Abstract Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the consistency of death records of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Cemeteries and Izmir Provincial Health Directorate in 2010 and to provide a quantitative estimate of deaths that occurred in Izmir in 2010 through capture-recapture method. Methods: In this descriptive study, we examined whole death records of Izmir Provincial Health Directorate and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Cemeteries in 2010. The records of both institutions were matched exactly to evaluate the consistency of reporting. Missing records which were registered by only Directorate of Cemeteries, but not registered by Provincial Health Directorate were added the database of Provincial Health Directorate. The two source capture-recapture method implemented based on the records of two institutions. The number of deaths by age group and gender and level of completeness of Provincial Health Directorate records were calculated through this method. The observed and calculated numbers of death and summary mortality of measures of Provincial Health Directorate were compared with database of Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT). Results: 8.9% of deaths which registered at the Directorate of Cemeteries were missing at Provincial Health Directorate. Missing notifications showed concentration in the younger age groups, mainly stillbirths (98.6%) and infant deaths (46.9%). Decedents' residence addresses of records which matched both instuitions were inconsistent. The level of completeness of Provincial Health Directorate records were 88.6% for male and 89.3% for female according to calculations using capture-recapture method. Calculated infant mortality rate and under five mortality rate were higher than the rates of observed records of Provincial Health Directorate and the TURKSAT data. Conclusions: This study indicates that the death records are insufficient in terms of reliability. Control mechanisms which provided in the system are required to be operated more efficiently to ensure coordination among the institutions and to execute complete and timely notifications. Key Words: Death statistics, burial records, consistency, completeness.


In January 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its latest on-road motor vehicle emissions model, MOBILE6. After years of development in which nearly every aspect of the emissions model was reviewed and revised, MOBILE6 has replaced its predecessor model, MOBILE5, as the official tool for developing State Implementation Plan (SIP) inventories and for making conformity determinations. The version of MOBILE6 released in January 2002 is often referred to as MOBILE6.0, and it is used to estimate gram per mile (g/mi) emission rates of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from the in-use motor vehicle fleet. One of the features included in MOBILE6.0 is the ability to model the emissions impacts of vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). In May 2002, EPA released another version of MOBILE6, commonly referred to as MOBILE6.1/6.2. MOBILE6.1 calculates particulate matter (PM) emission rates, while MOBILE6.2 calculates emission rates of air toxics. Although referred to by different names, the PM and toxics calculations, as well as the HC, CO, and NOx calculations, are consolidated into a single computer program. In the May 2002 release, the MOBILE6.1 and MOBILE6.2 versions of the model were in draft form and were subject to a five-month review period. On November 12, 2002, EPA released an updated version of MOBILE6 that included changes to respond to comments on the draft versions of MOBILE6.1 and MOBILE6.2. EPA simply called that version of the model MOBILE6.2 and indicated that MOBILE6.2 is the "recommended and approved version" of the model for estimating emissions of HC, CO, and NOx. The PM and air toxics components of the model were recently finalized in a February 2004 release of MOBILE6.2. Under contract to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Sierra Research, Inc. (Sierra) and Parsons-Brinkerhoff (PB) evaluated several components of MOBILE6. Specifically, this included: 1) An evaluation of emission factors related to PM; 2) An evaluation of emission factors related to air toxics; and 3) An assessment of emission factors when compressed natural gas (CNG) is specified as the fuel. Since the November 2002 release of MOBILE6.2, the model has also included a draft algorithm for estimating emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), and EPA has invited comments on the procedures used to calculate CO2 emissions. As a result, this study also reviewed the methodology used in MOBILE6 to estimate CO2.


The present invention discloses a method for making the thick-wall cylinder knotted bar iron forging of the coal liquefaction hydrogenation reaction chamber, above all, the steel ingot of the 2.25Cr1Mo0.25V steel is smelted with the mode of electric furnace and ladle vacuum refining and vacuum carbon deoxidization pouring; generating the forging stock with the method of continuous upsetting and broad anvil strong pressure; adopting the lesser forging allowance and causing that the forging dimension approaches the dimension of the fabricated part as near as possible; the after-forging heat treating is done with the mode of normalization once, supercooling twice and tempering once; finally, the mode of combined heat treating namely the adding a one-time normalization before thermal refining to do capability heat treating. The invention has the advantages of strong operability of the processing parameter, high qualified rate of product, reducing the manufacturing cost with a wide range and shortening the manufacturing cycle.


The Cambridge Companion to Postmodernism Steven Connor, Editor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. After the millennium, "postmodern" popped up like wild spring flowers, and caught many of us by surprise. Had "modern times" really ended? If so, when and why? Was this a fad, a trend, or a movement? Would it infect and affect popular culture? Was it merely a new name for the electronic technology -or much more? The term "postmodern" is confusing and controversial. It was used as early as the 1870s by Britain's John Watkins Chapman, and later "first" claims move up through the 1960s. The choice depends on the different ideals and programs spotlighted. The Oxford English Dictionary gives a short, clear definition: "Subsequent to, or later than, what is modern?" This raises another question: What, then, is modern? Steven Connor's book sets out to answer these questions and offer us a comprehensive introduction to postmodernism, and then to relate post-modernism to modernity, stressing its significance and relevance to literature, film, law, architecture, philosophy, and religion. "Modernity" is often taken as the term referring to the social, economic, and scientific institutions flowering in the West during the eighteenth century (some place it earlier), and having worldwide influence in the twentieth. There is no general agreement about just what modern and postmodern mean. The names most frequently associated with postmodernism are Ihab Hasten, Jean Baudrillard, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Frederic Jameson, and Juergen Habermas. Clearly, the center of concern has been Europe, although there are a number of American disciples; most have been philosophers and literary critics. One area in which it has had limited impact, here or abroad, is popular culture. Some attention has been paid to the extension of postmodern ideas into fields of advertising, popular music, MTV, and architecture. How has all of this affected scholars who write about popular culture? What about textbooks? I asked some committed postmodern friends for definitions, finding that there are as many definitions as there are advocates. The ingredients seemed to fit the old cliche: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. If there is a common thought, it is this: We have moved beyond the old "modernity." Remember the McLuhan truism: If it works, it's obsolete. Postmodernists express a desperate need to meet the volatile and unstable elements of the new century head-on. …


Class C GPCRs are important receptors in vivo and involved in many physiologic and pathologic process.These receptors have complex structure and active mechanism.They are constitutive dimer and each monomer is composed of transmembrane HD(heptahelical transmembrane domain),extracellular VFT(venus flytrap domain) and CRD(cysteine-rich domain) which between in VFT and CRD.Although there are many results in the activation mechanism of these receptors,but until recently the role of CRD in the activation process is largely unknown.So we reviewed the course and advance of the research in the sequence,structure,function,and their conformation change in the activation process of these receptor dimmers.And lastly we also point the significance and new insights of the Class C GPCR based-drug discovery to gain the new allosteric modulators which have better clinic implication..


Happy Golden Anniversary, Horizons! This issue marks the first edition of volume fifty. The entire editorial staff is excited to bring our readers a celebration of fifty years of Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society. We decided that the fiftieth anniversary of a journal of Catholic theology created in the optimistic spirit of Vatican II and operated by the lay women and men who formed the College Theology Society deserved a two-volume celebration. The collective four issues of volumes fifty and fifty-one, therefore, will each feature an anniversary "Retrospective and Prospective" roundtable. The anniversary roundtable will reprint an article that the editors have deemed "a greatest hit" forHorizons. We will reprint the article and two scholars will respond to the article, noting its significance for its time and commenting on the needs of the present with regard to the topic at hand. We are also planning on brief reflections from former editors to be highlighted in this space. Finally, see the Horizons website for a special anniversary section that we will build out over the two-year celebration. In this issue, our anniversary roundtable features Raymond E. Brown's article from Horizons : (), "'Who Do Men Say that I Am?'—Modern Scholarship on Gospel Christology." Pheme Perkins, Boston College, and Gilberto A. Ruiz, Saint Anselm College, respond. I would be remiss if I did not note that the Reverend Donald J. Senior, CP agreed to write for the inaugural anniversary roundtable. The staff of Horizonsmourns his death. We are grateful to Pheme Perkins for agreeing to take Senior's place and to place her work in conversation with her former student (G. Ruiz). Immediately following my introduction, founding coeditor Rodger Van Allen provides insights on the naming and founding of Horizons as a preface to reprinting his  account of the origins of the journal. The current editors believe it is important to highlight our "origin story" for a new generation of readers and contributors. The authors of our peerreviewed articles invite us to pause and consider the nature of our theological work in light of the pandemic; to probe the conundrum of the theological claim of the holiness of a church filled with sinful members; to query documents of the Eastern Orthodox Church and their understanding of the imago Dei as it relates to people with disabilities; and to reflect on the possible consequences for theological anthropology from taking the full humanity of adolescents and young adults seriously. The issue is rounded off by a Horizons, , pp. iii–viii. © College Theology Society  doi:10.1017/hor.2023.2


idea to existing reality occurs only by means of professional activities, situation-specific Thus, professionalism in medicine can apply to clinicians at any phase of training (learner, residents, fellows, physicians, and other health care professionals) across diverse contexts. abstract concept to engaging in concrete professional activities a simultaneous movement toward defining a professional identity. Here professional identity and identification


