network, by using the first identifier and the second identification, a single processor cycle, the first result data or one of the transfer of the second result data to the register of the register file having at least one selection circuit SC1 is arranged to dynamically control.


ABSTRACT A university-affiliated safe ride program was evaluated to determine whether these programs can reduce drunk-driving related costs. Data was collected from 187 safe ride passengers during three nights of operation. Among the passengers, 93% were enrolled at a local University, 31% were younger than 21, and 40% reported a prior alcohol-related citation. Mean BAC was .11%. Seventy-five percent of passengers indicated their primary motive for utilizing the safe ride was to reduce risks associated with driving under the influence. Evidence also suggested that utilization of the safe ride was not associated with increased alcohol consumption or BAC. In terms of costs-savings, this program saves over $3 for every $1 spent. Implications are discussed in relation to a harm reduction framework. Keywords: safe ride, drunk driving, college students, harm reduction ********** In the United States rates of alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropped from 60% in 1982 to 32% in 2006 (NHTSA, 2003; NHTSA, 2008). This statistical change is often attributed to large scale educational, policy, and enforcement efforts throughout the 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's (Elder, Shults, Sleet, Nichols, Thompson, & Rajab, 2004; Hingson, 1993). Recent findings, however, indicate drunk driving continues to be a significant problem. Over 13,000 individuals died in 2006 from alcohol-related traffic incidents, and the national rate for alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle crashes per 100 million miles of travel has remained steady since 2004 (NHTSA, 2008). Drunk driving behavior is also not without significant financial costs. In 2000 alcohol-related crashes cost the American public $114.3 billion dollars in monetary costs and quality of life losses (NHTSA, 2002a). College students and young adults represent a population that is at increased risk for alcohol-related traffic fatalities due to unremitting rates of heavy episodic drinking (Wechsler et al., 2002; Wechsler, Lee, Nelson, & Lee, 2003). In fact, nearly half of all traffic-related fatalities within this cohort are associated with driving under the influence of alcohol (NHTSA, 2000). Within college environments a range of interventions has been developed to target drunk driving behavior. These measures move from policies and laws to restrict and punish underage consumption of alcohol and drunk driving (Shults et al., 2001; Wechsler et al., 2003), to programs intended to increase the prevalence of moderate and safe alcohol consumption (Fromme & Orrick, 2004; Timmerman, Geller, Glindemann, & Fournier, 2003). This spectrum of intervention typically proves effective for reducing rates of drunk driving, but each method of intervention is not without limitations. For instance, restrictive and punitive policies often produce immediate declines in frequency and numbers of individuals who drive while intoxicated (Voas, Tippetts, & Fell, 2003), yet their efficacy is limited by competing alcohol expectancies and social norms that sanction heavy alcohol use (Keeling, 2002; Wood, Read, Palfai, & Stevenson, 2001; Workman, 2004). A subset of evidence also suggests that some restrictive and punitive policies may inadvertently result in an increased risk of secondary alcohol-related harms when competing cultural norms/beliefs are not adequately addressed (Kilmer, Larimer, Parks, Dimeff, & Marlatt, 1999; Marlatt, 1998). Limitations have also been observed in research examining the efficacy of programs that encourage safe and responsible alcohol use, including designated driver programs. For instance, Barr and MacKinnon (1998) found that just over one-third of college students use a designated driver every time it is appropriate, and many college students have ridden with designated drivers who were operating a motor vehicle at or above a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) where psychomotor impairment is likely (Timmerman et al. …


One embodiment relates to an apparatus for high-resolution e-beam imaging. The apparatus includes an energy filter configured to limit the energy spread of electrons in the incident electron beam. Energy filter may be formed by using the aberration empty filter and the filter aperture. Another embodiment relates to a method for forming the incident electron beam for a high-resolution electron beam device. Other embodiments relate to aberration empty filter comprising a curved conductive electrode. Other embodiments relate to aberration empty filter including a magnetic yoke and a multi-pole deflectors of the pair. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.


We analyse the probability that an isolated system remain unchanged along time, finding its general expression showing that it can have discontinuities incompatible with the countable additivity principle.


The occurrence of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is well recognized. While several studies have examined the occurrence of PFAS in WWTPs, studies assessing the extent to which unit processes impact PFAS phase distribution are relatively lacking. Herein, PFAS enrichment in foams generated during aeration and PFAS accumulation in solids dewatering streams were evaluated in WWTPs. Results of this screening‐level study showed that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) concentrations were enriched up to three orders of magnitude in foams relative to the aqueous phase. Similarly, total PFAS concentrations in solids dewatering streams were enriched up to 380 times relative to the aqueous influent. The PFAS mass in the dewatering stream was a significant component of the overall PFAS mass exiting the WWTP at one of the facilities examined. Results of this study suggest that there is potential to mitigate PFAS by improved management of these foams and dewatering waste streams.


CAE-based structural optimization techniques are applied for the design of a lightweight crane. The boom of the crane is designed by shape optimization with the shape of the cross section of the boom as the design variable. The design objective is mass minimization, and the static strength and dynamic stiffness of the system are set as the design constraints. Hyperworks, a commercial analysis and optimization software, is used for shape and topology optimization. In order to consistently change the shape of the elements of the boom with respect to the change in the shape of its cross section, the morphing function in Hyperworks is used. The support of the boom of the original model is simplified to model the design domain for topology optimization, which is discretized by using three-dimensional solid elements. The final result after shape and topology optimization is 19% and 17% reduction in the masses of the boom and support, respectively, without a deterioration in the system stiffness.


