Abstract This paper addresses the problem of speaker diarization inthe specific context of meeting room recordings which of-ten involve a high degree of spontaneous speech with largeoverlapped speech segments, speaker noise (laughs, whispers,coughs, etc.) and very short speaker turns. A large variabilityin signal quality has brought an additional level of complexity.This paper investigates the effects of speech activity detectionand overlapped speech through speaker diarization experimentsconducted on the NIST RT'05 and RT'06 data sets. Resultsindicate that our system is highly sensitive to the shape of theinitial segmentation and that, perhaps surprisingly, perfect ref-erences can even degrade performance. Finally we propose adirection for future research to incorporate confidence valuesaccording to acoustic attributes in order to unify what is cur-rently a somewhat disjointed approach to speaker diarization. Index Terms : speaker diarization, meeting room, speech activ-ity detection, overlapped speech.


This research is motivated by the facts found in the field that there are still many teachers who do not master teaching skills, especially skills in carrying out a variety of learning methods, so the researcher intends to discuss teacher problems or obstacles in carrying out various methods in teaching and learning activities and what efforts teachers can make in conducted a variety of methods in elementary schools, especially grade 3. Based on the research that had been conducted by the researchers through a qualitative descriptive research method with the research subject being class III teachers at SDN A and class V teachers at SDN B in Bandung City, various teacher problems were found in carrying out variations on learning methods. These obstacles are: (1) not all students can follow the teacher's learning strategies and methods; (2) the teacher's busyness in several activities; (3) the teacher's lack of knowledge regarding the selection of appropriate methods and strategies for students; (4) as well as the lack of facilities and infrastructure in schools.


This paper proposes a new approach for clustering English text documents, based on finding the pair wise correlation of documents in a given set of text documents. The correlation coefficient for each pair of documents is calculated on the basis of ranks given to the words in the documents. The ranking of the words occurring in a document is computed on the basis of weights of the words calculated according to the conventional TF-IDF factor. The proposed method is found to be able to cluster a given set of text documents into a number of classes depending on their contents where the number of classes is not known a priori. It is revealed from experimental results that the proposed method of text categorization using correlation coefficient performs better than some of the other text categorization methods, including methods that use artificial neural network.


In this paper, we present the properties of 10 halo globular c lusters with luminositiesL ≃ 5−7×10L⊙ in the Local Group galaxy M33 using the images of Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 in the F555W and F814W bands. We obtained ellipticities, position angles and surface brightness profiles for them. In general, the ellipticities of M33 sample clusters are sim ilar to those of M31 clusters. The structural and dynamical parameters are derived by fitting the profiles to th ree di fferent models combined with mass-to-light ratios (M/L values) from population-synthesis models. The structural parameters include core radii, concentration, half-light radii and central surface brightness. The dynamical parameters include the integrated cluster mass, integrated binding energy, central surface mass dens ity a d predicted line-of-sight velocity dispersion at the cluster center. The velocity dispersions of four cluste rs predicted here agree well with the observed dispersions by Larsen et al. The results here showed that the majori ty of the sample halo globular clusters are well fitted by King model as well as by Wilson model, and better than by Sérsic model. In general, the properties of clusters in M33, M31 and the Milky Way fall in the same regions f parameter spaces. The tight correlations of cluster properties indicate a "fundamental plane" for clus ters, which reflects some universal physical conditions and processes operating at the epoch of cluster formation. Subject headings: galaxies: individual (M33) – galaxies: star clusters: gene ral – galaxies: stellar content


Contact allergy to aluminium has been reported more frequently in recent years. It has been pointed out that positive patch test reactions to aluminium may not be reproducible on retesting.


The title compound, C11H23NO5P+·I−, consists of an eight-membered cationic heterocyclic ring in a boat–chair conformation. The ring features a tetraalkylammonium N and a methylphosphonate P atom. A –CH2(CO)OC2H5 ester side chain at the C adjacent to oxygen produces two chiral centers at that substituted C atom and the P atom, both of which were determined to have absolute R,R configurations. A previously determined racemic bromide analog has exactly the same ring but with a –C15H31 side chain. In that structure, both chiral centers show the same relative R/S,R/S configurations, but the ring in the bromide analog is in a boat conformation.


UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods have been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of remdesivir in pharmaceutical formulations. The HPLC analyzes have been performed on a C-18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 20 mM KH2PO4 solution and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v), at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min−1. UV spectrum has been recorded between 200 and 800 nm using deionized water as solvent and the wavelength of 247 nm has been selected. These methods have been validated according to the procedures described in ICH guidelines Q2(R1). Both methods demonstrated good linearity, precision and recovery. No spectral and chromatographic interferences from non-medicinal ingredients were found in both methods. Correlation coefficients were greater than 0.999 within a concentration range of 10–60 mg mL−1. Therefore both analytical methods gave the most reliable results for the quantification of remdesivir in pharmaceutical formulation.


Although when participating in the study adults have the very big superiority,they also have the certain inferiority: physiological function aging;memory function barrier;the deviation in cognition;anxious mood is liable to take place in study;many kinds of social factors disturbance;,etc.Therefore,we should understand the inferiority aspects of the study of adults,and takes the prompt effective countermeasure to help adults to enhance strong points and avoid weaknesses and to overcome their inferiority.It has the extremely profound significance.


Characterizing all graphs having a certain locating-chromatic number is not an easy task. In this paper, we are going to pay attention on finding all unicyclic graphs of order n (⩾ 6) and having locating-chromatic number n-3.


Objectives We aimed to assess the potential role of serum proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM), in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Patients and methods Pro-ADM level was assessed in 100 neonates, 50 patients with neonatal sepsis (cases), and another 50 healthy controls. Neonatal sepsis was assessed using the clinical and hematological sepsis scores plus C-reactive protein, and the diagnosis was confirmed by blood culture. Results Pro-ADM and C-reactive protein were significantly higher, P value less than 0.001, in septic neonates rather than in controls. Pro-ADM levels had a powerful discrimination ability to early differentiate neonates with sepsis, at the cutoff-point value of 145 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% and area under the curve of 1. Conclusion Our study supports the association of neonatal sepsis and the early elevation of serum pro-ADM, which would help in early diagnosis and early initiation of appropriate therapy.


Seven concrete beams reinforced internally with varying amounts of steel and externally with precured carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plates applied after the concrete had cracked under service loads were tested under four-point bending. Strains measured along the beam depth allowed computation of the beam curvature in the constant moment region. Results show that FRP is very effective for flexural strengthening. As the amount of steel increases, the additional strength provided by the carbon FRP plates decreases. Compared to a beam reinforced heavily with steel only, beams reinforced with both steel and carbon have adequate deformation capacity, in spite of their brittle mode of failure. Clamping or wrapping of the ends of the precured FRP plate enhances the capacity of adhesively bonded FRP anchorage. Design equations for anchorage, allowable stress, ductility, and amount of reinforcement are discussed.


The article aims to analyze the ways in which Larissa Lai, in her short story Rachel, appropriates and racializes the figure of the cyborg by re-visioning and retelling the story of one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema, the android Rachael from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (and, by extension, her literary predecessor).

Using postcolonial theory as well as theory of science fiction as the primary methodological frameworks, the article demonstrates how – by infusing the character of Rachael/Rachel with a hybrid identity – Lai engages in a discussion concerning race, belonging, and the power struggle between the central and the peripheral. This struggle, in turn, is embodied by the liminality of the cyborg, who may be interpreted as a metaphor for all that eludes (and actively rejects) the colonial Self–Other binary. This, in turn, highlights the tensions accompanying the intrusion of the peripheral into the hegemonic and allows for a more in-depth discussion of the processes concerning negotiation of identity.

Moreover, the paper focuses on the way in which Lai constructs the metaphor of the Othered, racialized cyborg in order to deconstruct the notion of the cyborg perceived as a neutral (i.e. white) entity, writing against the hegemonic canon. In this way, the racialized cyborg stands as the symbol of transgression, rebellion and rejection of the center/periphery dichotomy, one which eschews the (neo)colonial binaries and becomes a source of anxiety for the hegemonic discourse.


South African municipalities are faced with the challenges of growing demand for services. This study models the energy consumption estimation practice within the Durban municipal area. It was found that an estimation technique that accounts for the seasonal and monthly effects, as well as residential type, predicts monthly individual household electricity consumption with minimum error. Models that were developed may be used to estimate electricity consumption for household billings within a municipality.


Having had the privilege of visiting British military healthcare staff in Afghanistan, I would like to pay tribute to the excellent work they are doing in a challenging environment.


The present invention relates to a heterocyclic compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of formula (I): [Formula I] And (wherein, R 3 can form a heterocyclic ring or a substituted heterocyclic ring together with R 1 via the nitrogen atom), [wherein, X is a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, -NR 3 And R 1 is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a heterocyclic group or substituted heterocyclic group, and R 2 is a hydrogen atom, etc., a halogen atom]; And Compound (I), or relates to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to interferon inducing agent, a therapeutic agent of the antibacterial agents, anticancer agents and immunogenic diseases containing as an active ingredient. Heterocyclic compounds, synthesis, inducing activity of interferon


Objective To investigate the application and effects of moist therapy in nursing care of bedsore.MethodsIn the control group,forty five inhospital patients before Feb.2006 received daubing over the wound surface with iodine tincture and infrared irradiation to keep the surface drying and clean together with the routine nursing care including the using of turning over mattress,keeping skin and strengthening nutritional support.In the observation group,forty five patients after Mar.2006 received Comfeel ulcer powder based on the routine care.The course of treatment was 14 days in both groups.The wound healing rate,effective rate and curative time were recorded and analyzed statistically.ResultsIn the observation group,the curative time was short,the wound healing rate and effective rate were high,there was statistical difference between both groups(P0.05).ConclusionThe curative effect of moist therapy was stable for bedsore with a short treatment course and worthy to be generalized in clinic.