This Study used (Ba0.5Sr0.5)0.9Sm0.1Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ (BSSCF) as major cathode material, combined with Gadolinia doped Ceria and copper ion for SOFC. For different cathode material, we provide 20% O2 and 6% NO from cathode side to conduct single cell SOFC test and try to show that NO can be used at cathode side of SOFC. Experiment shows that SOFC single cell with only BSSCF cathode under different temperature, applying 20% O2 from cathode side could provide maximum power density 4.79 mW/cm2 (800℃)、6.09 mW/cm2 (850℃)、8.65 mW/cm2 (900℃)、11.33 mW/cm2 (950℃). Combined BSSCF with different wt% of Gadolinia Doped Ceria (GDC) can found that the more wt% GDC added, the better SOFC single performance provided. BSSCF with 50wt%GDC as cathode could provide maximum power density 8.65 mW/cm2, while BSSCF with 70wt%GDC could reach 16.28 mW/cm2, under 800℃ with 20% O2 applied from cathode side. When applying 6% NO from cathode side, BSSCF with GDC could only provide limited performance. If we added Copper into BSSCF perovskite structure to form BSSCCF 712 or BSSCCF 811, cell performance could raise remarkably. Maximum power density can reach 0.8 mW/cm2 (BSSCCF 712), and 1.66 mW/cm2(BSSCCF811), showing that copper ion is really helpful for NO redution.


The article considers the modern opportunities of treatment strategy of locally advanced cancer of straight intestine. It is shown that neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy became the standard treatment for this form of the disease. The data of randomized researches showed that the use of capecitabine improves clinical outcomes and can effectively and safely replace 5-fluorouracil in the schemes of chemo therapy.


A non-lithographic coherent array of ultrafine tungsten particles (150-500 nm diameter) is self-assembly arranged around a laser-irradiated mark on a tungsten substrate. Single and poly-crystal tungsten substrates were irradiated by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser under low pressure in an inert gas atmosphere. We studied the effect of the laser fluence on the morphology of the coherent arrays. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for these observations. The spacing of the coherent array increases with increasing laser fluence. For a 10.5 J/cm2 irradiation, many droplets and peeling of the surfaces induced by rapid thermal expansion of the tungsten surface were observed. The recrystallizatoin texture on the surface was also confirmed by TEM observations. This suggests that the irradiated surface layer was partially recrystallized during laser irradiation. We concluded that coherent arrays are related to the laser fluence, the crystal surface structure, and the crystal growth. The recrystallization of the slightly melted tungsten on the top surface induced by the repeated laser irradiation plays a vital role in the formation of the array. If we can produce a coherent array of ultrafine tungsten particles with a higher aspect ratio, it may have potential applications for the emission cathodes of field emission displays (FED) and microelectronic devices.


Original Research Article Background: Postpartum contraception reduces the risk of unintended and rapid repeat pregnancies. A comprehensive postpartum family planning (PPFP) service can enable women make adequate and informed choices on a preferred contraceptive method, initiating a method as well as encouraging them to use that method for a period depending on their reproductive intentions. Methods: This study aims to determine women's intention regarding uptake of postpartum family planning, their preferred methods and the factors associated with uptake. We conducted a crosssectional study among women attending antenatal and postnatal clinics at the Dr Vikhe Patil Medical College using structured questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi square test of comparison. Results: Five hundred women participated in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 26.4+5.3 years. The previous contraceptive usage was 32.8%. A total of 234 (64%) women intend to use a method of postpartum contraception. The most preferred intended postpartum contraceptive was IUCD (19.2%) followed by Barrier, implants. Reasons cited for nonuse of postpartum contraception include spousal refusal, effect on fertility, desire for further child bearing, religious beliefs. Conclusions: Counselling on postpartum contraception during the antenatal and postnatal period can help women make informed choices among the wide range of available contraception.


Gauss Markov theorem is illustrated by the leveling network adjustment models with different laws of measurement errors distribution using statistical methods of analysis.


The present invention after the preliminary mixing of the two components of piroxicam and cyclodextrins in a powder state, the balls in a high energy mill in the presence of a vapor-to features Sikkim milling, process for preparing a complex of piroxicam with cyclodextrins relate to. The product obtained is a liquid prepared by a conventional method is suitable in an advantageous production of technical, physical and chemical herbal said Genie the characteristics for oral, rectal and topical pharmaceutical composition for application when compared to the composite state.


There have been very different interpretation of the character " Yu" in the acdamic field to the ninth "Parents of Civilian" bamboo slips.The author analyzes different interpretions in the field and puts forth his view.in fact,the character "Yu" is the different shape of the character "Yu".


The activities of myeloperoxidase(MPO), phenoloxidase(PO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase(CAT) were assayed on days 1,3,5 and 7 after the immunological drugs were orally administered to prawn Penaeus chinesis . It is shown from the experimental results that the MPO, SOD and CAT activities in serum of the experimental prawns were much higher than those of the control ones on days 1,3,5 and 7, and the differences between the two activities were very significant; the PO activities in serum and haemocytes of the experimental prawns were much higher than those of the control ones only on day 1, and days 1 and 7, respectively, and the differences between the two activities were very significant.


An energy-efficient object matching accelerator is proposed for mobile object recognition based on matching prediction scheme. Conventionally, vocabulary tree has been used to save the external memory bandwidth in object matching process but involved massive internal memory transactions to examine each object in a database. In this paper, a novel object matching accelerator is proposed based on matching predictions to reduce unnecessary internal memory transactions by mitigating nontarget object examinations, thereby improving the energy-efficiency. Experimental results show a 26% reduction in power-delay product compared to the prior art.


To investigate the influence of sterilization on volatile components and free amino acids in scallop sauce,Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) combined with technique of headspace solid phase micro-extraction(HS-SPME) and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to analyze volatile components and free amino acids in scallop sauce before and after sterilization.The results showed that 16 volatile components in scallop sauce before sterilization and 27 ones after sterilization;16 free amino acids before sterilization and 17 ones after sterilization,respectively.There were ten volatile components before and after sterilization,while after sterilization methionine was detected.After sterilization,the type of volatile components was more than before sterilization but the content of free amino acids was not significant.Therefore,the sterilization process had a certain value of the volatile components and improved the nutrition of the scallop sauce.


The questions of software-based design of "virtual" technical systems are considered as facility of imitation experiment for educational purposes. These virtual systems are usable for analysis of medical intrascopy systems functioning. The virtual educational technical systems allow guarantee the goodness technical training of bioengineers.