Objective:To investigate the relationship between Toxoplasma infection and schizophrenia by comparing the clinical symptoms between the antitoxoplasma-seropositive and seronegative patients with schizophrenia.Methods: Six hundred cases of first-episode schizophrenia were examined the serum reactivity to IgG antitoxoplasma antibody by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). And the clinical symptoms of the schizophrenic patients were scored by use of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: Compared to IgG-seronegative schizophrenia, IgG-seropositive schizophrenia group was higher in the positive subscale score, the positive component score, the excitement component score, and the cognitive component score(20.8±4.2与19.4±3.4,P0.01;26.6±3.3与25.7±3.3,P0.04;9.5±3.8与7.9±3.9,P0.01;8.5±1.9与7.7±2.5,P0.01); and was lower in the negative subscle score and the negative component score(16.4±4.6与17.8±6.0,P0.05;20.4±4.5与23.3±6.5,P0.01). Conclusion:Toxoplasma infection may be related with some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. Further epidemiological study is necessary to verify the findings.


Objective:To investigate the methylation status of N-myc downstream regulated gene-1(NDRG-1) gene in breast cancer and the effects of methylation enzyme inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine(5-Aza-CdR) on growth and expression of NDRG-1 mRNA in human breast cancer cell line T47D.Methods:Sensitive methylation-specific(MSP)-PCR was used to detect the methylation status in the promoter regions of NDRG-1 gene in 47 samples of breast cancer and tumor adjacent tissues and 15 cases of benign breast disease.The change in expression of the tumor suppressor gene NDRG-1 mRNA in cultured T47D cells was detected by RT-PCR before and after 5-Aza-CdR treatment.Cell proliferation was observed by MTT assay.Results:Hypermethylation frequencies of NDRG-1 gene promoter were 46.8% in breast cancer tissues and 21.3% in tumor adjacent tissues.No hypermethylation of NDRG-1 gene was observed in the tissues of breast benign disease.The growth of T47D cells was suppressed obviously after 5-Aza-CdR treatment compared with the control group.RT-PCR showed that compared with the control group,NDRG-1 mRNA expression was increased at different concentrations in 5-Aza-CdR treatment group.Conclusion:The promoter methylation status of NDRG-1 gene was significantly related with the occurrence of breast carcinoma.5-Aza-CdR could effectively reverse the methylation of NDRG-1 gene and recover its expression,thereby inhibiting the growth of tumor cells.


This paper outlines an autonomous flight system developed on board the ONERA ReSSAC unmanned helicopter for an air-to-ground target tracking mission in an unkown urban environment. The system consists of the following three components: i) an image processor which detects the target and estimates ground motion around the detected target position, ii) an integrated vision/inertial navigation filter which simultaneously localizes the target and the own-ship UAV with an occasional loss of GPS, and iii) a guidance law which achieves target tracking as well as obstacle avoidance. Those algorithms are implemented in the Orocos robotic architecture, integrated with the auto-pilot system of the ReSSAC helicopter, and tested in closed-loop flight of vision-base d target tracking.


The forests offer to the society Environmental Goods and Services, which are not recognized on the market. This generates not sustainable use of the forest resources. Because of this situation the State must define an Environmental Politics, to achieve his sustainable use. In order to achieve this objective and his preservation for the future generations, it can use different instruments: those of command and control, economic instruments, economic incentives. This work tries to determine what instruments of environmental politics can be used for the protection of the Native Forests, and to realize an economic analysis of the Law of Native Forests.


* Initial research location for Isbister was DSV; continuing project work is being conducted at Rensselaer. ABSTRACT This paper introduces a novel approach to the measure of people's affective responses to interactive systems. Our approach is based upon recent research on the workings of emotions in human beings, an interest in addressing the multi-sensory nature of emotion, and a desire to take a participatory and empowering approach to soliciting user feedback. We are crafting a method for gathering real-time feedback from users about their own experiences through the use of a Sensual Evaluation Instrument. This paper includes background about the approach, and describes initial steps we've made toward implementation.


We systematically investigated the fivefold twinning structure in Ag nanowires by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Ag nanowires grown by the polyol-reduction method have a pentagonal shape with the fivefold axis going along the [110] zone axis direction.The remarkable diffraction pattern and HRTEM images obtained from the cross-section observation demonstrate directly that an Ag nanowire has a fivefold twinning structure with five {111} twinned subcrystals.The twinning relationships and local structural distortions on all twinning boundaries have been examined by HRTEM observations and analyzed by FFT processing.Based on our experimental data,we proposed a new structural model containing two coherent boundaries for accommodating the strain in this type of pentagonal nanowires.EELS analysis on the center regions of the wires indicates that the Ag-M_(4,5) peaks shift to lower energy in comparison with results from the Ag subcrystal.SAED analysis and TEM images of the individual mature nanowire showed superposition of two specific pairs of crystallographic zones,either [112] and [100] or [110] and [111],which were consistent with a cyclic pental-twinned crystal with five {111} twinning boundaries arranged radially to the [110] direction of elongation.In Situ TEM observations on the transformation of Ag nanowires under the condition of high temperature will be probably helpful for understanding the synthesis mechanism of this kind of multi-twinned nanowires.