Perinatal mortality includes both fetal demises (stillbirths) and deaths in the first week of life. Worldwide, there are over 6.3 million perinatal deaths a year, almost all of which occur in developing countries (1). Stillbirths and neonatal deaths have many common determinants, such as maternal diseases, adverse prenatal exposure, inadequate care or complications during pregnancy and delivery, and genetic mutations. The first few hours of postnatal life are also particularly sensitive, as this is a critical time for a successful transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life wherein newborns are less responsive and more vulnerable to stressors. In case of sudden perinatal death, an important first step is the post-mortem examination since it can reveal the pathology underlying the possible causes of this inauspicious event (2). However, no unique etiology can be determined in most preand post-natal deaths, even after accurate autopsy investigations. Detailed examination of the autonomic nervous system can often reveal subtle developmental alterations, potentially providing a plausible explanation for sudden death (3, 4). Other neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by profound dysautonomia caused by single gene mutations may also lead to sudden unexplained death in perinatal life and infancy. Some of these syndromes are also thought to involve a state of "immaturity" of autonomic control systems. They include Rett syndrome, Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder, Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), and GRIN1-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (5–9). The primary rationale for this Research Topic has been to advance the state of knowledge and expertise for investigating the neuropathology of unexplained perinatal deaths and, in particular:


The comparative research on the problems of bad performance of convergence and low accuracy of sensorless control in standstill and near-zero speed region was carried on.Although,sensorless control with high fre-quency signal injection(HFSI) can be independent of parameters of motors and achieve high performance speed con-trol with vector control scheme,it depends on some complicated digital filters to achieve signal identification and also the high frequency signals injected in motors can arouse boring vibration and acoustic noise.In contrast,a novel open-loop sensorless control scheme was proposed with the advantages of simple structure,without complicated filters,inde-pendent of parameters and salient effect and can also achieve self-regulation according to the load conditions.The disadvantage of open-loop control is the problem of speed oscillation with large transient load.For this reason,the selection of control scheme in near-zero speed region needs to be based on the consideration of performance require-ment and cost of control system.


Clinical information from Abbott Laboratories, Merck, Hoffman-LaRoche, and Agouron is provided on the following protease inhibitors: ritonavir, indinavir sulfate (Crixivan), saquinavir, and Viracept. Overall, the research presented suggests that higher doses of these drugs, and combinations with nucleoside analogs, appear to produce more potent and durable antiviral effects than seen in earlier protease inhibitor studies. An update is included on protease inhibitor compassionate use programs on indinavir, saquinavir, and Viracept; as well as a list of protease drug interactions for ritonavir and indinavir.


More than 150 years ago, Eberle described bronchiolitis in infancy: the disease "commences with cough and breathing [and] soon becomes laborious and wheezing.... The cough is at first dry, attended with a wheezing sound in the chest; but towards the termination of the complaint it frequently becomes humid and rattling" (p. 222) [1]. This descriptive portrayal of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis remains accurate today. RSV epidemics continue to be characterized by lower respiratory tract disease in young infants, sleepless anxiety in parents, and increased workloads for medical personnel. It is now recognized that RSV is the major cause of respiratory tract disease in infants worldwide [2] and that infection with this virus consistently results in the increased use of health-care resources, including visits to physicians and the occupancy of hospital beds [3]. The importance of RSV in causing disease and morbidity in adults-part cularly in the debilitated and elderly-is also now appreciated [4]. It is known that, to prevent severe disease in infants, high levels of RSV-specific antibody can be administered as a monthly injection [5], but the costs of this antibody prophylaxis force health-care providers to make difficult choices when confronted by both expanding populations of high-risk infants and limited budgets. The seriousness and ubiquity of RSV disease was recognized and characterized by astute clinicians and researchers beginning in the late 1950s [6], although histologically confirmed disease from a 1937 outbreak was described as early as 1941 by Adams (figure 1) [7]. Propagation of the viral agent, obtained from infants with bronchiolitis, was reported from Chanock's laboratory at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1957 [8], and RSV vaccine development began shortly after this time. This laboratory confirmed that this virus was the causal agent of "chimpanzee coryza," described a year earlier by Morris et al. [9]. By 1969, it was stated with confidence that "RS virus has been


Modern public construction projects involve multiple stakeholders, such as designers, contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, consultants, and specialists from different disciplines. In a multi-agency work environment, it is natural to have clash of objectives and interests among the different stakeholders. The objective of public project management is to ensure the success of a project which not only involves managing the schedule, cost, and quality, generally known as 'the iron triangle', but also satisfying a number of other performance criteria, such as avoiding disputes, and complying with safety norms. Identification of the success factors is considered the key to achieving success in these projects. Through an extensive literature review, 36 success factors were identified and a questionnaire-based survey was undertaken to elicit views of construction professionals on the criticality of these factors for the success of public construction projects. The responses from 105 professionals with an average of 22 years of experience in public construction projects in India were collected and analyzed using ANOVA and most important factors for success for various success criteria are presented. The success factors of generic nature are: owners need thoroughly understood and defined, a high degree of trust shared by project participants, timely and valuable decision from top management, availability of resources as planned throughout the project, top management's support, and regular monitoring and feedback by top management, whereas success factors of specific nature are: thorough understanding of scope on the part of project manager and contractor, comprehensive pretender site investigation, regular monitoring and feedback by owner, no bureaucratic interference, no social and political interference, clearly articulated scope of work, quality control and quality assurance activities, and adequate communication among all project participants. The results would be helpful to public construction project professionals in taking proactive measures for successful completion of public projects.


Ethanol production process by solid fermentation of sweet sorghum stalk was as follows: partial heated sweet sorghum stalks after grinding mixed with the unheated, when the temperature of the stalks reached up to 20 ℃, inoculation and pit entry fermentation operated, after 4~5 d fermentation, the temperature rose from 18 ℃ to about 40 ℃, the utilization rate of sugar reached 47.6 %, the alcoholicity reached its maximum as 73 % after the distillation, and the average alcoholicity and ethanol yield were 59 % and 48.4 kg/t respectively.


The experience of the world economy confirms that the rational use of fuel resources is the key to the sustainable economy development and indicates the proper progress level of positive processes in the country. One of the important issues of the energy policy of Ukraine is the economical use of energy resources. One of the main parameters of the comfort ensuring in the production room microclimate is the temperature of the air, therefore, the achievement of the uniformity of its distribution is paid special attention during the study. An effective way to ensure the temperature regime in the production room is the use of infra-red heaters. At the same time, it is important to consider complex heating and ventilation systems in order to ensure the regulatory parameters of the microclimate. The presented studies concerned the determination of such factors influence as the speed of air flow, the power of the infra-red heater, the degree of blackness of the enclosing structures, etc. on the temperature regime in the working area of the production room. The study of the geometry of heat distribution was carried out with the help of the latest computer-integrated simulation technologies. The results of scientific research can be used at the stage of designing buildings and structures of industrial purpose using energy saving systems, which include the radiation component of infrared heating.


Experimental validation of innovative design of anchor blocks for post-tensioning tendons was carried out. The tested specimens were made of UHPFRC, namely Ductal®-FM for 9 blocks and BSI® for 3 other blocks, and did not contain any passive reinforcement normally provided for confining concrete submitted to localized compression, and preventing bursting. They were dedicated to 4T15S, 7T15S and 12T15S pre-stressing units. Splitting in the middle of block sides, leading to sub-vertical cracks, appears as the dominant critical mechanism. Depending on lateral dimensions of UHPFRC around the reservation, and possible size effects concerning this zone submitted to intense tensile stresses, the maximum load has been obtained from 1,2 to 2,2 times the ultimate force of the tendons Fprg, with a typical scatter about ± 10 %. While refinements remain possible for optimizing the safety margin depending on project requirements, obtained results validate the innovative (reinforcement-free) design and typical dimensions of these UHPFRC anchor blocks. 2 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM


Many West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) that strand along the northeast Brazilian coast are calves, which are often rescued and carried to the Peixe-Boi Project rehabilitation facilities in Itamaraca, Pernambuco State where they are prepared to reintroduction. During the ten years period of October 1994 to December 2004, thirteen captive manatees were radio tagged, released and tracked in three main northeast coastal areas as part of the Brazilian Manatee Reintroduction Program. All individuals were monitored locally with VHF transmitters, during brief periods, four were also tracked remotely with satellite-monitored radio tags. Five manatees (39.5%) had long-term tracks over 14 months or 420 days (Total= 10166 days; Maximum=2663 days; Mean=2031 days; SD=1572 days) that met criteria for inclusion in analyses of spatial and seasonal movement patterns. Manatees were tracked from Praia do Forte, Bahia (12.538oS/38.474oW) to Macau, Rio Grande do Norte (5.084oS/36.682oW), covering around 1200 km and six states along the northeast coast. Three manatees occupied large home ranges, with each containing a few sites of high fidelity where they spent considerable time, while two used restrict home range having only one site with high fidelity. Others two manatees not showed movements along coast and occupied a restrict area like their fidelity site. Two manatees with short tracking histories showed visible weight loss soon after release and were re-captured after having moved long distances, including offshore movements into deep waters. The high rate of survival for released manatees, their adaptation to areas within the former range of wild manatees, and birth of a calf to a released captive manatee are indicators of the success of the Brazilian Manatee Reintroduction Program.