Triacylglycerol (TAG) has twice the density of cellulose and can be used to generate biodiesel. As a consequence, engineering plants to accumulate TAG in plants, including vegetative tissues, is the focus of much research effort. One approach to engineering more TAG has been to overexpress diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT), the enzyme responsible for the last and only committed step in TAG biosynthesis. In leaves, TAG is used as a short-term thylakoid storage intermediate. Unfortunately, Arabidopsis leaves lose 1.6% of their fatty acids per day during senescence. Hence, despite the impressive gains in manipulating TAG levels in vegetative tissues (5to 20-fold in leaves), it has been acknowledged that to achieve further increases in TAG, preventing its catabolism may be crucial. The breakdown of TAG in plants is achieved by lipases that result in the release of free fatty acid and diacylglycerol. In contrast to leaves, seeds store TAG as a long-term energy supply; this is achieved with the aid of a distinctive proteinaceous emulsifier called oleosin, which coats the outside of lipid droplets. Oleosins prevent exposure to lipases and inhibit the coalescence of lipid droplets during desiccation, freezing, and germination. Winichayakul et al. (pp. 626–639) have suggested previously that the coexpression of DGAT1 and oleosin in leaves may result in the formation of lipid droplets and subsequently enable the long-term accumulation of TAG. However, to be effective, the recombinant oleosin would have to lead to the formation of lipid droplets that are able to prevent lipase entry for the life of the leaf and preferably during senescence. They now describe the effect of coexpressing DGAT1 and L-oleosin engineered to contain different numbers of strategically placed Cys residues (Cys-oleosin). They show that one of the Cys-oleosins led to the longterm elevation of fatty acid content and accumulation of TAG in leaves and roots. The Cys-oleosin was found to be targeted to and cross-linked in leaf and root liquid droplets. Infrared gas analysis revealed that the accumulation of theCys-oleosin in the leaf not only correlated with increases in TAG but also in leaf biomass and CO2 assimilation rate. Thus, the authors have, by coexpressing a synthetically modified structural protein (Cys-oleosin) and DGAT1, substantially enhanced the energy densification of plant vegetative organs through the accumulation of TAG in stable artificial organelles.


In a randomised, double‐blind trial, haemostatic and cardiovascular effects of ornipressin and adrenaline were compared in 30 children requiring surgery for "bat‐ear" deformity. Mean total blood loss was 14.3 ml with ornipressin and 11.7 ml with adrenaline, this difference being insignificant. There was a significant and progressive reduction in mean heart rate in children who received ornipressin. from 134 to 116 bpm (P<0.0.5). and a significant rise from 127 to 134 bpm (P<0.05) with adrenaline. Mean systolic pressure was unaltered by ornipressin but was significantly increased from 97 to 105 mmHg (P<0.05) in children receiving adrenaline. Ornipressin is as effective a haemostatic agent as adrenaline and the rises in heart rate and systolic pressure associated with adrenaline, which are factors known to predispose to the onset of ventricular dysrhythmias, do not occur with ornipressin.


In this paper, a loop-back test scheme for RF transceivers using optimized periodic bit streams is presented. In this approach, optimized periodic bitstreams modulated at baseband are sent through RF transmit subsystem, and the transmitter output is looped back into the receiver using the proposed test architecture. The corresponding test response is captured in the baseband at the output of the receive subsystem. From the spectral content of the test response at the baseband, all the linear and the nonlinear specifications of the transmit and the receive subsystems are computed. The key contribution of the presented work is that, the subsystem specification values are decoupled and computed using the looped-back test response at the receiver baseband. This eliminates the need for expensive RF ATE instrumentation to probe high frequency access points. Hardware measurement and validation data for a 900MHz wireless GSM transceiver system are presented.


This report contains short papers/abstracts from the 22th international conferences on phenomena in ionized gases. Subject areas covered are: waves and instabilities; discharges and genreation of laser radiation; and generation and dynamics of plasma plasma. These papers have been cataloged elsewhere.


Abstract In pioneering work, Onsager solved the Smoluchowski equation to obtain the probability that a pair of ions in a dielectric medium will escape mutual neutralization in the longtime limit. In the present paper, an approximate solution of the Smoluchowski equation for a Coulomb field is constructed; general enough to allow the kinetics of the process to be treated. The connection with Onsager's treatment, and the later study of Mozumder, is briefly discussed.


The activity of glucose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase and the level of its substrate were measured in 16 gray areas and four fiber areas of mouse brain and 10 layers or sublayers of monkey retina. Because of the low activity of the enzyme and the small sample sizes, it was necessary to develop a method with two different amplification steps (overall amplification about 106). The enzyme ranged in activity 100‐fold from a low in monkey retina photoreceptor cells to a high in the pyramidal layer of the hippocampus. However, in gray areas of the brain proper the range was only about fourfold. This, together with its requirement for IMP, suggests that the enzyme has a widespread metabolic function related to states of increased neuronal activity. Glucose‐1,6‐bisphosphate levels varied from 80 to 960 μmol/kg dry weight in different areas of mouse brain and from 44 to 200 μmol/kg dry weight in different layers of monkey retina. In general, the glucose bisphosphate levels correlated positively with the bisphosphatase activities; however, the three areas with the highest enzyme concentrations did not fit this pattern.


This paper is about the interaction between the human imagination and technology among a self-described 'community': that of developers of Free or Open Source Software. I argue that the moral imagination observable in this phenomenon can be understood with reference to its emergence around specific methods of technical production. Principles of openness, truth, freedom and progress, which are also understood as central to the technical production of good software, are reinforced (as a ethical orientation) by their contribution to making 'good' software. A reciprocal dynamic ensues in which better software is seen as dependent on particular social practices and ideologies while these practices and ideologies are given salience by their success in fostering valuable production. Processes key to the generation of this social form are examined before a number of key features of the practice of programming, such as its often combative and individualistic character, and an absence of women in developer communities, are considered in the light of the analysis.


At Janssen Research Foundation the application of facsimile technology in the clinical research area has helped expedite the review of patient case record forms. By using facsimile there have been some noticeable benefits in terms of (1) time saved, (2) cost, and (3) improvement of overall quality of studies. This article reviews the use of facsimile for the purpose of transmitting case record forms in a multicenter clinical research trial. Guidelines for the selection of appropriate study sites to use facsimile, along with a procedure for reviewing transmitted case record forms are also discussed. In addition, there is a summary of advantages and disadvantages of utilizing facsimile to transmit clinical information and a listing of the major features to consider when acquiring a unit. It can be concluded, based on Janssen's experience implementing a 18-unit facsimile network, that at carefully identified sites, facsimile technology can be successfully integrated into the clinical monitoring process, improving the likelihood of submitting quality NDAs in a timely manner.


For log-concave probability density functions fulfilling certain regularity conditions we present a proof of the famous hyperplane conjecture, also known as slicing problem, in convex geometry originally stated by J. Bourgain. The proof is based on an entropic formulation of the hyperplane conjecture given by Bobkov and Madiman and uses a recent result on bounding the Kullback-Leibler divergence by the Wasserstein distance given by Polyanskiy and Wu. Moreover, as a related result we present a lower bound on the differential entropy rate of a specific class of stationary processes.


In general,a typical iris recognition system consists of four parts.Iris image is acquired by the non-invasive iris ac- quisition system combined with an image quality assessment module.Using Hough transform for precise locating iris in the process of preprocessing makes normalized iris image have invariance in translation,size and rotation.Iris coding and recognition is based on the Daubechies-4 wavelet transform and hamming distance.Compared with the existing methods,the operation speed of this al- gorithm is largely improved.


Barrage relay networks (BRNs) are a class of mobile ad hoc networks based on an autonomous cooperative communications scheme that affords a distributed, rapid, and robust broadcast mechanism. BRN-based radios are currently being used operationally; understanding scaling laws for BRNs can thus shed light on how future systems ought be designed to address a wider range of military missions. It has previously been shown that BRNs scale optimally for broadcast traffic (in terms of sum throughput and latency). Furthermore, experimental evidence supports the scalability of BRNs in practice: a 215-node network of TrellisWare's BRN-based CheetahNet radios was demonstrated in 2010 as part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. In this work, we study scaling laws for unicast in BRNs. The spatial extent of unicast transmissions in BRNs can be contained via controlled barrage regions (CBRs), while barrage access control protocols - which are a type of path-oriented medium access control (PO-MAC) protocol - can be used to schedule CBRs in space and time. Traditional techniques for scaling analysis support neither autonomous cooperation nor PO-MAC protocols; we therefore study the fundamental limits of CBR-based protocols through the lens of user capacity, which we define as the maximum number of constant-rate, delay-optimal unicast flows that an n-node network can simultaneously support. The user capacity of dense networks operating under a CBR protocol is shown to scale as Θ(√n) when source-destination pairs are chosen randomly. BRNs are thus able to transport Θ(√(n/log n)) bit-meters/sec, which is order optimal (in the Gupta-Kumar sense). If the source-destination pairs are instead chosen so that their separation (in hops) is a geometric random variable, then the user capacity scales as Θ(n/ log n). Thus, in a wireless network dominated by localized traffic, BRNs can achieve throughput that is almost linear in the number of users. Finally, it is shown via software simulation that distributed, greedy algorithms provide order optimal scheduling of CBRs for both the random and localized traffic models. This suggests that scalable protocols for unicast in BRNs can be realized in practice.