Research shows that half of all teachers working in urban school settings leave the profession within five years, and many who choose to leave are the ones who are most effective (Coggins & Diffenbaugh, 2013.) Manual Rounds, a structured peer observation process based on the established practice of instructional rounds, was implemented at Manual Academy in 2010 to strengthen teaching practices and enhance student learning experiences in the classrooms of teachers new to an urban school setting. Project improvements were made incrementally over three years' time, with a different Manual Rounds model launched in the fourth year. This article offers an overview of instructional rounds before describing the history and progression of Manual Rounds from various stakeholder perspectives including administrators, experienced teachers, new teachers, and Bradley PDS facilitators. We believe the case study shared in this article will offer other school-university partnerships insight and ideas for designing and implementing their own instructional rounds processes. NAPDS Essentials Addressed: #3/Ongoing and reciprocal professional development for all participants guided by need; #4/A shared commitment to innovative and reflective practice by all participants. ''Our new teachers could really use some help,'' confided Manual Academy's principal during an early September meeting to discuss professional development school (PDS) projects for the school year. ''Many have never taught in a high need, urban setting before, and they're being eaten alive!'' This conversation, which first took place in 2010, led to the creation and evolution of a collaborative professional development model designed to strengthen teaching practices and enhance student learning experiences in the classrooms of new teachers as part of Manual's school-university partnership with Bradley University. This article describes the history and progression of what came to be known as Manual Rounds, a structured peer observation process based on the established practice of instructional rounds (City, 2011; City, Elmore, Fiarman, & Teitel, 2009; Marzano, 2010/2011; Marzano & Toth, 2013; Teitel, 2014). Background and Rationale Bradley University, a private, comprehensive university in Peoria, Illinois, serves 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students in five colleges: business, communication and fine arts, education and health sciences, engineering and technology, and liberal arts and sciences. The Bradley Professional Development Schools (PDS) Partnership, coordinated by faculty in Bradley's College of Education and Health Sciences, was established in 1995 to create an extended learning environment that addresses and responds to the changing needs of P-20 learners. Funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee and the university, the partnership serves eight elementary, middle, and/or high schools near Bradley University. All of Bradley's eight PDS sites serve high-needs student populations, defined in part by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act as schools ''where at least 30% of students come from families with incomes below the poverty line'' (Teach.com, n.d., para. 1). Research reminds us that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds often face emotional and social challenges, acute and chronic stressors, cognitive lags, and health and safety issues not experienced by students from more advantaged environments (Jensen, 2009). Indeed, many students enrolled at Bradley PDS sites often demonstrate disruptive behaviors that interfere with their own learning as well as that of their school peers. In addition to a significant number of classroom management issues, many students at Bradley PDS sites are academically at-risk as defined by the partner school 6 School—University Partnerships Vol. 10, No. 1 district as students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch according to federal guidelines and perform academically two or more grade levels below their peers. Manual Academy, the Bradley PDS site featured in this article, is a grades 7-12 middle and high school with an enrollment of 800 students. According to the Illinois Report Card [IRC] (2014-2015), 84% of students enrolled at Manual live in low-income households. Moreover, only 58% of Manual students are ready to graduate in four years. According to the 2013 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, only 39% of teachers feel ''very satisfied'' with teaching – a significant decline from 62% in 2008 (Scherer, 2013.) Moreover, research shows that half of all teachers working in urban school settings leave the profession within five years, and many who choose to leave are the ones who are most effective (Coggins & Diffenbaugh, 2013.) Indeed, between 2009 and 2015, Manual Academy's teacher retention rate ranged from 43% to 75% (see Table 1). Of the new teachers hired by Manual each year, many are under-prepared for the challenges of working with urban, at-risk students because they are fresh out of college, new to an urban school setting, or both. So, when Manual's principal asked the Bradley PDS Partnership for new teacher support, Manual Rounds was created to support these new and/ or new-to-Manual teachers (hereafter referred to as ''new teachers.'') Instructional Rounds The term ''rounds'' is based on the hospital rounds approach that medical interns take with experienced doctors during their final years of medical school (City, et al., 2009). The concept was embraced by the Manual principal, academy leaders, and teachers after attending a district-wide presentation by Dr. Tom Roy, professional development specialist for the Marzano Group. Marzano (2011) describes instructional rounds as one of the most valuable tools a school or district can use to enhance teachers' pedagogical skills and develop a culture of collaboration. The purpose of instructional rounds is not to provide feedback to the teacher being observed, although this is an option. Rather, the primary purpose is for teachers to compare their instructional practices with those of the teachers they observe. The chief benefit of this approach resides in the conversation that takes place among observing teachers following the observation as well as in subsequent self-reflection (City, 2011). Instructional rounds combine three common elements: classroom observation, an improvement strategy, and a network of educators (City, 2011). First, observers identify a ''problem of practice'' on which to focus during the observation. Next, they divide into small groups to observe in classrooms for approximately 20 minutes per class. During the classroom visit, observers record specific, nonjudgmental notes about what the host teachers and students are saying and doing related to the identified problem of practice. Following each classroom visit, the observers and the host teachers analyze the observation notes, looking for patterns that lead to suggestions for improvement. Following the experience, the host teachers incorporate insights gained and suggestions generated into their teaching practice (City, 2011; Tietel, 2014) and observers reflect on questions such as the following: 1) As a result of what I saw today, which aspects of my teaching do I feel were validated? 2) As a result of what I saw today, what questions do I have about my own teaching? 3) As a result of what I saw today, what new ideas do I have? (Marzano & Toth, 2013). It is important to emphasize that, while having the same eventual goal, instructional rounds differ from supervision in that rounds are inquiry-based while supervision is evaluative. During teacher evaluation, learning is expected only by the person being evaluated; during instructional rounds, everyone participating is expected to learn. Moreover, during teacher evaluation, the primary focus is on the teacher being evaluated and suggestions for improvement are provided by the evaluator. During instructional rounds, the primary focus is on instruction and the classroom environment, and accountability is peer-topeer (City, 2011). The greatest benefit of instructional rounds is that the process allows teachers to take charge of their own learning. Other benefits include focusing on the work of teaching and learning, building common understanding of effective teaching and learning, providing data that informs professional development and continuous improvement, and reducing variability in instructional practice schoolwide (Marzano & Toth, 2013; Teitel, 2014;). Challenges of instructional rounds include the possibility that teachers who know each other well may stay in the ''land of nice'' with one another rather than work at developing the nonjudgmental, descriptive observation notes and analyses that are the foundations of rounds. In addition, some teachers may not even notice ineffective routines or practices because they are immersed in the culture of the school, struggling to come up with suggestions for doing things differently to contribute to improvement (Tietel, 2014). Both challenges can be minimized through careful preparation, structure, and support as to the purpose and strategies to be used in instructional rounds. Distance and objectivity also can be achieved when those providing feedback are not directly affiliated with the school. Table 1. Manual Academy Teacher Retention Rates Before, During, and Following Manual Implementation Academic Year Teacher Retention Rate (All Teachers) Before Manual Rounds 2009-2010 51% During Manual Rounds 2010-2011 56% During Manual Rounds 2011-2012 62% During Manual Rounds 2012-2013 62% During Manual Rounds 2013-2014 43% Following Manual Rounds 2014-2015 75% The History and Progression of Manual Rounds 7