Software architecture is the process of planning and designing a large-scale software, and a fundamental industrial discipline within the field of software engineering. The current body of knowledge in software architecture is a mixture of personal experience and precise methods. In this paper we move a step towards the formalization of this discipline by describing some optimization problems that arise in the field.


OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of SphK1on Human gastric cancer development and angiogenesis,and explore its possible mechanisms.METHODS:Human SGC7901carcinoma cells were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice to develop the tumor model of human gastric cancer carcinoma.The tumor-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into 4groups:normal saline control group,DDP group,SKI-Ⅱgroup,SKI-Ⅱdouble DDP group.All rats were given intraperitoneal injection of drugs once a week for three weeks.The tumor mass volume was observed every 3days and the inhibition rate of tumor growth were also calculated.The tumor sizes were measured for tumor growth curve.All rat's bodyweight change before and after treatment were observed.Western Blot was used to detect the expression of SphK1, VEGF.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of SphK1,VEGF and CD34,and MVD was coun- ted.RESULTS:Compared to the normal saline control group,all treatment groups inhibited the growth of xenografted gas- tric carcinoma inordinately.The inhibition of SKI-Ⅱ group and DDP group was(48.69±1.39)%,(75.24±1.19)%,re- spectively.The inhibition of SKI-Ⅱ combined with DDP group was quite obvious,inhibition rate for xenografts reached(90.25±1.53)%.There was significant difference between each treatment group(F=1865,P0.001).The result of immunohistochemical showed that after being treated with the SKI-Ⅱ or SKI-Ⅱ double DDP,expression of SphK1 〔(45.62±7.54)%,(20.50±5.96)%〕,VEGF〔(45.38±7.82)%,(22.25±4.74)%〕,MVD(15.12±1.55,9.38±1.92) were decreased significantly comparing with those in controls(P0.001),respectively.The expression of SphK1(82.50± 5.95)%,VEGF(83.25±4.40)%and MVD(24.50±5.42)were not different in DDP group(P0.05).Pearson correla- tion analysis showed that there were significant correlation between SphK1and VEGF(r=0.968,P0.001),VEGF and MVD(r=0.862,P0.001).The results of Western Blot showed that after treated with the SKI-Ⅱ or SKI-Ⅱ double DDP,expression of SphK1,VEGF were decreased significantly comparing with that in controls(P0.001),respectively. There was no differences in DDP group(Pvalues were 0.083and 0.165).CONCLUSIONS:Down-regulates SphK1can re- duce VEGF proteins.The inhibition of tumor angiogenesis may be one of the way to inhibit nude mouse gastric cancer xen- ografted growth.


This item is a postcard sent to R Gass in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia from a sender in Truro, Nova Scotia. The image on the front of the postcard is of walkways in Victoria Park in Truro, Nova Scotia.


The attractive aspects of fuels cells for replacement of batteries in lightweight applications are offset by the need to efficiently produce a hydrogen feed stream on demand. Hydrogen is itself impractical for storage and hydrocarbon fuels provide the highest density form of hydrogen storage when taking into account both weight and volume. Currently, traditional catalytic processes are used for conversion, but limitations such as poisoning, coarsening, long start up time and excessive costs have made them impractical for portable systems [1-3]. To circumvent these issues we are pursuing a catalyst-free approach based on non-thermal microplasmas for hydrocarbon reforming. In portable power sources for military systems, batteries have become the greatest weight burden for the individual soldier and the production demands to supply these batteries cannot always be met [4]. Reforming Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8) logistical fuel with microplasmas could facilitate a long-life, efficient, portable, reusable "fuel processor-fuel cell" system, reducing the dependence on battery technology in the military. Summary of Research: Plasmas confined in microscale geometry take on desirable attributes relative to the possibility of chemical processing. So called microplasmas have extremely high ion, electron and radical densities (≈ 1015 cm-3 vs. ≈ 1011 cm-3 in a "high-density" plasma etching system) and ultra high power densities (106 W/cm3, as measured in our lab, vs. 1 to 100 W/cm3 for wafer processing systems). These conditions are achieved with total power dissipations only on the order of 1 W. In addition, the microplasma devices are inherently compact, and operate at atmospheric pressure, obviating the need for vacuum pumps and requiring only simple system architecture. The devices being fabricated in this project are known as microhollow hollow cathode discharge reactors based on the formation of a high aspect ratio cavity in the silicon cathode formed by deep reactive ion etching. First generation devices were initially produced at CNF in spring of 2007. These devices were used to test plasma characteristics for a variety of gas species Figure 1: Image of individual chip. Top is sealed with anodically-bonded glass cover piece; oblong openings in glass permit electrical connections to chip. Backside vias (not visible) connect microfluidic inlet and outlet streams to the channel where plasma is formed. Overall chip size is 2.40 cm by 0.80 cm. including nitrogen, neon, xenon and butane. The device structure included open channels of various geometries to investigate the basic ability to sustain a stable plasma under desirable conditions. Through a series of atmospheric-pressure microplasma experiments incorporating volatile hydrocarbon species, we have established reproducible plasma operating conditions for a variety of device geometries. These results have led to a next-generation microplasma reactor


The zooplanktonic community of the Nam Theun 2 Reservoir, newly impounded, located in Lao PDR was monitored from 2009 to 2013. Five sampling stations distributed on the surface of the reservoir were sampled on a monthly basis. Results were interpreted to assess the spatial and temporal variability of the communities and to identify environmental factors such as physical or water chemical parameters influencing communities. The zooplanktonic community was dominated by Copepods over the study period and was characterized by low densities and biomasses reflecting low productivity conditions. The spatial heterogeneity of the zooplanktonic community observed along a longitudinal gradient disappeared rapidly after the beginning of the operational phase in 2010 and tended to stabilize. The results also highlighted a seasonal variability explained by a phytoplankton-based food chain. Zooplankton communities were significantly and negatively driven by hydraulic factors, such as the mixing period, or water quality factors, such as water temperature or the depth of the oxycline. This zooplankton community must be evaluated in order to anticipate the food availability for zooplanktivorous fish before developing a fish management plan.


We propose a new theoretical model for the light‐induced migration of charges which mediates the ''photorefractive effect'' (light‐induced refractive index change) in barium titanate and other crystals. We also present experimental results of various effects of this light‐induced charge migration in a single‐domain crystal of barium titanate, specifically, (1) energy transfer between two intersecting optical beams, (2) optical four‐wave mixing and optical‐beam phase conjugation, (3) erasure of spatial patterns of photorefractive index variations, and (4) photoconductivity. The theoretical model predicts the observed dependences of these effects on (1) beam intensities, directions, and polarizations, (2) crystal orientation, and (3) on an externally applied dc electric field. Time dependences of transients as well as steady‐state magnitudes are predicted. In this model, identical charges migrate by hopping between adjacent sites, with a hopping rate proportional to the total light intensity at the starting...


"Objective – The purposes of this research were to examine and study political communication factors affecting university students' political participation. Methodology/Technique – The population was 2,613 university students from all over Thailand. Quantitative methodology was applied to survey students' opinions. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation and factor analysis. The factors affecting political participation were analyzed and used to find an effective strategy to promote political participation. Findings – The research results showed that the factors affecting knowledge building in politics were family, university and classmates. Students' political decision making was based on their role models, e.g. idols, actors and musicians. The students did not agree with vote buying; however, they could not stop family or community leaders from doing it because of the seniority-based culture. Novelty – The results provide suggested guidelines for developing students' political participation."


The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of body composition and health fitness of college students participated in sports activity classes on mental health. Research subjects were 109 students in 'G' university of Gwangju Area who have take a sports activity classes. They were divided into two types of groups; male group(n=54) and female group(n=55). Observation variable was test in one time, body composition test was body weight, lean body mass, body fat percent, waist hip ration(WHR), and BMI. Health fitness test was muscle strength, muscle endurance, cardio-respiratory fitness, and flexibility. Mental health test was somatization, obsessive compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoia, psychoticism. Independent-samples t-test, and regression analysis were used for analyzing the data. Results found from such a comparative analysis study were as follows; Firstly, between the group of body composition and health fitness were showed statistically significant difference to the exclusion of cardio-respiratory fitness(p〈.05, p〈.001), between the group of mental health wasn't showed statistically significant difference. Secondly, body composition and health fitness were showed a statistically significant difference to the exclusion of body weight by pre and post test(p〈.05, p〈.001), mental health was showed statistically significant difference by pre and post test(p〈.05, p〈.001), mental health was showed statistically significant difference by pre and post test(p〈.001). Thirdly, interaction effect of the lean body mass(p〈.05), WHR(p〈.05), muscle strength(p〈.001), somatization(p〈.05), interpersonal sensitivity(p〈.05) was showed a statistically significant difference. Fourthly, body fat percent and WHR are influenced positively on mental health. However, cardio-respiratory fitness, and flexibility are influenced negatively. In conclusion, it could be to investigate the effects of body composition and health fitness of students participated in sports activity classes on mental health.


anywhere from 200 to 2,000 /tAmps to elicit eye movement. This means considerable current spread, so that we could be stimulating the fibers of the underlying white matter, some of which may be quite remote in terms of retinal topography. DAW: Did you look for visual receptive fields in the frontal eye fields? SCHILLER: Yes we have, but only in one animal so far, in which we studied about 50 units. We did not find any visual receptive fields for these cells. ROBINSON: The lack of smooth pursuit movements with punctate stimulation doesn't mean that they are not in a structure there. The use of more refined electrical stimuli might bring them out. SCHILLER: YOU are quite right. Matter of fact, on the basis of our single unit work we gained the impression that the eye movement cells in the anterior tip of the colliculus discharged not only in association with small saccades but also in association with certain pursuit movements. So we fully expected that when stimulating in this region with continuously varied frequencies we might get pursuit. This seemed to work sometimes in the dark, but I am not really convinced. It is clear, however, that in the light we never succeeded in eliciting smooth pursuit eye movement.