Employee retention can be problematic for any organization but when that organization is a nonprofit that needs to keep costs to a minimum, it can be even more of a challenge. The nonprofit sector is a diverse one made up of a wide range of very different kinds of organizations from foundations to trade associations, from cultural and arts institutions, to healthcare and social service providers. Many of these organizations have vast assets while others provide services that are not highly rewarded or funded. Often nonprofits count on their mission to attract and retain employees however, demands for more accountability and proof of program results are placing more pressure on nonprofit employees. Nonprofits are often regulated by organizational policy and limited funding, both of which contribute to lower financial rewards for employees. Low compensation and high workloads are then leading employees to set aside their desire to make a difference by fulfilling the organization's mission, and instead leading them to pursue positions that offer more pay and less stress (Leon, Marainen, and Marcotte, 2001). Without the right employee in place, achieving the organizational mission is difficult, if not, impossible. This research project explored the different research works that have been done in the area of employee retention to identify the various factors which affect retention in an organization. A qualitative method was used and semi-structured interviews were conducted with area nonprofits to identify the most effective nonfinancial means that could be implemented by nonprofit organizations to retain employees. The following are the findings, implications, and suggestions gained from the literature and a qualitative analysis of interview data. RETENTION AND TURNOVER 3 Chapter 1: Introduction There are many types and sizes of organizations and they often have more differences than similarities. However, one factor is essentially shared by all, for the sustained success of the organization it is not only key to attract the best and most talented employee but it is equally vital to retain them. The long-term success and performance of an organization is dependent on its ability to retain the best employees (Das & Baruah, 2013). An organization that attracts superior talent will often have a better chance at success because of enhanced work quality and better service. A study by Hancock, Allen, Bosco, McDaniel, and Pierce (2013), indicated that focusing on employee retention could improve organizational performance and decrease the associated costs related to recruitment and turnover. The challenge faced by many organizations is the formulation of an effective employee retention strategy that assists in retaining critical employees that are indispensable in attaining the organizational goals. Unless there is a measured and genuine effort made in retaining employees, industry competitors are likely to attract and steal the talent already trained and nurtured within the organization. Problem and Significance While there are a variety of types and sizes of nonprofits, they are no exception to the need for attracting and retaining essential talent. Nonprofits rely on their employees to provide outstanding service, but at the same time often do not have enough resources to compensate employees as well as other organizations. While the bottom line for most organizations refers to financial gain as the final objective of the organization, nonprofits often consider the mission of the organization to be their bottom line or final objective. Financial incentives are then merely considered a means to push the mission of the organization. Additionally, nonprofits are RETENTION AND TURNOVER 4 frequently restricted by organizational policy and a lack of funds, both of which contribute to lower financial rewards for those working within the organization. Since nonprofit organizations are not motivated by financial gain and often lack sufficient resources to compensate their employees competitively, it would be strategically beneficial to utilize nonfinancial means to attract and retain employees. Additionally, implementing strategies to reduce turnover costs in nonprofit organizations would be valuable for the proper stewardship of the donor dollars spent to fund operations. While every business should strive to understand and use alternative nonfinancial practices in order to retain employees, this is especially true for nonprofit organizations. The purpose of this project is to explore strategies nonprofit leaders might implement to improve employee retention. This project seeks to tackle the following research question: what alternative and nonfinancial incentives are nonprofits using to effectively and strategically attract and retain key employees? The problem question was asked to address and make recommendations for improvements to employee retention among key employees. To assist in this, it will be necessary to identify and explore the different literature that has been completed in the area of employee retention, identify the assorted retention initiatives utilized by organizations. It will also be indispensable to explore the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and investigate the connection between the different components and various elements. To reach this aim, there are various sub questions needed to come to a conclusion on the key aim. Which methods have been the most effective? How are the strategies determined to be successful? Context RETENTION AND TURNOVER 5 It is essential for the success of any organization that it attract and retain the highest skill and talent possible in order to fulfill its strategy and mission. Employees are a vital asset of any organization and it is critical for an organization that wants to succeed and excel to manage their human talent wisely (Mello, 2011). Worldwide, a number of factors have been attributed to the increase in the level of employee turnover. The way people are paid, recognized, and achieve salary advancement are considered important factors by many in attracting, retaining, and motivating employees. Employee retention is a strategic method to improve results. Focusing on employee retention may result in decreased costs and improvements in organizational performance (Hancock, Allen, Bosco, McDaniel, & Pierce, 2013). Lower employee turnover correlates with noticeable improvements in regards to organizational performance (Park & Shaw, 2013). Decreasing employee turnover has the potential to lead to significant cost saving for organizations as hiring new workers involves significant training and orientation expenses (Cho, & Lewis, 2012). Employee retention aids an organization in selectively choosing who they want to retain (Smith & Rutigliano, 2002), reduces the organizational costs associated with turnover (Opportunity Knocks, 2010), and contributes to an organization having a competitive edge in the struggle for talent that is so strong among organizations (Scott, McMullen, & Royal, 2012). Historical Context The nonprofit sector is the third largest employment group in the United States with over 10 million employees. Nonfinancial means to retain employees has the potential to be a strategic aspect of running a nonprofit, the fact that there are over 1.4 million nonprofits in the United States (Urban Institute, 2015), and over 10 million nonprofit workers, presents an opportunity to learn more about retention. RETENTION AND TURNOVER 6 The nonprofit sector is composed of many different types of organizations including: education, healthcare, animal care, and international and foreign affairs organizations, just to name a few (Nonprofit HR, 2014). Numerous nonprofits have enormous assets while others provide services that are not favorably rewarded or funded. Working within a nonprofit will often result in a rewarding life rather than rewarding benefits. Nonprofits that have fewer financial means still need to retain their key employees. In actuality, it is even more important since the organization may not be able to use financial rewards as generously and needs to find other means to retain employees. The majority of nonprofits rely on the organization's mission to recruit and retain employees. According to Taylor (2010), careers in nonprofits often require passion for the organization's mission and a genuine desire to contribute to helping others. The mission of the organization will often attract clients, donors, funders, and employees to an organization (Brown and Yoskioka, 2003). However, the ability of the nonprofit to rely on the mission of the organization to attract and retain employees is eroding. Nonprofit employees often find themselves in a position of not only low wages but also high stress. Demands for more accountability and proof of program results are placing more pressure on nonprofit employees. Increasing demands are often leading employees to set aside their desire to make a difference by fulfilling the organization's mission and instead driving them to pursue positions that offer more pay and less stress (Leon and Marcotte, 2001). Depending on the position and level of the employee, a single employee who leaves can significantly affect the organization. When an employee leaves, the organization will often experience a negative impact. Unexpected employee turnover can lead to a reduction of effective work, productivity, RETENTION AND TURNOVER 7 time needed to train replacement, increased hiring costs, and additional burdens on remaining staff that can have a major effect employee morale. According to Scott, McMullen, and Royal (2012), employee turnover has the potential to cost the organization between 50 and 200 percent of an employee's annual salary. Retaining skilled employees has the potential to give an organization a competitive advantage by creating high morale and satisfied workers, who provide better service and enhanced produ


Community pharmacists are front line to citizens for information and services on general health issues. This could be through what is called value-added pharmacy services; these are supplementary services to pharmacy activities which do not include dispensing of medicines and professional consultation. This study aims to evaluate and to discuss the services offered by the community pharmacists other than dispensing medicines in Libya. The study used observational cross-sectional survey over the period of December 2018 to March 2019 by a questionnaire consisting of seven questions divided into three sections according to feature of professional practice in order to show the value-added pharmacy services offered by community pharmacists in the western region of Libya extended from Tripoli to Zawia. Over 70% of the surveyed community pharmacists think positively toward the added pharmacist's services and are accepting to do other services which contribute to enhance the community health excluding dispensing medicines. Thus, more than 85% offer measurement of blood pressure, blood glucose (10%) and body weight and height (80%). Over 50% of the surveyed community pharmacists are with career experience of five years or less, whereas, about 5% is with experience more than 15 years. In conclusion, community pharmacies services in the subjected area are deemed to be focused on in order to enhance their services. The survey recommends that attention should be paid concerning the value-add pharmacy services toward promote it in the right way by scientific and professional policy.


Entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a significant role in entrepreneurial behavior process, which attracts more and more academic attention but keep its influence mechanism to be further discovered. The influence of entrepreneurial selfefficacy on entrepreneurial risk decision is discussed based on entrepreneurial decision and entrepreneurial self-efficacy related theories. This empirical study demonstrates that: i) entrepreneurial self-efficacy has positive effect on entrepreneurial decision; and ii) entrepreneurial self-efficacy has moderating effect on entrepreneurial risk propensity and entrepreneurial decision. Keywords—entrepreneurial risk perception; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; entrepreneurial decision making


Under market-oriented economy, designing the management information s y stem of agricultural products supply chain, which runs through all stages of the chain, can help to improve the efficiency of agricultural production. This syst em consists of a website, an order management subsystem, a delivery management s ubsystem, an inventory management subsystem, a decision supporting subsystem, an d an interface subsystem.


Foreword. Preface. PART I: Recruiting and Retaining Extraordinary Facilitators. Chapter 1. Adult Learning and Higher Education. Chapter 2. Faculty Developmentin Distance Education. Chapter 3. Faculty Development. Chapter 4. Becoming a World-class Facilitator. Chapter 5. Suggestions for Effective Teaching. Chapter 6. Online and Cyberspace Essentials. PART II: Integrating Cyberspace Technology to Facilitate Learning. Chapter 7. Quality Assurance in Doctoral Programs. Chapter 8. Ethics and Diversity Issues in Higher Education. Chapter 9. Understanding Various Generations of Learners and Employees. Chapter 10. Comparison of Learning Outcomes across Different Locations. Chapter 11. Assessment of Hybrid Education. PART III: Chapter Appendix - Course Description and Learning Objectives. Chpater 12. A Study of Instructional Methods. Chapter 13. Progressing Forward. Bibliography. Appendies. Index. About the Authors.


Significance How does the brain recover consciousness after significant perturbations such as anesthesia? The simplest answer is that as the anesthetic washes out, the brain follows a steady and monotonic path toward consciousness. We show that this simple intuition is incorrect. We varied the anesthetic concentration to parametrically control the magnitude of perturbation to brain dynamics while analyzing the characteristics of neuronal activity during recovery of consciousness. We find that, en route to consciousness, the brain passes through several discrete activity states. Although transitions between certain of these activity states occur spontaneously, transitions between others are not observed. Thus, the network formed by these state transitions gives rise to an ordered sequence of states that mediates recovery of consciousness. It is not clear how, after a large perturbation, the brain explores the vast space of potential neuronal activity states to recover those compatible with consciousness. Here, we analyze recovery from pharmacologically induced coma to show that neuronal activity en route to consciousness is confined to a low-dimensional subspace. In this subspace, neuronal activity forms discrete metastable states persistent on the scale of minutes. The network of transitions that links these metastable states is structured such that some states form hubs that connect groups of otherwise disconnected states. Although many paths through the network are possible, to ultimately enter the activity state compatible with consciousness, the brain must first pass through these hubs in an orderly fashion. This organization of metastable states, along with dramatic dimensionality reduction, significantly simplifies the task of sampling the parameter space to recover the state consistent with wakefulness on a physiologically relevant timescale.


A self-regenerative field emission source was demonstrated. The emission source (cathode) consisted of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) grown on the tip of conical carbon protrusions on a graphite plate. CNFs were ∼25nm in diameter, 0.3–2.5μm in length and ∼1×106mm−2 in site density. Initial emission characteristics showed a threshold field of 3.05V∕μm with a current density of 1μA∕cm2 and a field enhancement factor of 2860 from the Fowler-Nordheim plot assuming the work function of 4.6 eV for graphite. A lifetime test carried out for more than 40 h at a constant applied electric field of 10V∕μm in 10−4Pa region disclosed a stable emission with a current density of 1.7–3.0×10−4A∕cm2 after a slight initial decrease in the emission current. Detailed morphological observations revealed that a thick layer of newly grown carbon fibers was formed on the cathode surface after the lifetime test which could be responsible for the observed stable and long-sustained emission under a nonultrahigh vacuum condition. Their grow...


SummaryThree separate experiments were conducted in which tomato seedlings were grown at root zone temperatures of 21°, 26.5° or 32°C. Each experiment differed in the air temperature (11°, 16° or 21°C) of the growth chamber. Total plant dry weight accumulated more slowly at 11° than at 16° or 21°C. Total dry weight and root length were affected by the root temperature treatments at each air temperature. Optimum root temperature, as indicated by dry weight, was 26.5°C except at the lowest air temperature where it was 32°C. Optimum root temperature, as indicated by root length, was 26.5°C at all air temperatures. The rate of increase in root length was reduced at the lowest air temperature or when root temperature was 32°C. Relative growth rate (RGR) was decreased at the lower air temperatures and when root temperature was 32°C. Air temperature had a greater effect than root temperature on RGR except when the root temperature was above 26.5°C. Maintaining higher root temperatures is unlikely to offset the g...


The need for widespread introduction of renewable energy sources requires giving attention to all his components as follows energetic, environmental, operational, economic and social efficiency. Today, a more promising way is the use of solar energy to obtain liquid and gaseous fuels in detail to produce liquid and gaseous fuels [1, 10, 11]. In contrast to wind turbines and photovoltaic power stations, the cost of introducing biogas plants pays back from 5 to 26 months, that depend on the volume of reactors [12]. With the introduction of biogas technologies, the following goals can be achieved: cheap production of heat and electric energy (individual and state level), increasing crop yields through the using of effluent (individual and state level); improving the quality of agricultural products - the production of ecologically safe products; improving the social conditions of the rural population by creating a closed energy-saving production (individual and state level); preservation of forest plantations and reduction of soil erosion (mainly at the state level); savings due to lower energy costs and fertilizers (state level); reduction of internal migration from rural areas (state level).


A total of 34 weaning piglets from six litters were randomly assigned into two groups, offered basal diet(control) and basal diet plus manno-oligosaccharide (MOS), respectively. Faecal samples were collected on day 1(before first feeding), 7, 14, 21 and 28 after weaning. DNA was extracted from the faecal samples and the V6~V8 regions of bacterial 16S rDNA were amplified. Amplicons were analyzed by DGGE to investigate the diversity of the bacterial communities of weaning piglets. Results showed that piglets from the same litter had a higher similarity(81%~88%) of the bacterial community on day 1(before weaning) compared with that after weaning(61%~70%). DGGE similarities of microbial community between neighboring time points, e.g. 1~7, 7~14, 14~21 and 21~28, decreased during the first week for all piglets, but the value in the control remained around 61%, while those in the MOS treatment gradually increased to 70%. Diversity analysis showed that after 7 days the value for the MOS treatment increased while that for the control decreased. On day 28 the diversity index of the bacterial community from the MOS diet was 1.52 and the control group was 1.38. The differences of the diversity between the two groups increased from 0.09 on day 1 to 1.14 on day 28. In agreement with diversity data, DGGE band numbers revealed that during the first week of weaning the average band numbers reduced for both groups. However, after 14 days average band number for piglets fed the MOS diet increased, while that from piglets fed the control diet decreased. The results demonstrated that weaning had caused rapid changes of the bacterial community of piglets and that MOS supplemented in the diet could result in a rapid development and consequently early establishment of a high diverse bacterial community after weaning.


Receipt for delivery of two account books from Huth to Castro, with dates and descriptions for both books. Signed Chs. Van Dessel on October 28, 1846 in Castroville.


Through case study of US national health information network and combining with the development requirement and objective of Chinese regional health information for the time being,the system structure of the regional health information platform is analyzed.Meanwhile,to resolve interactive operation problem in heterogeneous systems, application of integrated technology based on enterprise message bus is put forward aiming at data sharing and exchange,which makes a favorable intercommunication in data resources among sales departments and contributes to the improvement of service quality in medical health field.