Previous research examining the effectiveness of international joint ventures (IJVs) has focused on the differences in the background of IJVs' parent firms, while little attention has been given to IJVs themselves. This study combines control theory and the perspective of knowledge integration to develop a general model of IJVs technological innovation. Specifically, we examine how IJV and parent involvement in the strategic decision control influences the technological innovation of IJV. We analyze this model from the perspective of structural equation model with 96 manufacturing and service-oriented IJVs in China as the samples for this study. Our results indicate that decision control positively affects IJVs' technological innovation in different ways, and knowledge acquisition plays a basic role This study sets out to contribute to the understanding of the roles of IJVs' decision control in gaining their competitive advantage of management innovation.


Sulfur isotope ratios (
 34
S/
 32
S) were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma double focusing sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SMS) operated in the medium resolution mode (m/Δm=4000) using a torch with a platinum guard electrode and a microconcentric nebulizer combined with a membrane desolvation unit. The guard electrode together with the nebulizing unit increased the signal intensity of the measured isotopes by two orders of magnitude. The use of the membrane desolvation unit decreased the signal intensity of the corresponding interference (mainly oxygen containing species) significantly. Detection limits in solution of 0.01 ng g
 –1
, limited only by blank levels, could be achieved. Moreover, sulfur isotope ratios could be determined at concentration levels down to 1 ng g
 –1
 with a precision of better than 0.1% relative standard deviation (RSD) (n=10). A precision of 0.04% RSD could be achieved at higher concentration levels. ICP-SMS has been shown to be an excellent tool for fast and precise isotope ratio measurements in combination with a high sample throughput and minimum sample preparation prior to analysis.


The remote user to a system and method is provided there to provide real-time object recognition. Camera system, falls away from the portable communication device over the network and at least one portable client accessible by the communication device, and a database access can be recognized by the server, a host device or device-to-server host device and the client. Client-aware applications that reside on the server host device or devices can take advantage of the recognition database to provide real-time object recognition of visual images captured using a mobile communication device to a remote user of a portable communication device. In one embodiment, the vision aid can share the panorama is visually impaired users and enhancement of the portable communication device, which is comprised of the sensor data in real device panorama.


Growth factor and cytokine signalling in the developing nervous system has multiple effects, ranging from cell differentiation and cell survival to modulation of cell phenotype. Molecules that can regulate growth factor signalling pathways will therefore be of importance in determining the cellular response to factor stimulation. Members of a recently described gene family, the suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) family, can regulate signalling events downstream of predominantly cytokine stimulation and may have important roles in the nervous system. We have examined the temporal and spatial expression of SOCS‐1, SOCS‐2, and SOCS‐3 in the developing and adult nervous system by use of Northern analysis and in situ hybridisation. All three genes were expressed in the brain, with maximal expression from embryonic day 14 to postnatal day 8 and declining thereafter, with SOCS‐2 being the most highly expressed. In situ hybridisation analysis showed that SOCS‐1 and SOCS‐3 had a low and widespread pattern of expression, whereas SOCS‐2 expression was higher and tightly regulated. Its expression pattern indicated that SOCS‐2 was expressed exclusively in neurons and that it was switched on developmentally at the time of neuronal differentiation. J. Comp. Neurol. 423:348–358, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In this paper we provide an empirical investigation of the classic Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) on all firms listed in the Italian stock exchange at the monthly frequency. We intend to show that the CAPM, despite the heavy critical comments, still holds in the Italian market when returns are measured at the monthly frequency. Most importantly, our evidence indicates that the market portfolio fully explains the cross section of stock returns and there is no need to appeal for additional determinants. Our results have very important implications for long term investors who can forecast the expected excess stock returns by simply determining the β of the stock and the expected excess market return.


"Bilingualism" has long been a provocative term in Catalonia, where the concept is more often treated as ideology than as a description of sociolinguistic fact. I present a critical overview of controversies over bilingualism in Catalonia and focus on excavating the rationales underlying Catalanist anti-bilingual stances. This case exemplifies issues in the social contextualization, de-contextualization, and re-contextualization of theoretical concepts that confront critical studies of sociolinguistics and language ideologies more broadly.


lympathic connection, for instance, between the sinus of the face and the bronchial tree. It is not yet possible to decide which of these hypotheses is justified. Bowen's Disease of Soft Palate.—E. HALPHEN. The patient is a man, 62 years of age. On the soft palate he shows a lesion which has exactly the appearance of Bowen's disease. This clinical impression is confirmed by the fact that the patient has had this lesion for three years past and the lesion does not seem to develop. On the other hand, the histological examination is very definite: this is a spino-cellular epithelioma. What, therefore, is the connection between Bowen's disease and cancer ? Connection between the Anatomy of Sphenoidal Sinuses and the etiology of Retro-bulbar Optic Neuritis.