Two different types of planar nano-scale (4–5 nm) field emitters, bowtie and diode devices, were characterized for use as electron sources for vacuum nano-transistors. I-V measurements were performed before and after Ultra-violet (UV) light exposure. Experiments showed that the field emission current was $\approx 2.7 \text{nA}$ before the UV exposure and was $\approx 1.8\text{nA}$ after the exposure for the bow-die devices. Experiments also showed that the field emission current was $\approx 5.6\text{nA}$ before the UV exposure and was $\approx 3.6 \text{nA}$ after the exposure for the diode devices. This reduction in current could be attributed to the removal of water vapor by UV exposure resulting in the reduction in the surface leakage current. A long-term stability tests conducted after the UV exposure showed both the bow-tie and diode devices emitted a stable current (<5% drop) for > 1100 hrs. of continuous operation at a DC bias of 5 V.


The focus of this chapter is on why researchers may want to use qualitative research with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to generate evidence of effectiveness. The chapter starts by offering definitions of qualitative research and randomized controlled trials. It then moves on to exploring the types of interventions and contexts where qualitative research may be of most value. Ten rationales for combining qualitative research with RCTs are explored, followed by exploration of concerns researchers have expressed about this endeavour. Finally, the relevance of qualitative research to different fields of health research is considered.


The D.C. Circuit correctly decided Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Mukasey. The court subjected the 2006 reauthorization of § 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the rational and appropriate test announced in South Carolina v. Katzenbach. Under this test the court found that Congress had a rational basis to extend § 5 based on evidence of continued racial discrimination in voting. On review, the Supreme Court will uphold the § 5 reauthorization in spite of the congruent and proportional test announced in City of Boerne v. Flores which is used to review enactments passed pursuant to Congress' Fourteenth Amendment enforcement power. Even though the Amendments are supposed to be enforced coextensively, the Court will continue to apply the Katzenbach test to enactments passed pursuant to § 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment or apply the congruent and proportional test in the same loose fashion that it was applied in Tennessee v. Lane. The disconnect occurs because § 5 of the VRA combats racial discrimination—a suspect class, in voting—a fundamental right. Both are subject to strict scrutiny and the Court gives Congress wide latitude to remedy Constitutional violations in these areas. Justice Scalia has hinted that he endorses the disconnect between the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendment enforcement powers and Justice Kennedy will also side with the Court's more liberal bloc in NAMUDNO based on past positions he has taken. INTRODUCTION † J.D. Candidate 2010, University of Miami School of Law. ‡ South Carolina v. Katzenbach, 383 U.S. 301, 337 (1966). • League of United Latin Am. Citizens v. Perry (LULAC), 548 U.S. 399 (2006) (Roberts, C.J., dissenting). 2 Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Mukasey 1 is the latest installment in the battle over the constitutionality of Section Five ("§ 5") of the Voting Rights Act ("VRA"). 2 This time the fight centers on the constitutionality of Congress' decision to reauthorize § 5 for another twenty five years in 2006. Many critics of the Act feel its day has passed, 3 while supporters of the VRA strongly believe the Act is still needed to combat discrimination in the voting process and work must still be done in the fight to enfranchise minorities. 4 In 2008, the D.C. Circuit held that the reauthorization of § 5 was again constitutional under § 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment. 5 While at the moment all seems well for proponents of the VRA, there is a dark cloud forming in the very near future. The Supreme Court has granted certiorari on NAMUDNO and will hear the case this term. 6 With the addition of new Chief 1 NAMUDNO, 557 F. Supp. 2d 9 (D.C. Cir. 2008). The case in front of the Supreme Court is renamed Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, now that Eric Holder has been appointed attorney general and is the named defendant. 2 § 5 of the VRA, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1973c, requires preclearance by the Justice Department of any change in election procedures of covered jurisdictions. Covered jurisdictions include those that employed a device or test as of November 1, 1964. The 1975 Amendments added any jurisdiction with less than fifty percent turnout in the 1972 Presidential election or if more than five percent of the voting age citizens are a language minority. 42 U.S.C. § 1973b. 3 See Robert Clegg & Linda Chavez, An Analysis of the Reauthorized Sections 5 and 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: Bad Policy and Unconstitutional, 5 GEO. J.L. & PUB. POL'Y 561 (2007). 4 See John Michael Eden, The Case for Reauthorizing Section Five of the Voting Rights Act, 55 DUKE L.J. 1183 (2006). 5 § 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. § 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. U.S. CONST. AMEND. XV. 6 Nw. Austin Mun. Util. Dist. No. One v. Holder, 129 S. Ct. 894 (2009) (cert. granted). 3 Justice John Roberts, this may be the time the Court is most likely to strike back against Congress and declare that the 2006 reauthorization of § 5 is unconstitutional. Part I will delve into the past and explore the history of the VRA and the decision to reauthorize § 5 in 2006. All prior reauthorizations of § 5 have been subjected to the appropriate and rational standard of review announced in South Carolina v. Katzenbach 7 that controls § 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment enactment cases. 8 In contrast to the more deferential test laid out in Katzenbach is the congruent and proportional test announced in City of Boerne v. Flores 9 which has been applied to § 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment. 10 The D.C. Circuit correctly applied the Katzenbach test instead of the City of Boerne test and upheld the reauthorization of § 5. Part V attempts to shed some predictive light on the rumblings of the Supreme Court to determine how it will decide NAMUDNO, and ultimately the constitutionality of § 5 of the VRA. I. FROM JIM CROW, TO THE GREAT SOCIETY, TO THE 2006 REAUTHORIZATION The VRA is the most important piece of civil rights legislation ever passed by Congress. 11 Congress designed § 5 to give the Federal Government a weapon to proactively 7 383 U.S. 301 (1966). 8 The Court in NAMUDNO still relies on the more deferential standard set out in Katzenbach when reviewing legislation passed pursuant to § 2 Fifteenth Amendment. See Nw. Austin Mun. Util. Dist. No. One v. Mukasey, 557 F. Supp. 2d 9, 11 (D.C. Cir. 2008). 9 521 U.S. 507 (1997). 10 The text of § 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment is nearly identical to that of § 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment. "The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article." U.S. CONST. AMEND. XIV § 5. 11 Mark A. Posner, Time is Still on its Side: Why Congressional Reauthorization of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Represents a Congruent and Proportional Response to Our Nation's History of Discrimination in Voting, 10 N.Y.U. J. LEGIS. & PUB. POL'Y 51, 54 (2007). 4 combat the problem of discrimination in the political process, 12 especially in the South. 13 From the end of Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Revolution of the 1950's and 1960's, African Americans were routinely excluded from the political process. 14 This invidious goal was accomplished a number of ways. 15 From literacy tests, to grandfather clauses, to racial gerrymandering, to refusal to register black voters, white majorities systematically ensured that black citizens could not vote, and therefore could not participate in the political process. 16 With the landslide victory of Lyndon Johnson in 1964 came a mandate for change in America. 17 Civil Rights legislation would be just one prong in LBJ's Great Society programs, 18 12 See Katzenbach, 383 U.S. at 308. ("The Voting Rights Act was designed by Congress to banish the blight of racial discrimination in voting, which has infected the electoral process in parts of our country . . . The Act creates stringent new remedies . . . and in addition the statute strengthens existing remedies[.]") 13 See Victor Andres Rodriguez, Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 After Boerne: The Beginning of the End of Preclearance?, 91 CAL. L. REV. 769, 772 (2003) ("The Act created an unprecedented arsenal of weapons to force Southern compliance with law granting Blacks the right to vote."). 14 Katzenbach, 383 U.S. at 310 ("[B]eginning in 1890, the States of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia enacted tests still in use [at the time of the passage of the VRA] which were specifically designed to prevent Negroes from voting."). 15 Rodriguez, supra note 13, at 772 (Forms of structural discrimination included: poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, white primaries, gerrymandering and at-large voting.). 16 Id. 17 [I]f we cannot bring ourselves to declare [socioeconomic guarantees] "rights," we can well legislate them as entitlements, . . . our ideology, our values were not frozen in 1791 when the Bill of Rights was adopted, or in 1868 when the [Fourteenth] Amendment was ratified. Instead, by legislation, by civil rights[,] and voting rights act, we have moved toward our aspirations for the Great Society.


Closed form expressions are investigated for a family of convergent Mathieu type a-series and its alternating variant, whose terms contain a generalized H-function associated with certain Feynman integrals. The results derived are of general character and provide an elegant generalization for the closed form expressions of these series associated with the H-function by Pogány [Integral expressions of Mathieu-type series whose terms contain Fox's H-function, Appl. Math. Lett. 20 (2007), pp. 764–769], for Fox–Wright Ψ-functions by Pogány and Srivastava [Some Mathieu-type series associated with the Fox–Wright function, Comput. Math. Appl. 57 (1) (2009), pp. 127–140] and for p F q and Meijer's G-function by Pogány and Tomovski [On Mathieu-type series which terms contain generalized hypergeometric function p F q and Meijer's G-function, Math. Comput. Modell. 47 (9–10) (2008), pp. 952–969], and others.