PurposeThis study considered organizational politics as a source of stress and examined its spillover effects on the family domain. By integrating the work–home resource theory and transactional theory of stress, the authors developed a moderated mediation model that examined the moderating role of family support in the relationship between employee's perceptions of organizational politics and their family satisfaction through work-to-family conflict.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examined the moderated mediation model using a sample of 223 full-time employees in Bangladesh. Data were collected using a three-wave survey research design.FindingsThe results indicate that organizational politics is negatively related to family satisfaction; work-to-family conflict medicates this relationship. Besides, family support attenuates the mediating effect of work-to-family conflict on the relationship between organizational politics and family satisfaction.Practical implicationsManagers should reduce the extent of organizational politics to avoid its impact on the nonwork domain. Moreover, social support from family members might play a crucial role in reducing the negative consequence of organizational politics in the family domain. By taking human resource practices such as training, increased communication, family-friendly policies, organizations may improve the ability of workers to cope with the negative consequences of organizational politics.Originality/valueThe current study uncovered the spillover effect of organizational politics on the nonwork domain. This research contributed to the burgeoning stream of organizational politics and work–family interface literature by investigating the influence of organizational politics in undermining family satisfaction and exploring the mediating mechanism linking organizational politics and family satisfaction as well as the boundary conditions of family social support.


We consider the problem of gambling on a quantum experiment and enforce rational behaviour by a few rules. These rules yield, in the classical case, the Bayesian theory of probability via duality theorems. In our quantum setting, they yield the Bayesian theory generalised to the space of Hermitian matrices. This very theory is quantum mechanics: in fact, we derive all its four postulates from the generalised Bayesian theory. This implies that quantum mechanics is self-consistent. It also leads us to reinterpret the main operations in quantum mechanics as probability rules: Bayes' rule (measurement), marginalisation (partial tracing), independence (tensor product). To say it with a slogan, we obtain that quantum mechanics is the Bayesian theory in the complex numbers.


The invention relates to the field of seasonings, and particularly relates to spicy peanut butter. The spicy peanut butter comprises the following active ingredients in parts by weight: 60-70 parts of peanut butter, 10-20 parts of peanut kernels, 20-30 parts of sesame oil, 20-30 parts of anise, 6-10 parts of fennel, 5-10 parts of hot sauce, 6-8 parts of ginger slices, 10-15 parts of edible salt, 2-4 parts of Chinese red pepper, 1-3 parts of black pepper, 2-4 parts of fructus amomi rotundus, 0.1-0.3 part of an emulsifier, and 0.5-0.8 part of a stabilizer. Besides the seasoning characteristic of ordinary peanut butter, the spicy peanut butter has the functions of clearing heat and moistening lung, dispelling cold and eliminating dampness, and warming the stomach and arresting vomiting.


A layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique was employed to modify glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) and screen printed electrodes (SPEs) utilizing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/polyelectrolyte binary composites and an enzyme cascade to facilitate efficient electron transfer in sucrose/O 2 biofuel cell. In this study, MWCNTs immobilized invertase (INV) and glucose dehydro- genase (GDH) were alternatively assembled upon polyethyleneimine (PEI) and DNA nanocomposites to construct a bioanode. [Ni(phendion)(phen)]Cl 2 complex and methylene green (MG) were investigated as redox mediators for electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at reduced overpotentials. The LbL architecture showed advantages for sequential enzymatic reaction that favored the efficient penetration of substrate and products in a cascade system while MWCNTs facilitated the efficient electron transfer from sucrose oxidation and enhancement of the current density. With a GCE bioanode modified with a MG or Ni complex, the biofuel cell produced a higher power density ( μ W/cm 2 ) with 145.8% and 130.11% enhancement comparing to a SPE bioanode, respectively. Moreover, the Ni complex modified GCEs and SPEs produced power densities ( μ W/cm 2 ) 93.7% and 107.0% higher compared to MG modified bioanodes, respectively. The maximum current density of 1400 ± 46 μ A/cm 2 was obtained with the Ni complex on GCE at an OCP of 604 ± 17 mV with a maximum power density of 405 ± 6 μ W/cm 2 . The LbL assembly showed great feasibility as a simple and efficient way to construct controlled MWCNT-multi-enzyme modified electrodes for biofuel cell applications.


Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of phenol over a ctivated carbon catalysts in presence of a typical promoter such as hydrogen per oxide has been studied. The experiments were carried out in a trickle-bed react or at given operating conditions (Cinlet phenol= 1 g/L, Cinlet H2O2= 5g/L, T=127 oC, PT=8 atm and WCAT=2.5 g) in a wide range of space time values ( W/QL=20-320 gCAT·h/L). The effect of the addition of hydrogen peroxide was analyzed in terms of initial reaction rate, distribution of intermediates and toxicity of the effluent. To this purpose, the experimental profiles of phenol and TOC conversions v . space time were obtained, intermediates were properly identified and the phenol oxidation pathwa y proposed. Toxicity of the effluents was also measured. The results showed tha t due to the employ of hydrogen peroxide which leads to the production of hydroxyl and hydroperoxy radicals to initiate the reaction, faster initial reaction rate s of phenol and TOC were achieved (rates were increased around 90 and 60%, respective ly). Phenol was fully hydroxylated to hydroquinone which was instantaneou sly oxidized to pbenzoquinone. This quinone was oxidized to CO 2 and low molecular weight acids such as maleic, oxalic, acetic and formic. Acetic a cid was the only refractory specie at the operating conditions employed. Concentrations o f the cyclic intermediates (hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone) were lower in pre sence of hydrogen peroxide; therefore, detoxification of the wastewater was sig nificantly enhanced. Wet oxidation at space times above 160 g CAT·h/L should be enough for the disposal of the liqui d effluent in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. These results present CWAO with activated carbon catalysts promoted by hydrogen per oxide as a promising technology to treat phenolic wastewaters. As far as toxicity o f the effluent is concern, it is preferable to use a promoter than to work only with activated carbon as catalyst or support.


Bridge planning and management require precise and continuous information on how the age and condition of various types of bridges evolve. A main objective for a bridge manager is to keep the bridg ...


There are two potential populations of vesicles in the sympathetic nervous system that may contribute to the retrograde axonal transport of signals from the target tissue. These are derived from the population of recycled synaptic vesicles and endosomes derived from receptor mediated endocytosis of growth factors. We have analysed the retrograde axonal transport of two l125-labelled marker proteins, nerve growth factor (NGF) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (d.b.h.), to determine whether these two populations are processed in the same way in the nerve terminal. Two models were used in the rat, either from the anterior eye chamber to the superior cervical ganglion and trigeminal ganglion or the ligated sciatic nerve after injection into the footpad. The results show that there are significant differences in the regulatory processes that control the targeting of these proteins for retrograde transport. Many inhibitors of the second messenger cascades inhibit the transport of both molecules, for example Latrunculin A and wortmannin. However, the retrograde axonal transport of NGF is inhibited by phenylarsine oxide but not by bis-tyrphostin, FK506, dibutyryl-cAMP, thapsigargin, cadmium and nickel whereas the transport of d.b.h. is the reverse, suggesting the mechanism of endocytosis and targeting the vesicles in the nerve terminal for retrograde axonal transport is different. We have isolated vesicles labelled with these iodinated proteins from the sciatic nerve and have shown that the density of the NGF containing vesicles is significantly lighter than those containing d.b.h. This suggests that there are at least two distinct pathways for retrograde axonal transport of vesicles.


Abstract Absorption of interstitial elements during the processing of Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy using hydride powders was investigated. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon contents were quantified in the steps of hydriding and milling of powders and after sintering of green compacts. The influence of the hydriding treatment was analysed regarding the interstitial contents in the raw materials. Milling and sintering were evaluated according to a 33 factorial design considering the effects of milling time of titanium hydride from 1 to 11 h, sintering temperature between 1000 and 1400°C and holding time from 1 to 5 h. The results showed that the oxygen contents in sintered samples are strongly affected by the hydriding and milling of powders. The effects of the sintering temperature and holding time were found to be significant mainly for the increase in nitrogen and carbon contents. The results of the factorial design, along with the study of microstructural evolution allowed the optimisation of the process parameters in order to obtain the alloy with the lowest possible contents of interstitial elements and homogeneous microstructure.