The two-section rotor needs to go through multiple critical speeds in the process of speed increase. When the rotor approaches the critical speed, its amplitude increases rapidly, easily causing collision damage. The auxiliary over-critical device cushions and protects the rotor through rubbing, which makes it pass the critical speed under the safe amplitude. In this paper, the influence of buffer stroke, the key structural parameter of the auxiliary over-critical device, on the dynamic response of the two-section rotor at the first-order bending critical speed is analyzed, the influence of its buffer stroke on the over-critical dynamic response of the rotor is calculated and analyzed, and the impact and friction force on the rotor is calculated. The design principles and results of the buffer stroke parameters of the auxiliary supercritical device are proposed.


In 2010 there has been elaborated a law on certain measures in order to accelerate solving the trials. This law is called the Littler reform of Justice – Law 202/2010 it regulates and brings new measures in the Code of Civil Procedure, the Code of Criminal Procedure, amendaments of some Governmental Ordinances and also the Emergency Governmental Ordinances, but other laws, too. In art. II – Law no. 4/1953 – Family Code three articles have been modified and completed that i sart. 37, art. 38, and art. 39 some paragraphs being changed or other new one introduced. Shortly, it is about the possibility the spouses have to have their marriage dissolved by another means than the one known until now that is the court of law. The law maker has also introduced the possibility for the two spouses to get divorced at the Notary Public or at the registrar of the Civil Status.


Industries including BPO were at first somewhat slow in recognizing the significance of the demographic shift. Women made their way into the corporate workforce, but without priority of full development of their talents and rise for leadership positions. But in the past ten years, especially since 2003-2004, corporate interest has been changed about 'Gender – Diversity'. Initiatives are being taken which aimed at capitalization of 'Female Talent Pool' which is easily available and who are eager to accept the challenge. Globalization of economy have forced our corporate workforce to concern more in winning the 'War for talent' and India's educated professional women are a significant asset that should no longer be undervalued and under-utilized. This paper is based on findings from research studies on Indian BPO Industry. It provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities facing by professional women in India. Changing social expectations both at work and at home have made this more complex. Here discussion is about what changes are required to manage stress among women and what is being done to get the best practices for BPO industry in India. Paper highlights the coping strategies that can be selected to further continue corporate journey to gender inclusion and the advancement of women in the organizations


In this work we propose a parton state as a candidate state to describe the fractional quantum Hall effect in the half-filled Landau level. The wave function for this parton state is $\mathcal{P}_{\rm LLL} \Phi_{1}^3[\Phi_{2}^{*}]^{2}\sim\Psi^{2}_{2/3}/\Phi_{1}$ and in the spherical geometry it occurs at the anti-Pfaffian flux. It has a good overlap with the anti-Pfaffian state and with the second Landau level Coulomb state of ordinary semi-conductors such as GaAs. By calculating the entanglement spectrum we show that this state lies in the same phase as the anti-Pfaffian state. A major advantage of this parton state is that its wave function can be evaluated for large systems, which makes it amenable to variational calculations.


FX: Managing Global Currency Risk covers basic and advanced strategies for risk management and profit maximization in the global foreign exchange markets on both theoretical and practical levels. Topics include: plain vanilla and exotic hedging instruments; pricing of currency options; corporate risk management techniques; critical corporate accounting and tax issues; FX and global equity and fixed-income portfolios; currencies as asset classes; understanding overlay strategies; and pension funds and FX risk management.


We examined the impact of perceived workload and depressive symptoms on Rey-15 plus recognition (RMT) in ethnic minority participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

 The sample consisted of 63 healthy comparison [HC: 38 with ethnic minority status (EM) & 25 non-ethnic minority Caucasian (NEM)] participants and 40 persons with TBI (18 EM; 22 NEM). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure depressive symptoms (HADS-D) and the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA TLX) to measure perceived workload.

 ANCOVAs revealed that NEM outperformed EM on the RMT, p = 0.000, ηp2 = 0.37. TBI survivors reported higher levels of HADS-D compared to HC participants, p = 0.018, ηp2 = 0.06. Additionally, the EM group reported higher levels of frustration on the RMT compared to NEMs, p = 0.033, ηp2 = 0.05. Interactions emerged for physical demand where NEM participant's with TBI had higher ratings than EM participants with TBI. For HCs, the EM participants provided higher physical demand ratings than their NEM counterparts, p = 0.029, ηp2 = 0.05. Additionally, a significant relationship between HADS-D and RMT was observed in the healthy NEM participants (r = −0.558, p = 0.004) and NEM participants with TBI (r = −0.288, p = 0.080). Finally, significant relationships between HADS-D and mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, frustration, and overall subjective workload were observed in healthy EM participants, r = 0.342–0.431, p < 0.05.

 Consistent with previous research, TBI survivors reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, which were associated with RMT performances. Overall, our data suggest the relationship between perceived workload, depression, and performance is complex and that investigators should interpret performance validity scores in person with TBI, depression, and/or EM status with great care.