In India, 65-70 per cent population is vegetarian and depends upon food grain for nutritional requirement. Dietary protein is derived from pulses, oilseeds and cereals. Both cereals and pulses are nutritionally important since they usually provide the bulk of the diet and are also a relatively cheap source of energy, protein and important vitamins and minerals. S attu is a ready-to-eat traditional snack food and is considered as food of the poor people. It is most popular in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In rural areas of Maharashtra, sattu , a traditional weaning food, is consumed by all age groups. S attu is prepared from the flour of roasted cereals or legumes or combination of cereal and legumes with added flavoring agents. Traditional sattu is a mixture of Bengal gram and wheat flour 1 . It has a natural taste and easy to digest and can be eaten by all age groups and hence is good for first solid feeds. It energizes and refreshes the body immediately on consumption.


There are many applications in such disciplines as agronomy, plant physiology, and ecology where it is necessary to measure the difference in atmospheric CO{sub 2} concentration [CO{sub 2}] between two points. This is commonly done with an infrared gas analyzer, but such instruments are expensive, representing a substantial and sometimes prohibitive share of the cost of CO{sub 2}-related research. The goal of this project was to explore a simple inexpensive alternative, in which the difference in [CO{sub 2}] between two air streams is determined by bubbling the air through cells containing deionized water while measuring the ratio of their conductivities with a half-bridge measurement of electrode pairs suspended in each cell. The underlying principles are presented, and it is shown that (i) differential [CO{sub 2}] is directly proportional to the conductivity ratio minus its inverse and (ii) the coefficient of proportionality is equal to the mean [CO{sub 2}] of the two air streams. A system was designed and constructed to test these principles, and the results confirmed them. Dynamic response was characterized, and shown to be proportional to Q/V, where Q is the air flow rate and V is the water-filled volume of the cell. Differential resolution was found to more » be in the range of 0.4 to 0.8 {micro}mol mol{sup {minus}1}, but better resolution is theoretically possible. Differential measurement of [CO{sub 2}] by conductometry shows considerable promise, particularly considering the straightforward nature of the relationship and the relatively low cost of the required components. « less


ABSTRACT Fissidens ezukanmae Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov. belonging to Fissidens subgen. Aloma Kindb. is described and figured from material collected on termite mounds in Nigeria. This species closely resembles the pantropical F. pellucidus Hornsch. from which it differs in having mammillose cells as well as limbidia on the mid and upper leaves of perichaetial plants.


Partition, the break-up of colonial India in 1947, has been the subject of considerable serious historical research, but almost exclusively from two distinctive perspectives: as a macropolitical event; or as a cultural and personal disaster. Remarkably, very little is known about the socioeconomic impact of Partition on different localities and individuals. This exploratory essay considers how Partition affected working people's livelihood and labour relations. The essay focuses on the northeastern part of the subcontinent, where Partition created an international border separating East Bengal – which became East Pakistan, then Bangladesh – from West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and other regions which joined the new state of India. Based largely on evidence contained in "low-level" state records, the author explores how labour relations for several categories of workers in the new borderland changed during the period of the late 1940s and 1950s.


Speech-enabled systems for computer-assisted language learning (CALL) offer a number of advantages for language learners. These systems make it possible to address individual problems of the learners, allow practising at self-paced speed, and the opportunity to practise is not limited to the time the teacher is available. They offer a possibility to store student profiles in log-files, and both the students and the teachers can monitor the improvements and the problems. CALL systems can also help students who find it difficult to practise speaking in public to improve their language skills. In this paper we discuss the use of speech technology in CALL applications designed to improve spoken language skills of L2 learners.


There is a great deal of variability in the practice of orientation across the country at South Africa's universities, and there is limited knowledge of what exactly constitutes good practice in orientation.  Many areas of enquiry remain unexplored, and remain blind spots for South Africa's higher education sector. The article addresses this central question: What constitutes good practice for orientation programmes in South Africa? The article argues that a structured and informed orientation strategy is critical in terms of matters of student retention and, in fact, may serve as the key linchpin of students' decision to stay or exit the higher education system. Accordingly, seven strategies to improve nationalorientation practice are proposed in this article.


This paper introduces a new hydrometallurgy technique,which includes chloride salts oxidation leaching,reduction and cupreous ion electrodepositing of the copper sulfide concentrate.Effects of the leaching liquid solid ratio,the reaction temperature,time and other technological parameters on the leaching rate of copper were in detail analyzed.A group of optimizing parameters was selected by experiments.Copper products reach the copper 1# standard.In a word,the low grade copper sulfide ore,or copper concentrate with high grade arsenic impurities can be treated by the technique.The technique is feasible.


This study assesses the quality systems for building contractors in Lagos with the aim of developing guidelines for a quality assessment system that can be applied by any building contractor in Lagos state Nigeria. In order to achieve this aim, the study looked at the quality systems that are currently in place, and their impact on the contractors' performance. Quantitative data were obtained from senior managers, project managers, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and technical managers working with building construction companies in the Lagos Metropolitan Area using the mixed method approach. Descriptive case study was adopted while one sample student's t-test and principal component analysis techniques were employed. Findings indicate that the major quality assessment method used by Lagos contractors in construction industry is the observation/physical inspections method. The findings also provided that this quality assessment method has a significant positive impact on project delivery in the area. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that the Lagos QAS should emphasize the use of objective and statistical quality assessment approaches. They should also encourage the integration of information technology in the quality assessment process.


Anthracnose, caused by  Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , is among the most destructive diseases to the plant genus  Anoectochilus  in China.  C. gloeosporioides  can enter and spread through a commercial field via asymptomatic infected plants. Early and accurate detection of  C. gloeosporioides  is essential to controlling this disease in the field. To enable rapid detection of the pathogen on symptomless  Anoectochilus  plants, we developed a convenient, cost-effective, and highly sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. Four LAMP primers were designed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of  C. gloeosporioides . All 25  C. gloeosporioides  isolates collected from geographically distinct counties in China yielded positive results in the LAMP assay. No cross-reaction was observed with other fungal pathogens. A sensitivity assay showed that the PCR and LAMP assays had detection limits of 10 pg and 10 fg of genomic DNA per 25-μL reaction, respectively. Furthermore, we used the PCR and LAMP assays for the detection of  C. gloeosporioides  DNA from naturally infected  Anoectochilus  plants. The LAMP assay developed in this study is simple, fast, sensitive, and specific, and can be used in the field to detect  C. gloeosporioides  in infected plant tissue.


Summary Transmission and diffuse reflectance FTIR spectra of samples of Pinus radiata wood have been used as the basis of PLS-1 (partial least squares) and PLS-2 (projection to latent structures) models for the prediction of extractives, lignin, total carbohydrate and basic density. Very little difference was observed between models based on transmission spectra and those based on diffuse reflectance spectra. Because of the ease of sample preparation and presentation the diffuse reflectance technique was chosen as the method of preference. Similarly very little difference was observed between models prepared using PLS-1 and models prepared using PLS-2 correlations of diffuse reflectance spectra. Multiple correlation coefficients between the four measured properties and the diffuse reflectance spectra using PLS-2 modelling with four principal components are respectively: extractives, 0.87; Klason lignin, 0.84; total carbohydrate, 0.58; and density, 0.87.


Medical students have voluntarily initiated service‐learning programmes with the aim of providing assistance to medically underserved communities, especially within remote indigenous villages. However, their values and goals have been challenged because rural health care demands have changed considerably since the introduction of integrated delivery system (IDS) programmes, that is, programmes that integrate local health care providers with outreach services provided by contracted hospitals. Our study aimed to explore how a health care service‐learning group negotiates its position and how it responds to the tension of IDS implementation and changes in rural health care demand.


(1) School and Graduate Institute of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. (2) Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. (3) Institute of Infections and Immunity, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, U. K.


In every February from 1964 to 1967 the patrol ship Soya of the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency conducted oceanographic and ice observations in the southeastern part of Okhotsk Sea. The emphasis is laid on the results of 1964 to 1967.A large water area bounded by the southern ice edge and Chishima Retto (Kuril Islands) was observed every year. Discussions are given to the vicissitude of this water area in relation with meteorological and oceanographical conditions, especially with the influence of warm Pacific water intruding into the Southern Okhotsk Sea.


Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium known as legionella. It is a nationally notifiable disease which is over treated but frequently underdiagnosed. Extra pulmonary legionellosis is rare and patients often have a dramatic presentation without typical pulmonary manifestations. In these circumstances, the index of suspicion for this infection is low and can be overlooked. We report a unique case of a patient presenting with acute renal failure who subsequently tested positive for urine legionella antigen. Following the initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy and temporary hemodialysis, the patient had complete recovery of renal function without the need for corticosteroids.


Russian catchy punk rock veterans THE RIOT GANG have announced they will be heading to Israel in March! They will play 3 gigs in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and ...


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a combined control (CC) technique based on the direct torque control (DTC) strategy and vector control (VC) method, to improve the overall performance of a three-phase induction machine (TPIM) drives.

Design/methodology/approach
The proposed control scheme includes a table-based DTC strategy in connection with a proportional-integral-sliding mode controller and pulse width modulation switching strategy. The control system has merits of DTC technique such as simple structure, less dependent on machine parameters, fast dynamic response and merits of VC technique such as high accuracy and constant switching frequency.