The miscibility of Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blends in aqueous solutions was studied using viscosity, ultrasonic velocity, and refractive index techniques at 30 0 C. The interaction parameters µ and α calculated from viscosity using Chee and Sun methods indicated the miscibility of this blend. This was further confirmed by ultrasonic and refractive index results. The HEC/PVA blend films were prepared by solution casting method and were analyzed by Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic techniques that confirmed the complete miscibility. This miscibility is due to the strong intermolecular H-bonding interactions between OH groups of HEC and PVA.


the freight logistics and transport of goods vehicles settled formula to the driver based on mileage run,freight settlement by the entire board.However,in practice,because many factors affect the settlement,the simple calculation becomes very complicated.Paper goods vehicle logistics freight settlement proposed new law,the first car of the freight of goods to a single settlement,the factors that will affect the settlement,the regression equation by mathematical expression of the two parameters,so complex,the Composite normalized into a very simple formula.Finally,find the entire board freight.


The invention is a multiprocessor system, comprising a first circuit board, a second circuit board and an adapter card, where the first and second circuit boards separately have plural processors, plural buses and plural connectors and the adapter card can simultaneously connect with these connectors to make the processors on the first circuit board able to be connected through the buses and connectors on the first circuit board, the adapter card and the buses and connectors on the second circuit board to the processors on the second circuit board.


In the second part of a two-part article, the personal, professional and organisational influences on relationship-based practice clarified in part 1 are explored further, with the author reflecting on experiences and discussions with parents, colleagues and researchers. Using living theory methodology, in part 2 the author begins exploring influences of practitioner personality, fears, anxiety, autonomy, training, evidence building and organisational climate. Balance emerges as an additional value in the author's 'alongside' practice for managing these tensions. She calls for a wider shift towards the same qualities of relationships expected in families to be practised across organisations with children's wellbeing in mind. Further, she concludes by calling for a new epistemology of practice that is capable of integrating the practising, training and researching of health visiting by embracing contradictory experiences occurring in living relationships.


A variational model is used to calculate the static stability of a type of half‐bubble magnetic domain occurring in double‐layer films. The domain is stabilized by a difference in wall energy density between the two layers. We show that the behavior of the domain is similar to that of the normal bubble, except that its critical fields are shifted downward from those of the normal bubble by the biasing effect of its closure wall. While our calculation assumes equal saturation moments in the two film layers, we discuss the extension to unequal moments and argue that the calculated stability region is extended by making the lower film moment small relative to the upper film moment.


By explaining creative education based on the theory of human nature and connecting creation with"essence of being", theoretical construction of creative education reflects the nature of human life. In this way, the value and significance of creative education can be clearly seen, and developing the concept of creative education can make education more and more related to human nature.


Combining with the status of urban economy and culture layer gradually improved,taking Yingcheng of Pingdingshan square as example, the design method of Yingcheng culture square was analyzed,the quadrupleness such as civilization,human,endemicity and sense of fashion should be possessed was explained,and it pointed out that urban square and garden can embody the cultural feature of a city,so it should regard the design of cultural square.


Learner autonomy (LA) has been a key area of interest in foreign language learning and teaching for more than three decades, but a limited space has been awarded to the investigation of teachers' practices in fostering LA. Following an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative approach, present study intended to unearth the strategies teachers of English use to make their learners autonomous. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with sixteen English teachers from four public universities of province Punjab. Findings revealed that, in general, teachers use teacher-centered approach while participants' practices and use of various strategies showed their preference for the role of facilitator more than of counselor or resource. Results of this research imply that the goal of LA can be achieved through offering teachers training to make them aware of the significance of making their learners autonomous and incentives for the promotion of LA in their classroom.


The transitional layer arising at enameling of precious metals by enamel on the basis of KO 2-PbO-SiO 2 glass is investigated. By means of electronic microscopy and a method of secondary mass spectroscopy the structure of a contact layer is studied, and try to understand mechanisms of formation system "enamel – precious metal".


In this thesis I will implement a numerically stable soft-sphere collision model using Hooke's Law as the restoring force. This model allows choosing a desired coefficient of restitution and maximum penetration depth in order to generate appropriate values for the spring constant and damping. Then I will explore the applicability of various languages to the field of kD-tree based N-body simulations, concluding that Rust is competitive in both the time and memory usage to C/C++, which are the languages traditionally used for highperformance applications. Additionally, I found that the usage of higher-level languages like Java come at significant time or memory usage costs, making them of little value in the field of large astrophysics simulations. Lastly, as soft-sphere simulations require much smaller time steps for integration compared to hard-spheres, I implemented and benchmarked a priority-queue based adaptive time step system to only take the small time steps when needed. The benchmarks showed a significant speedup compared soft-sphere simulations without this adaptive time step method at roughly 8x faster. In direct particle-particle testing, the adaptive time step showed that with as little as 15 steps during a collision, which the adaptive time step method allows me to set, stable collision handling can be achieved across a spectrum of impact speeds and particle size ratios.


The ectopic pelvic kidney rare, and has been estimated to occur once in 2100 to 3000 autopsies. An ectopic pelvic kidney with a huge renal stone in a patient with mullerian agenesis is even rarer. To the best of our knowledge, no such case (ectopic pelvic kidney with stone) has been reported. We report hereby a 40-year-old woman who presented with acute lower abdominal pain and was treated with exploratory laparotomy by a general surgeon under the impression of calcified abdominal tumor. However, the tumor was found to be located in the retroperitoneal space during operation. The urologist took over on the operative table and revealed it to be an ectopic pelvic kidney with urolithiasis associated with the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome. We describe the clinical course and review the literature of the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome and associated renal anomalies.


Background: Obesity seems to be a critical issue nowadays because of its high prevalence and its adverse effects on health. There is some evidence indicating the relationship between obesity and lower serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the vitamin D status and estimate the response to vitamin D in obese and non-obese children after vitamin D supplementation.
Methods: This was a Quasi experimental study, done in Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic and Paediatric Outdoor, Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from August 2018 to February 2019. Vitamin D was measured in 20 obese and 20 non-obese children aged 10-18 years. Hypovitaminosis D was observed in all (100%) obese children and 15 (75%) non-obese children. Four thousand IU was given orally daily in obese and non-obese vitamin D deficient children for 3 months. Serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, inorganic phosphate, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Parathormone (PTH) also measured before and after vitamin D supplementation.
Results: The mean age was 11.64±1.40 years in obese and11.15±2.40 years in non-obese children, and male female ratio was 1:1.3. Hypovitaminosis D was present in 100% in obese and 75% in non-obese children. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was observed in 85% and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) was in 15% in obese children. In non-obese children VDD was observed in 86.7% and VDI in 13.3% cases. In both the groups serum vitamin D was increased, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels were decreased significantly, and serum calcium was increased and serum inorganic phosphatase was decreased but not statistically significant after four thousand IU daily vitamin D supplementation for three months. After vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D status were found normal in 60% obese and 53.3% non-obese children, VDI were in 30% obese/overweight and 26.7% in non-obese children, and VDD were in 10% obese/overweight and 20% in non-obese children.
Conclusion: VDD was observed in both obese and non-obese children. Therapeutic responses were observed with 4000 IU/day vitamin D supplementation for three months in both the groups.
Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2022; 48: 90-96


Cyclohexane partial oxidation over a 40-mesh Pt-10% Rh single-gauze catalyst can produce ∼85% selectivity to oxygenates and olefins at 25% cyclohexane conversion and 100% oxygen conversion, with cyclohexene and 5-hexenal as the dominant products. A detailed 2-D model of the reactor is solved using density-functional theory (with 35 reactions among 25 species) and computational fluid dynamics. Rapid quenching in the wake of the wires allows highly nonequilibrium species to be preserved. The simulations show that the competition between cyclohexyl and cyclohexylperoxy radicals is crucial in determining product selectivities. At high temperatures and low pressures, the cyclohexyl radical is favored, leading to high selectivities to cyclohexene. At lower temperatures or high pressures, cyclohexylperoxy radicals are favored, allowing the formation of parent oxygenates to dominate. Numerical simulations suggest ways to tune reactor operation for desired product distributions and allow the investigation of dangerous or costly operating conditions, such as high pressure.


A 15-year-old girl is hospitalized with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, vomiting, and weakness of 3 days' duration. She has a history of hyperlipidemia, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, and left ovarian cystadenectomy. She has been taking oral contraceptives (OCPs) and metformin for the past 2 years and started spironolactone 8 weeks ago. She experienced menarche at age 12 years and had one menstrual cycle for the whole first year. There is no history of dysmenorrhea or menorrhagia. Her family history is positive for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, and gallstones.