J UST HOW DOES ONE make an atomic pie? First, start thinking about how the nuclear age has colored modern culture. Then, take some oils and acrylics, add a little sculpture, mix in some mixed media-and voila! If you're like Robert Dohrmann, you've got "Atomic Pie"-a sizeable body of nuclear-related artwork. Dohrmann cooked up the idea for his multimedia project three years ago, when looking for a


A measurement of the muon angular distribution in Z boson decays in the Drell-Yan process is presented. The Z bosons are produced in pp collisions at √ s = 8 TeV and are decaying to μ+μ−. The results are based on data corresponding to a luminosity of 2 fb−1 collected by the LHCb detector at the CERN LHC in 2012. The study of the angular coefficients Ai=0,...,7 provides comprehensive information about the underlying QCD production mechanism of the Z boson. A measurement of the coefficients as a function of the transverse momentum is provided and compared to theoretical predictions and previous measurements from ATLAS and CMS. Acknowledgement I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Nicola Serra for the opportunity to write my bachelor thesis in the LHCb group and for the inspiring discussions at the beginning. I am especially grateful for the support of my supervisors Dr. Katharina Müller and Dr. Albert Puig. The numerous discussions were challenging but very informative and rewarding. A special thanks to them for offering so much time and expertise. Further I would like to thank Andreas Weiden and Jonas Eschle for their help.


Abstract We present a case of 30-year-old female with past medical history of Type 2 DM, Thyroid nodule and asymptomatic cholelithiasis who presented to ED with abdominal pain, vomiting and sinus tachycardia of 120's for past one day. She had generalized abdominal pain, not relieved by pain killers. Her lab test includes normal blood count, glucose 150mg/dl, anion gap of 20, metabolic acidosis. Her ultrasound abdomen showed cholelithiasis with no biliary sludge formation. Given her acidosis and severe abdominal pain she was started on Zosyn and underwent cholecystectomy. Her abdominal pain and sinus tachycardia did not resolve till day 3 of admission. Urine was positive for ketones. On chart review, it was found that she started taking sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT-2 inhibitor), Canagliflozin. She was given IV fluids and insulin. She improved and her tachycardia resolved. Euglycemic acidosis is a rare phenomenon but frequently misdiagnosed. This case emphasizes on importance of side effects of oral glucose lowering agents. SGLT-2 inhibitors can cause lipolysis and ketosis while maintaining euglycemia. Prompt clinical judgement is needed to prevent misdiagnosis. Also, patients should be educated about aggravating factors like stress, dehydration or other severe illnesses.


A t-test method was adopted to evaluate the similarity of chromatographic fingerprint of herbal medicine.The chromatographic data of Sanhuang tablets from six different manufacturers obtained by high performance liquid chromatography was used to verify the applicability of the method,and the technique of projection discriminance based on principal component analysis(PCA) was further applied to check up the feasibility of the method.The PCA scoring map showed that samples with no significant difference by t-test method were clustered into the same group,while samples with significant difference by t-test method were clustered into different groups,respectively.The result showed that the t-test method could reflect the similarity and difference among samples well.


Introduction: Day case Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) has been described in the literature as a safe and effective treatment for small volume prostates. Day case surgery for male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) confers significant financial benefits for hospital trusts due to enhanced tariffs. This study investigates the feasibility of performing day case HoLEP for any size prostate and any age of patient. Methods: Data was analysed for all patients listed as a day case HoLEP at a single centre over the first 26 months of a new day case service. Intraoperative details, complications, reasons for failed discharges and 6 month International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) were recorded. Comparison of complications and outcomes are compared with those in the published literature, and reasons for increased length of stay were investigated. Three year follow-up data was collected to determine later complications such as stricture formation and the need for additional surgery for bladder outflow obstruction. Results: 267 HoLEPs were performed, 76.7% were intended as day case procedures. Of intended day case patients, 82.9% (n=170) were discharged the same day. Complications were recorded in the immediate postoperative period in 9.41%, readmission rate was 2.94% and later complications in 4.11%. Median postoperative IPSS and QoL scores were 2 and 0 respectively. Conclusion: Day case HoLEP is a feasible and safe treatment regardless of age or prostate size. Complication and readmission rates compare favourably with those in the published literature. As day case HoLEP attract an enhanced tariff in addition to the benefits of a reduced length of hospital stay, developing a day case service with a dedicated patient pathway is appealing.


This paper provides insights into aspects of tempo and rhythmic elaboration in Hindustani music, based on a study of a large corpus of recorded performances. Typical tempo developments and stress patterns within a metrical cycle are computed, which we refer to as tempo and rhythm patterns, respectively. Rhythm patterns are obtained by aggregating spectral features over metrical cycles. They reflect percussion patterns that are frequent in the corpus, and enable a discussion of the relation between such patterns and the underlying metrical framework, the taal. Tempo patterns, on the other hand, are computed using reference beat annotations. They document the dynamic development of tempo throughout a metrical cycle, and reveal insights into the flexibility of time in Hindustani music for the first time using quantitative methods on a large set of performances. Focusing on aspects of tempo and rhythm, we demonstrate the value of a computational methodology for the analysis of large music corpora by revealing the range of tempi used in performances, intra-cycle tempo dynamics and percussion accents at different positions of the taal cycle.


Book synopsis: Developmental Psychopathology, Volume 3, Risk, Disorder, and Adaptation provides a life span developmental perspective on "high-risk" conditions and mental disorders. Moreover, it examines developmental pathways to resilient adaptation in the face of adversity.


The issues of European labour market (Eurostat, 2017) revealed, during last years, the need of public policies to support young adults' university-to-work transition. In detail, the category of employability, developed in Anglo-Saxon pedagogical literature at the end of 90's (Harvey, 1999; Yorke & Knight, 2006, has been recently assumed as a standpoint for the implementation of specific educational actions for the professional development. Based on this framework, the essay illustrates the state of art of an explorative research project aimed to investigate specific measures for the relationship between university and the world of work. The study of Career Services' best practices may identify some new patterns for the connection of didactics, research and third mission within the future trends of Higher Education.