Findings
To validate the effectiveness of the proposed control system, simulation and experimental studies are carried out for a 0.75 kW TPIM in different operating conditions. The achieved results show the superiority of the proposed method in terms of fast dynamics and simple structure compared to the VC strategy and low speed and torque ripples and constant switching frequency compared to the DTC method.

Originality/value
Compared to the conventional CC strategies, the control law of the proposed method is based on DTC theory and modulation is established based on VC. In other words, the variable switching frequency which is one of the main disadvantages of the conventional CC strategies is rectified using the proposed CC scheme.


We demonstrate that excitons in semiconductor alloys are subject to competing localization effects due to disorder (random potential fluctuations) and shallow point defects (impurities). The relative importance of these effects varies with alloy chemical composition, impurity activation energy as well as temperature. We evaluate this effect quantitatively for MgxZn1−xO:Al (0⩽x⩽0.058) and find that exciton localization at low (2 K) and high (300 K) temperatures is dominated by shallow donor impurities and alloy disorder, respectively.


Over the years, psychiatry has been susceptible to diagnostic fads. Some of these have been based on theory (overdiagnosis of schizophrenia) or on etiological concepts (overdiagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder), while others have been based on treatment considerations. Since the introduction of lithium several decades ago, psychiatrists have tended to diagnose bipolar disorder much more frequently. Even after standard diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were introduced (1), there was a tendency to change the diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia to bipolar disorder. Patients with borderline personality disorder who suffer from frequent mood swings have also been seen as falling within the spectrum of bipolar illness (2). Moreover, it has been claimed that bipolar disorder is common in children (3), mainly in cases formerly diagnosed with conduct disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; however, it has never been shown that "bipolar children" evolve into adult bipolar disorder.


Method: For this purpose, foF2 data from four Antarctic stations were analyzed during three intense magnetic storms occurred in high solar activity (years 2002 and 2003). In general, negative storm effects irrespective of the local time were observed during the first part of the storms (main phase). Negative effects were also observed more often than positive effects during the first part of the recovery phase, which seems to indicate almost no longitudinal dependence in this stage of the storm.


11 Background, aim, and scope One third of the total housing 12 stock in the Republic of Ireland has been built in 10 years 13 up to and including 2006 and of this approximately 34% 14 was built in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Much of the 15 housing was low-density with poor public transport links 16 leading to doubts over its sustainability — particularly in 17 terms of energy use. Although the country is committed to 18 reducing greenhouse gases to 13% above 1990 levels by 19 the period 2008 – 2012, by 2005, emissions were already 20 25.4% higher than the baseline and current projections are 21 that this figure will rise to 37% over the period. The 22 residential sector is estimated to contribute to approximately 23 24.5% of energy-related CO 2 emissions. This paper estimates


A tube lamp LED lighting comprising a body of transparent tube (1), bushings lamp (2), a converter power supply (7), characterized by a pedestal heater (8) connected to the tube body (1) and caps lamp (2), and inside the tube body (1), a PCB (5) and a plurality of LEDs (4) mounted on the PCB (5), said transparent tube being (1) and the pedestal radiator (8) combined together by a fastener (10); said pedestal radiator (8) is made of heat conductive material, with a radiator sheet (81) inside and insulating heat conductor (82) covering it; wherein said PCB (5) fixed on the pedestal radiator (8), and the LEDs (4) are mounted on the PCB (5) connected in parallel or in series being; said converter power supply (7) on the pedestal radiator (8) being installed, while its input connected to an electric cable (9) and being its output connected with the electrical circuit of LEDs (4) through said pedestals (8).


Fermentation parameters for surfactin production and sporulation in a submerged culture of Bacillus subtilis Y9 with various oxygen transfer rates in 5 L jar fermenters were investigated. The oxygen-uptake rate (OUR) was positively correlated with volumetric surfactin productivity. When OUR value increased from 0 to 250 s−1, productivity increased up to 45 mg/L·h; however, no further increase was observed at OUR values above 255 s−1. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient KLa increased with increasing agitation speed. However, a reduction in surfactin production was observed at the highest agitation speed of 500 rpm. Productivity sharply decreased after spore appearance, and remained low until the end of the culture. A mesh-type sparger was installed to generate microsized air bubbles. When the system was operated at 400 rpm with the mesh-type sparger, KLa was higher than that at 500 rpm with an original sparger. Under agitation at 400 rpm with the mesh-type sparger, productivity was maintained above 42.3 mg/L·h until 24 h, resulting in the highest surfactin concentration of 875 mg/L. Thus, a mesh-type sparger promotes KLa, leading to an increase in productivity.


A shelf as subject of the present invention, for carrying products, is made of sheet material. The shelf has a front edge, a back edge and a load carrying flat portion, the front edge comprising a supA shelf as subject of the present invention, for carrying products, is made of sheet material. The shelf has a front edge, a back edge and a load carrying flat portion, the front edge comprising a support for supporting display elements of a display system. The sheet material at the front edge is formed as a first enclosed channel integrally with the load carrying flat portion, so the channel provport for supporting display elements of a display system. The sheet material at the front edge is formed as a first enclosed channel integrally with the load carrying flat portion, so the channel provides the support at the front edge of the shelf. The support has a plurality of holes for display components.ides the support at the front edge of the shelf. The support has a plurality of holes for display components.


Women's political rights are often debated. Often deprived of women's rights. This is because women are often only involved in domestic or domestic matters. Basically, women's rights are the same as men's rights, including citizenship rights, education rights, opinion rights, and other rights. In connection with the position of women in obtaining political rights in the Islamic system and concept, it has been widely expressed. Some argue that Islam does not recognize political rights for women. There are those who view the same thing, there are also those who argue that Islam establishes and recognizes political rights for women except for being leaders of the state. This paper tries to describe the political rights of women in Islam and also explores the constitution of the Indonesian state. The method used is to conduct research on several literatures on politics in general regarding women's political rights and then compare them with one another.


Based on the thermodynamic perturbation theory for polymer, a new equation is proposed by incorporating a wide range of molecular flexibility and perturbative interactions to describe the isotropic–anisotropic (nematic) phase transition phenomena of the semiflexible polymers. In the new equation, the framework of the Helmholtz free energy of the system is the same as the Onsager-like theory. The entropy loss due to the orientation is estimated by the Khokhlov–Semenov (KS) theory. With regard to the configurational free energy, the polymer is envisioned as a series of subchains. The Parsons–Lee approximation is used to account for the higher virial coefficients of the subchain and Yu equation for the hard-sphere-chain fluid is adopted to modify the defect of the first order approximation in dealing with the associating points. An analytical expression of the perturbative term is obtained by employing the "square peg in a round hole" potential function and the mean-field approximation. The hard-core part of...


Catoferia (Benth.) Benth. is a small genus of four species confined to the American Tropics. Of these species, three have restricted distributions: C. spicata (Benth.) Benth. in Colombia, C. chiapensis Gray ex Benth. from Southern Mexico (Chiapas) South to Honduras and a newly described species, C. martinezii Ramamoorthy, is restricted to Guerrero, S. Mexico. The fourth species, C. capitata (Benth.) Hemsl., occurs in Southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, with an outlying record from Peru. The genus is easily recognized by the strongly exserted stamens, the peculiarly enlarged, rounded, venose upper calyx lip and the concave lower lip of the corolla.


A 78-year-old man, with a history of T2N0M0 esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy 2 years before, was referred to our department with recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding (hemoglobin level of 8.8 g/dl), attributed to radiation esophagitis. He had been admitted three times before for red blood cell transfusion and endoscopic treatment with argon plasma coagulation. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed diffuse telangiectasias of the lower esophagus and gastroesophageal junction with signs of recent bleeding (▶Fig. 1 a). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the lower esophagus and gastroesophageal junction was performed using a double 10 J/cm2 ablation with a 360° Express balloon catheter (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) (▶Video 1, ▶Fig.1b), followed by double-dose proton pump inhibitors. Despite no recurrent digestive bleeding, persistent iron deficiency anemia prompted repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopies, including two RFA treatment sessions every 6 months, using a triple 12 J/cm2 RFA application with a focal Halo 90 catheter. The 15-month follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a significant regression of the esophageal telangiectasias (▶Fig. 1 c). No recurrent bleeding occurred and hemoglobin level remained stable. Radiation esophagitis occurs in up to 42% of patients after radiation therapy for lung, breast, or esophageal carcinomas or mediastinal lymphomas [1]. Whereas acute radiation esophagitis typically presents with self-limiting dysphagia and odynophagia, chronic radiation esophagitis may lead to complications such as bleeding of esophageal telangiectasias, stenosis, impaired motility or esophagorespiratory fistula. Esophageal telangiectasias are generally managed by argon plasma coagulation (APC). As for other angioectasias occurring elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract (gastric antral vascular ectasia, radiation proctitis), radiofrequency ablation might be offered as a rescue therapy [2]. To our knowledge, this is the second patient with radiation E-Videos


Split and merge is a computationaly efficient region segmentation technique suitable to detect objects or surfaces in a given image. Despite its superior performance, it suffers from large memory usage and excessive computation time. This paper describes parallel implementation of the split and merge algorithm in a 16 node hypercube processor in order to reduce processing time to an acceptable level in the real time applications. Three methods are proposed to parallelize the operation of the method using the nearest neghbor (mesh) topology that can be mapped onto the hypercube architecture. Comparison of the described techniques is given and processing results of the real world images are presented.


The paper presents the results of field experimental research of polarization properties of the signals backscattered by metal objects of various configurations against the background of mountain ranges. It is shown that the remote sensing objects polarization transfer functions received on the basis of operator decomposition of the polarization scattering matrix have similar statistical properties for all the investigated metal objects whereas polarization characteristics of radar signals backscattered by the mountains are significantly different. The received results demonstrate the possibility of detecting metal objects with small cross-sections against the background of intense backscattering from mountains using transfer functions. That contributes for enhancement of remote sensing means for search-and-rescue works.


This paper provides a novel framework for envisioning digital technology application in sustainable waste management. The approach inclines on a mini-conceptual framework, which is rooted in the bourgeoning of diverse software innovation, which offers numerous digitalization of waste management recess. It first concedes that digital age brings to fore some enabling technology that offer a lift to transform traditional waste management to an unprecedented quick and cleaner dimension. Although not exhaustive, it highlights some popular digital apparatuses available for individuals, organisations and the government to take advantage for reforming traditional waste management techniques. These include ultrasonic trash can sensor, solar-powered trash compactor, image-based trash can sensors, toogoodtogo, digital mapping and cloud-based life-cycle waste cost calculator. Accordingly, this mini-framework for digital application to waste management provides a stepping ground to enable further expansion of the framework for enhanced policy, practice and scholarship


—The initial boundary value problem for parabolic equation with Neumann boundary condition is a kind of classical problem in partial differential equations. In this paper,we consider a heat inverse problem with moving boundary. By introducing a density function for potential method, thisproblem is essentially converted into solving an integral equation of the first kind with respect to the density function,which can be solved by the Tikhonov regularizing method. Model function method is used to determine the regularizing parameter. Numerical results are presented to support our inversion schemes.


A study was undertaken on the selectivity of small meshed gillnets and fishing pressure on Sardinella gibbosa along Thoothukudi, south east coast of India, with the view to understand the impact of various mesh sizes of gillnets on the fishery of Abstract A study was undertaken on the selectivity of small meshed gillnets and fishing pressure on Sardinella gibbosa along Thoothukudi, south east coast of India, with the view to understand the impact of various mesh sizes of gillnets on the fishery of S. gibbosa . The selectivity of gill nets was analysed as described by Sparre &Venema (1992) and the fishing pressure on various length groups was analysed using FiSAT. The study revealed a well-defined selectivity by gillnets with 26, 28 and 30 mm mesh sizes. The fishery was found un-affected by growth overfishing on recruitment overfishing as the commercially significant size group was found to be 110 to 160 mm which was higher than the estimated length at first maturity (100 mm). However, during the months from August to November notable landings of juveniles were reported, which was mainly due to the use of gillnets with 26 mm mesh size. The selectivity parameters such as length at first capture (lb), mean selection length (lc) and the escapement length (ld) for the selected gillnets were found to range from 90 to 107 mm, 115 to 135 mm and 145 to 165 mm respectively. The gillnet selection factor for S. gibbosa was estimated as 4.50. The study revealed the possibility for further increase in fishing effort for S. gibbosa along this coast based on the exploitation ratio (F/Z) of 0.39. The gillnet with 30 mm mesh size was found to be ideal for the commercial exploitation of S. gibbosa along this coast. The selectivity of gill nets was analysed as described by Sparre &Venema (1992) and the fishing pressure on various length groups was analysed using FiSAT. The study revealed a well-defined selectivity by gillnets with 26, 28 and 30 mm mesh sizes. The fishery was found un-affected by growth overfishing on recruitment overfishing as the commercially significant size group was found to be 110 to 160 mm which was higher than the estimated length at first maturity (100 mm). However, during the months from August to November notable landings of juveniles were reported, which was mainly due to the use of gillnets with 26 mm mesh size. The selectivity parameters such as length at first capture (lb), mean selection length (lc) and the escapement length (ld) for the selected gillnets were found to range from 90 to 107 mm, 115 to 135 mm and 145 to 165 mm respectively. The gillnet selection factor for S. gibbosa was estimated as 4.50. The study revealed the possibility for further increase in fishing effort for S. gibbosa along this coast based on the exploitation ratio (F/Z) of 0.39. The gillnet with 30 mm mesh size was found to be ideal for the commercial exploitation of S. gibbosa along this coast.


curricula, and there were major publishing initiatives to meet the needs of a system now somewhat less differentiated from other parts of Britain. Scots law, however, remains notably different, and its own publishing needs are all too briefly covered here, as part of a section on 'the diversity of print'. The long tradition of law printing and publishing was much modified at the beginning of the volume's coverage by the invention of the typewriter, and by the end it was even more seriously affected by computerization. Specialist law firms for a time continued locally, but they have been gradually absorbed by larger organizations in London and beyond, and textbook and reporting work is now remote from its jurisdictional origins. This fourth volume is well printed, with a good many appropriate illustrations, and handsomely bound in a style that is in keeping with older Edinburgh University Press traditions. However, the fact that the book has been filmset in Manchester and printed and bound in Chippenham says almost as much as a 'Trends and Prospects' postscript by the two editors.


In this paper the shortcoming of Variance and semi-Va riance methods is analysed. Risk bias coefficient is introduced, and Weight semi -Variance model is present.The compartisons of three models are made, this pape r can be used to direct the investment.


The invention relates to an urban reclaimed water treatment method, in particular to an advanced treatment method of urban reclaimed water used as cooling water for a power plant. The advanced treatment method of urban reclaimed water for the power plant of the invention comprises the following steps: carrying out aeration treatment and filtering; adding slaked lime, coagulant polyferric sulfate and efficient coagulant aid; adding bactericide for sterilizing; and adding composite scale and corrosion inhibitor, and after mixing the mixture evenly, adding the mixture to circulating water of the power plant. The advanced treatment method of the invention solves the related technical problems of advanced treatment, sterilization, scale inhibition, corrosion prevention, ammonia nitrogen treatment and the like of the reclaimed water involved by reclamation of the reclaimed water in the power plant, and provides technical support for safe and economical use of the reclaimed water in the power plant, and the reclaimed water is used as make-up water for the circulating water in the power plant, and has very obvious economical, social and environmental benefits.


Incentive schemes for the development of renewable energy sources may focus on quantities - defining national targets and setting up bidding systems, or quota systems providing for green certificate trading -, or they may focus on prices - feed-in tariffs. Whatever the system chosen, the role of the public authorities is quite specific: to stimulate technical progress and speed up the technological learning processes so that ultimately renewable energy technologies will be able to compete with conventional technologies, once the environmental costs have been internalised. A comparison of instruments must thus take into account the characteristics of the innovation process and adoption conditions - uncertainties regarding cost curves, learning effects - which means also looking at dynamic efficiency criteria. The paper concludes that a system of feed-in tariffs is more efficient than a bidding system, but highlights the theoretical interest of green certificate trading which must be confirmed through practice, given the influence of market structures and rules on the performance of this type of approach.


Summaty Passengers have complained about poor air quality inside several semi-enclosed bus termini in Hong Kong, but analysis of measured contaminant concentrations revealed that the levels were rather low. This implies that 'poor' air quality may not be the only cause of such complaints - the thermal stress experienced by the passengers is likely to be a major factor. For sheltering passengers from the contaminated environment inside a bus terminus, and to provide an acceptable thermal environment, a fundamental solution is to provide air-conditioned queuing enclosures. The method for establishing appropriate indoor environmental design criteria and the ventilation and cooling requirements for queuing enclosures in a bus terminus are discussed. Energy expenditure for ventilating and air-conditioning the queuing enclosure is also considered.


CUTE NONLYMPHOCYTIC leukemia (ANLL), if untreated, results in the proliferation of malignant cells that infiltrate and replace normal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, and death usually results from infection or hemorrhage with a median survival of less than 2 months.' The two goals of therapy for ANLL are to achieve hematologic remission by cytoreductive chemotherapy and then, after remission is achieved, to prevent relapses of the leukemia by additional chemotherapy. Bone marrow transplantation provides a patient with potentially curative supralethal cytoreductive therapy without concern for the expected lethal effects on the bone marrow. Marrow infusions are given to prevent the consequences of marrow failure caused by the antileukemic therapy. There are many approaches to both chemotherapy and marrow transplantation in ANLL, and substantial therapeutic advances are being made in each area. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a diversity of opinion as to what the "best" approach regarding details is to be pursued in chemotherapy or marrow transplantation, let alone the place of these two different modes of therapy in ANLL.


The offer of 'a second referendum' is too vague to elicit a useful response, writes Jennifer Hornsby (Birkbeck, University of London). It is unclear to voters whether the option of staying in the EU would still be on the table, whether such a vote would be a rerun of June 2016, or if they would be voting to accept or reject the final deal. Campaigners for a second referendum therefore need to be clear about what exactly would appear on the ballot paper.


The integration of the design automation system and the management system in the CIMS is important.This is represented by the integration of the CAD/CAPP/CAM with the MRPⅡ,which is a difficulty in the CIMS realization.This paper presents an integration method on the PDM platform using the technology of CORBA and gives an example of the integration of Solidwork and SmarTeam system.


An elastic system for mittelndes joined components includes an inner plate and an outer plate which are arranged in a spaced-apart configuration. An elastically deformable stator is fixed to the first plate and extending toward the second plate. The elastically deformable stator comprises a side wall forming a partial enclosure having a sealing surface defining an upper surface, which faces the outer panel. A flexible wings extending outwardly from the side wall. A receiver member extends outward from the outer plate to the corresponding inner plate and includes side walls which extend, with a partial enclosure is formed, which is configured to accommodate the elastically deformable stand. The elastically deformable stand is configured such that it elastically deforms when the stand entering the partial enclosure of the Aufnehmergliedes and moves to a fully engaged position.