Carbon-coated Ni3Sn2 nanoparticles uniformly embedded in two-dimensional porous carbon nanosheets (2D Ni3Sn2@C@PGC) as superior lithium ion battery anode material were fabricated by a facile and scalable method, which involves in situ synthesis of 2D Ni@C@PGC and chemical vapor transformation processes from 2D Ni@C@PGC to Ni3Sn2@C@PGC. With the assistance of a water-soluble cubic NaCl template, 2D Ni@C@PGC was firstly in situ synthesized on the surface of NaCl particles. After vapor transformation with SnCl2, the Ni@C@PGC nanosheets were converted to Ni3Sn2@C@PGC, in which uniform Ni3Sn2 nanoparticles coated with conformal graphitized carbon layers were homogeneously embedded in 2D high-conducting carbon nanosheets with a thickness of about 30 nm. This unique 2D dual encapsulation structure with high porosity, high electronic conductivity, outstanding mechanical flexibility and short lithium ion diffusion pathway is favorable for lithium insertion and extraction during deep charge–discharge processes. As a result, the electrode fabricated using 2D Ni3Sn2@C@PGC as the anode and a lithium plate as the cathode exhibits a high reversible capacity up to 585.3 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.2 C (1 C = 570 mA h g−1) after 100 cycles, a high rate capability (484, 424, 378, 314 and 188 mA h g−1 at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 C, respectively, 1 C = 570 mA h g−1), and superior cycling stability at a high rate (350.3 mA h g−1 at a rate of 1 C after 180 cycles).


This version of Microsoft Access is a revolu tionary new visual database designed to solve problems for a wide variety of uses. This book uses the tried and tested T each Yourself format, with carefully sequenced instructions '


With the Reform Opening-up,the popularization of Internet,the rise of non-governmental organizations,the vigorous development of autonomy at basic level,and the formation of public space on the Internet,the modern civil society has sprouted and developed.The growth of civil society helps to accelerate the construction of the harmonious society,the socialist market economy and the democratic system.Therefore,the CPPCC need to adapt itself to such situation,promote the development of social society through its pertinent self-reform,thus performing the role of bridge between the civil society,the government and the market.


ments as the plea for replacing &dquo;the present mollycoddling methods.&dquo; These and other of the doctor's opinions are bound to infuriate most of the correctional profession and the juvenile judiciary. They may see, about to slip from their grasp, the hand of the citizen reader whom they have been patiently and laboriously leading down the road toward understanding. ARMINÉ DIKIJIAN Librarian, NCCD Out of the Burning, Ira Henry Freeman. Pp. 256. New York, Crown, 1960, $3.95. &dquo;And ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning&dquo; (Amos 4:11) is the theme of Ira Freeman's skillfully written account of a juvenile gang leader. The firebrand is a Negro boy named Frenchy; the scene of the burning is the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn; the plucking took Frenchy to Warwick, the New York State Training School for Boys, where, under the wise guidance of Al Cohen and his staff, the boy developed from


Silicon nitride and zirconia were mixed with SiO2, MgO, Y2O3 as sintering additives and pressureless sintered at 1650℃ in N2 atmosphere for 2 h. The XRD results showed a-Si3N4 was partially transformed to b-Si3N4 with 3:3:5 weight ratio of SiO2 : MgO : Y2O3. However, at 5 wt% of ZrO2 addition promoted phase transformation of a-Si3N4 to b-Si3N4 while 35 wt% of ZrO2 completely transformed to b-Si3N4 phase. Si3N4 has a lower density than ZrO2, bulk density of samples increases in correlation with the amount of ZrO2. Because there was no difference in hardness and flexural strength between sintered Si3N4 samples with hardness of 13.41 GPa and 648.13 MPa along with increasing ZrO2 variation up to 55 wt%. Furthermore, with 75 wt% ZrO2, the hardness was reduced to 10.57 GPa and the flexural strength decreased to 208.16 MPa. SEM images of Si3N4 samples demonstrated the dense microstructure and 5 wt% ZrO2 showed homogeneous ZrO2 distributed among the Si3N4 grains. As a result, the hexagonal rod-like form of b-Si3N4 is clearly visible in 75 wt% ZrO2. Therefore, Si3N4 with ZrO2 can be sintered with the homogeneous microstructure of the a-Si3N4 to b-Si3N4 transformation and tolerable mechanical properties vary with ZrO2 content.


There are various methods for the identification of duplicate records. Besides the importance of methods quality, the choice of similarity measures is very important for data comparison used in those methods. There are four kinds of similarity measures tested and analysed in this paper to identify duplicate records in relational databases. On the basis of the obtained results, the paper gives conclusions with recommendations for further research in this area.


Basic situation of the current ecological environment construction in land consolidation and rehabilitation of China is introduced. The related advanced experience abroad is summarized from mainly four aspects, namely policy, system as well as subject development, planning guidance, design method of project planning and engineering study, and practical countermeasures to China's ecological environment construction in land reclamation are proposed. In terms of policy, system and subject, relevant regulations, policies and system construction should be strengthened and the framework of policy, system and subject development in ecological landscape construction of China's land reclamation should be proposed, integrating ecological environment construction into land reclamation. At the level of strategic planning, the spatial layout and construction key points of green infrastructure in land reclamation of "urban multi-functional developing region, eastern economic developed region, central modern agricultural region and northwestern ecological fragile region" should be achieved. At the level of project planning design, ecological principles, sustainable landscape design principles and vernacular landscape design methods are to be integrated into the planning procedure to form operable technique regulations or introductions. At the level of engineering design, engineering technique system, standards and regulations of ditches, roads, forests and channels with local distinctions should be formulated according to the characters and strategic demands of urbanization, industrialization, agriculture modernization and ecological environment preservation in different regions.


Data mining has attracted a lot of attention in recent years, but there has been proportionately little attention paid to the contribution data visualisation could make. Checking data quality, monitoring analyses, interpreting and comparing results are all areas in which modern graphics tools have a role to play. Some existing graphical displays can be scaled up successfully, some new displays will be needed, but all should be directly interactive. This paper outlines the key ideas of direct manipulation graphics for data visualisation and describes the contribution they can make to all stages of the data mining process.


Results with Carbamates Alone.-Tests were conducted over a period of several months; therefore, all the carbamates were not tested against the same lots of house flies. The results are comparable, however, since the pyrethrins standard tested on each lot indicated very similar susceptibilities fOl'all the lots of flies used. The average kills obtained with the 0..2, 0..4, and 0..8% concentrations of pyrethrins were 27, 64, and 91%, respectively. Dimetilan and MC-A 60.0., the most effective compounds tested, caused 50% and 52% kills, respectively, at the lowest concentration tested, 0..0.156% (Table I). Bayer 37344 and Bayer 390.0.7. next in effectiveness, resulted in approximately 50.% kills at the 0..0.625% concentration. Carbaryl, dime tan, and UC-2DD47resulted in less than 50% kills at the I % concentration. In knockdown, Hercules 7522-H was only slightly effective and carbaryl was inelEective at the 0..25% concentration. All the other materials caused very high or complete knockdowns. Results with Cm'barnates plus PiJJeronyl Btltoxide.The concentration causing approximately 50% kill for each carbamate alone (Table I) was selected for use to determine synergism with piperonyl butoxide. However, with carbaryl, dimetan, and UC-2o.o.47the 1% concentration, which caused less than 50.% kill, was used. The ratios of carbamate and synergist tested for each material were 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2. Each carbamate was retested alone at the concentration empIoycd in the synergist mixtures. The average kills obtained with the 0..2, 0..4, and 0..8% concentrations of pyrethrins standards were 27, Go.. and 87%, respectively. Carbaryl at I % concentration, although quite ineffecti\'e alone, was highly synergized by piperonyl butoxide (Table 2). The 4: I ratio of carbaryl to synergist was less effective than the other ratios; but the I: I and 1:2 ratios caused kills in the range of effectiveness of the 0..8% pyrethrins standard. Synergism was shown with !Solan, but in this series of tests !solan alone was much less effective than when it was tested alone in the 1st series (Table I). Hercules 5727 and Bayer 39007 were only slightly synergized at the 1:2 ratio of carbamate and synergist. All the carbamate-piperonyl butoxide sprays caused high knockdowns except those with dimetifan. Hercules 7522-H, and UC-20o.47. None of the other compounds tested caused synergism. Antagonism was indicated in the tests with dimetilan, C;eigy 35234, HerCtl1cs 7fiZZ,H, and Mobil MC-A 600..


In the mid-1980s, environmental activism began to change character in Sweden, as was the case in Germany, the Netherlands, and the other Scandinavian countries, as well (cf. Rootes ed 1999). New "discourses" – sustainable development, and eventually ecological modernization – started to be articulated and gain adherents; and the oppositional practices which had characterized so much of the activism up till then gradually gave way to the more complicated and constructive work of cultivating, or nurturing, the seeds that had been planted (Hajer 1995). What, for a brief period in the 1970s, could be characterized as an alternative political force, with activists envisioning a utopian ecological society, and protesting against projects – particularly nuclear energy that were deemed to be inappropriate in such a not-yet-existent place, began to seep into the established societal institutions (see Eder 1996; Jamison; van der Heiden 1997).


The properties of canine parvovirus (CPV) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) were compared by means of physicochemical treatments, biological tests, and experimental infection of domestic dogs and cats or specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats. No distinct difference between CPV and FPLV was observed in their physicochemical properties. The difference between CPV and FPLV in range of host cells and in hemagglutination could be confirmed in this study. Moreover, CPV was inactivated by heating at 80°C for one hour as compared to the inactivation of FPLV at 80°C for 2 hours. The physical map of CPV differed from that of FPLV at both ends of DNA digested with Bgl II and Hind III, though the 2 fragments in central part were common to the viruses. Experimental infection of domestic dogs with CPV or FPLV and domestic cats with CPV produced clinical signs of the disease, while the CPV-inoculated SPF cats did not show any symptoms. However, all the experimental animals, with or without clinical signs, produced hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies to the virus.


The Conventional Organic Origin of Hydrocarbons Traditionally coal, oil and gas, are considered to be biogenic in their origin. However it is acknowledged that the processes by which fossil fuels evidently formed are not totally understood. Coal and gas are thought to originate from the organic matter of dead plants (ferns, trees, grasses and phytoplankton), and oil from dead animal matter (mainly zooplankton). In this context the plants and animals from which fossil fuels were formed, lived and died 300-400 m.y.a. in primordial swamps for coal and gas, and oceans for oil, where stagnant water prevented the oxidation and total decomposition of organic matter. Assuming prevailing anoxic conditions and a depositional basin setting it is then thought that continual deposition and subsequent burial provided pressure and exposed the confined organic matter to high temperatures. For example, terrestrial plant material on the bottom of swamps was compacted into peat, and finally into anthracite by compaction to 10% of the original volume of the peat, and heating to ~200 o C. Bacteria attacked the cellulose in the plant and phytoplankton cell walls leading to significant biodegradation and producing methane gas. In the final conventional stage many of the seas receded and left dry land with coal, oil and gas buried underneath it.