The Ising model has proved an important test problem for many issues in computational physics. It is normally formulated in terms of a lattice of degrees of freedom which are updated in a carefully chosen Monte Carlo procedure. Numerical experiments normally involve equilibrating configurations and sampling independent configurations in the phase space of all the possible values for the degrees of freedom. In this work the model is used to investigate alternate and unconventional update procedures and as the basis for a spatial agent model.


Stigmas have been widely used to describe organizations and individuals that have negative reputations or that have engaged in illegitimate practices. Extensive research has been done on the effects of positive reputation and personal reputation. However, there is still much to learn about the effects and consequences of organizational stigmas. The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical overview of the consequences of organizational stigmas, particularly in the area of employee mobility, and to help understand the relationship between negative organizational reputation and personal reputation. Contributions of this research, the limitations and directions for future research are discussed as well.


Thermal Treatment Solutions, a new joint venture company, has been set up in Australia to see the testing and treatment of contaminated soils by thermal desorption. The new company is a joint venture between BCD Technologies and Mobile Treatment Solutions (MTS), the Australian mobile treatment business.


Nowadays DC current metrology is not yet supported by quantum based standards, intrinsically standard that does not require calibration depending only by fundamental constants. This thesis is focused on the modeling and realization of nano-devices for potential applications in DC current metrology. The choice of the fabrication technique is a crucial step for these tricky processes. Two kind of processes have been optimized at INRiM, the first being the most investigated from the 80s, the second being a recently purposed mesoscopic tunnel junction hybrid assembly nanofabrication technique concerning the Focused gallium Ion Beam (FIB) present at Nanofacility Piemonte. The main objective of our experimental activity is to compare the fabrication and characterization competences acquired at INRiM regarding a well documented device, trying , subsequently, to transfer them to a more innovative solution. The first introductory chapter starts with an overview of the so-called metrological triangle binding together volt, ohm and ampere in a fundamental definition of this three SI units; it follows a representative selection of candidate devices for the new definition of the ampere together with a short description of the physics that lies behind them. The second chapter is a detailed presentation of our Hybrid Single Electron Transistor theoretical modeling; its applications in DC current metrology are deeply threated focusing on the intrinsic and technological factors that limit the ultimate reachable accuracy of the presented device. The third chapter is a technical discussion of the two processes we used to fabricate our single electron devices. The first part is a review of our slightly modified version of the quite famous Dolan technique; the second sections is a detailed description of physical and technological principles, foundations for the innovative FIB process. The last chapter presents a set of electrical measurements devoted to a better understanding of our fabrication and characterization processes quality and reproducibility in relation to the well documented single-electronics literature. In appendix a collection of process recipes and instrumentation technical descriptions is present


1. Genta PR, Kaminska M, Edwards BA, Ebben MR, Krieger AC, Tamisier R, et al. The importance of mask selection on continuous positive airway pressure outcomes for obstructive sleep apnea. An official American Thoracic Society workshop report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020;17:1177–1185. 2. Xavier JLA, Madeiro Leite Viana Weaver F, Pinheiro GL, Sousa Fernandes PH, Genta PR, Lorenzi-Filho G. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea on oronasal continuous positive airway pressure breathe predominantly through the nose during natural sleep [letter]. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022;205:250–252. 3. Lebret M, Arnol N, Contal O, Martinot JB, Tamisier R, Pepin J-L, et al. Nasal obstruction and male gender contribute to the persistence of mouth opening during sleep in CPAP-treated obstructive sleep apnoea. Respirology 2015;20:1123–1130. 4. Lebret M, Arnol N, Martinot J-B, Tamisier R, Deschaux C, P epin J-L, et al. Nasal obstruction symptom evaluation score to guide mask selection in CPAP-treated obstructive sleep apnea. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018;159:590–592. 5. Miyamoto K, Ozbek MM, Lowe AA, Sj€ oholm TT, Love LL, Fleetham JA, et al. Mandibular posture during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. Arch Oral Biol 1999;44:657–664. 6. Lebret M, Arnol N, Martinot J-B, Lambert L, Tamisier R, Pepin J-L, et al. Determinants of unintentional leaks during CPAP treatment in OSA. Chest 2018;153:834–842.


Evacuation modeling is a promising measure to support decision making in scenarios such as flooding, explosion, terrorist attack and other emergency incidents. Given the special attention to the terrorist attack, we build up an agent-based evacuation model in a railway station square under sarin terrorist attack to analyze such incident. Sarin dispersion process is described by Gaussian puff model. Due to sarin's special properties of being colorless and odorless, we focus more on the modeling of agents' perceiving and reasoning process and use a Belief, Desire, Intention (BDI) architecture to solve the problem. Another contribution of our work is that we put forward a path planning algorithm which not only take distance but also comfort and threat factors into consideration. A series of simulation experiments demonstrate the ability of the proposed model and examine some crucial factors in sarin terrorist attack evacuation. Though far from perfect, the proposed model could serve to support decision making.


The hypothesis was tested that the reproductive function would exhibit compensation to temperature if the organism was bred and reared at temperatures which ordinarily produced less than optimal reproductive performance. Desert pupfish, Cyprinodon n. nevadensis, were bred and the eggs reared at the optimum temperature for reproduction, 28 C, and at two marginal temperatures, 24 and 32 C. Each brood was divided into three groups and reproductive performance was tested at the rearing temperature and at two alternate temperatures to which they had never before been exposed. The eggs laid per spawning and eggs laid per gram body weight per day showed no compensation to rearing temperature. Reproductive performance was optimal at 28 C and was poor at both marginal temperatures, regardless of the previous thermal history of the fish. Lower egg viability at 32 C was associated with a thin egg coat, small yolk diameter, and low gonosomatic index as compared with the same measurements at the lower temperatures.


In order to research the fatigue strength of gasket which is with new composite material in one plane, we designed and manufactured special testing equipment. The material of shaft of testing equipment is 30CrMnSi. In the experiment, the 30CrMnSi shaft was broken into two parts by suddenly. By structural analysis, static analysis and heat treatment analysis for shaft, we get the reason of fracture for shaft finally. The problem solved make the test goes well and can help design and manufacture testing equipment in the future.


Introduction: Fertilization failures after ICSI may be due to different factors related to oocyte, sperm or both of them. Considering the importance of sperm morphology, acrosomal activity in oocyte activation and fertilization rates, this study was done to evaluate the relationship between a series of events occurring during spermiogenesis such as sperm morphology and acrosomal activity as an index for acrosomal integrity and the relationship between sperm ability to induce oocyte activation with fertilization rates following ICSI. Materials & Methods: Semen samples from 68 infertile couples undergoing ICSI at Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center were assessed. Some of each semen sample was analyzed for semen parameters according to WHO criteria, most of it was used for ICSI and the rest for Papanicolaou staining and gelatinolysis test to evaluate sperm morphology based on the strict criteria and acrosin activity respectively. The results were analyzed by SPSS software (Version 11.5) and correlation coefficient was determined. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Results from gelatinolysis showed that the mean halo diameter had a significant positive correlation with sperm concentration (r=0.343, p=0.004), motility (r=0.282, p=0.020), sperm morphology according to the WHO criteria (r=-0.314, p=0.009), fertilization rate (r=0.270, p=0.026) and the percentage of halo formation (r=0.853, p=0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that during ICSI, spermatozoa with small acrosome, which are likely to have reduced gelatinolysis test parameters (Smaller percentages of halos and smaller mean halo diameters), have lower fertilizing potential. As gelatinolysis test is considered as an index for acrosomal and perinuclear theca integrity, lower fertilizing ability in these spermatozoa could be likely due to their reduced levels of sperm associated oocyte activating factors (SAOAFs). Therefore, studies for the identification and measurement of SAOAF levels in these kinds of spermatozoa are proposed.


In this paper new technology of surface structure modification of steel by short plasma exposure in Arc Plasma Sintering (APS) device is presented. APS is an apparatus working based on plasma generated by DC pulsed current originally used for synthesizing materials via sintering and melting. Plasma exposure in APS was applied into the specimens for 1 and 3 seconds which generate temperature approximately about 1300-1500°C. The SUP9, pearlitic carbon steel samples were used. The hardness, hardening depth and microstructure of the specimens have been investigated by Vickers micro hardness test and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) supported by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The results have showed that the mechanical property was significantly improved due to the formation of single martensitic structures as identified by SEM. The hardness of treated surface evaluated by Vickers hardness test showed significant improvement nearly three time from 190 VHN before to 524 VHN after treatment. Furthermore, EDX confirmed that the formation of martensite layer occurred without altering its composition. The APS also produced uniform hardened layer up to 250 μm. The experiment has demonstrated that arc plasma process was successfully improved the mechanical properties of steel in relatively very short time.


The distributed optical fiber temperature sensor is set up by using the technique of optic time-domain reflection (OTDR) to get temperature information, and the way of getting the mean by the accumulating time-domain signal to improve the ratio of signal to noise. Base on the theory of Optical Time Domain Reflectometer, Raman scattering distributed optical fiber system for Multi-point temperature measurement is established. A new demodulation method is proposed, that is circulation demodulation method. The OTDR temperature curve of the next point to be measured is demodulated by the current OTDR temperature curve. The experiment validated that the theoretical analysis is correct, and the system can inhibit the calculation of temperature noise and prevent Rayleigh back scattering light from harassing anti-Stokes back scattering light. The spatial resolving power is less than 3m, the temperature resolving power is about ±3°C, and time resolving power is not more than 3min.