On physical examination, her body mass index (BMI) is 28.0 kg/m2 (95th percentile), and she is in mild distress due to pain. Her blood pressure is 128/76 mm Hg (90th percentile for age and height); the remainder of her vital signs are normal. She has acanthosis nigricans and hirsutism. She is at Sexual Maturity Rating 5. She has mild tenderness in the right upper abdominal quadrant, but there is no organomegaly or rigidity. The rest of the physical findings are normal.

Laboratory results reveal serum amylase of 660 units/L, lipase of 263 units/L, AST of 868 units/L, ALT of 1,573 units/L, cholesterol of 216 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), triglycerides of 181 mg/dL (2.0 mmol/L), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 33 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L), and glucose ranging from 120 to 148 mg/dL (6.7 to 8.2 mmol/L). Ultrasonography shows multiple cholesterol gallstones and a thickened gall bladder. Additional investigation reveals the diagnosis.

A healthy 2-year-old girl presents to the clinic for evaluation of bowlegs. She was born at term and had a birthweight of 6 lb 11 oz. Her development has been normal, and she eats a regular diet. However, the bowing of her legs has increased progressively since she started walking at 1 year of age. There is …


Environmental impact caused by vibrations generated by high speed trains is of major concern in recent years, since technological improvements in railway connections have allowed for very high speed to be reached. Vibrations induced by traveling trains may cause serious damage to the economical performance of factories, which are equipped with sensible industrial machines or they may disturb people living or operating in buildings placed near a railway or a subway (Bernal D. et al. 2003). Vibrations generated by trains can be considered the result of a particular case of SSI (soil structure interaction) under dynamic conditions. In the following a simple but sufficiently adequate analytical approach is presented, to predict the forces and the wave motion transmitted by the train to the soil through the track system.


Previous studies suggest that, over the last decades, public-sector accounting has moved from Public Administration (PA) to New Public Management (NPM) ideas, and more recently, towards a New Public Governance (NPG) approach. These systems are presented as mutually exclusive and competing. Through an extensive document analysis, this paper explores whether convincing movement towards NPG ideas can be identified at the level of political debate and to what extent the ideas embedded within PA, NPM and NPG systems show themselves in these discussions. The study focuses on accounting, budgeting and performance measurement changes in the UK central government starting from the 1990s. The findings show little evidence that NPM is a transitory state in the evolution from a regime of traditional PA to NPG, a claim made by some commentators. Furthermore, the UK political debate continues to predominantly utilise NPM arguments, with the three systems viewed as containing complementary, rather than competing, schemes. This has resulted in layering, rather than the replacement of ideas. Introduction The public administration we know is not unfamiliar with 'identity crisis' (Waldo, 1968). Previous studies suggest that over the decades there has been continuous a movement in public administration systems from traditional Public Administration (PA) ideas to managerial ones, later labelled as New Public Management (NPM) reforms, and more recently, towards a more participative approach utilising partnerships and networks, referred to as New Public Governance (NPG). Each of these systems is associated with its own accounting, budgeting and performance measurement tools and techniques. The three systems are often presented as mutually exclusive and competing (see, for instance, Osborne and Gaebler, 1992; Peters and Savoie, 1995; Rhodes, 1997; Prestoff et al., 2012; Pollitt and Bouckaert, 2011). However, the claim that there has been a progressive movement along a continuum from PA to NPM, and ultimately to NPG, has also been contested (Pollitt, 2007; Lapsley, 2008). While there have been a number of studies looking at the implementation of accounting reforms associated with these systems (e.g. Christiaens, 1999; Christensen and Lægreid, 2007; Pettersen, 2001; Connolly and Hyndman, 2006), little is known about the political debate that preceded these decisions and on whether this follows the direction some of the literature would suggest.


Three-dimensional finite element model was made from adult skull to find desirable direction of retraction force to treat skeletal class II malocclusion. The retraction force of 400g was applied to the first molar. The direction of the force application was 23° downward, parallel, 23° upward and 45° upward to the occlusal plane. The stress distribution and the displacement within the maxilla were analyzed by three-dimensional finite element method. The findings obtained were as follows: 1. Maxillary first molar was displaced posteriorly and inferiorly in 23° downward, parallel, 23° upward retraction but it was displaced posteriorly and superiorly in 45° upward retraction. 2. ANS, A point and prosthion were moved posteriorly and inferiorly and pterygomaxillary fissure was moved posteriorly and superiorly. Clockwise rotation of maxilla occurred when retraction force was applied. 3. The degree of clockwise rotation of maxilla was greatest when the force was applied 23° upward to the occlusal plane and was least when the force was applied 23° downward to the occlusal plane. 4. Large tensile stress appeared in maxillary first molar and alveolar bone and the infraorbital region of maxilla when the force was applied 23° downward to the occlusal plane. Tensile stress was smaller as the direction of force move upward. 5. Large compressive stress was appeared in maxillary first molar and infraorbital region in 45° upward case and large compressive stress occurred in the posterior part of maxilla as the retraction force was upward.


Demographic changes - such as population ageing - pose great challenges to health systems around the world. For the Romanian health system, challenges might be particularly difficult to address. Facing a severe under-funding and significant workforce maldistribution, the health system in Romania is called to care about both the ageing population and the workforce taking care of the elderly. The aim of this paper is to apply the health labour market framework to the geriatric workforce in Romania.

 The paper describes the composition and distribution of the geriatrics workforce in Romania based on data in the Healthcare Facility Activity report, policy documents and available reports.

 Geriatric care is provided in Romania mainly by geriatricians employed by public hospitals. The team around geriatricians is limited to nurses only, with other professions - such as psychologists, physiotherapists and social workers - almost absent. Even though the number of geriatricians has increased country-wide over recent years (from 149 to 242), there are significant differences in their distribution at a county level. Eleven counties out of the 41 reporting to have only 1 geriatrician for populations of hundreds of thousands. Training curricula for geriatrics residents fall short of addressing team work and inter-professional collaboration. Reports show growing concern over geriatrician burnout, caused in part by inadequate team work. Faced with burnout risk, many of them report considering changing specialties, which would further aggravate the lack of comprehensive elderly care.

 The geriatrics workforce in Romania is poorly developed, and significant efforts are still needed to develop policies addressing geriatrics production, inflows and outflows, and maldistribution and inefficiencies. Moreover, addressing burnout by improving teamwork and collaboration is vital for maintaining and improving the workforce morale and motivation.


We have shown that the ratio of bioactive to immunoreactive LH increases during puberty. To test whether this change is in the immuno- or biopotency of LH, we tested dose-response characteristics in both assays. Results: 1) In the bioassay (RICT), the dose-response characteristics of basal and GnRH-stimulated plasma samples from pubertal (PUB) and adult subjects and the LER-907 and I-1 standards were parallel; prePUB basal and GnRH-stimulated samples were less steep (-0.75 v. -1.00, p<0.05). Turner syndrome samples had slopes 8% greater. 2) Using an RIA with a bioactive 125I-hLH and NIADDK antiserum we found that the dose-response relationship of plasma I-LH changes through puberty. The logit-log transformed dose-response curve for LER-907 was less steep than I-1 (-0.73 v. -1.05, p<0.05); potency estimates at the extremes of the standard curves differed by a factor of 1.7. There was no difference in slopes before and after GnRH infusion, but 7/14 prePUB samples, 3/14 PUB and 0/15 adult were parallel to LER-907, while 1/14 prePUB, 6/14 PUB and 12/15 adult were parallel to I-1. Turner syndrome samples had slopes similar to prePUB samples (-0.74 v. -0.79, NS).Changing LH RIA dose-response characteristics is the principal factor in the changing ratio of bioactivity to immuno-reactivity during puberty. This may reflect the structural heterogeneity of LH.


The objective of this study was to investigate the suitable parts for callus induction and optimal concentrations of growth regulators contained in the medium affecting shooting and rooting Echeveria laui and Echeveria elegans for in vitro mass production. To determine the suitable plant parts for callus induction, the leaves were divided into upper, medium and bottom parts and cultured on MS medium at different concentrations with 0 ~ 2 mgL-1 NAA and 0 ~ 4 mgL-1 BA. The upper and middle parts of leaves both showed 100% callus formation rate with NAA 1 mgL-1 and BA 1 mgL-1 treatment in E. laui. The middle parts of leaves showed 83.3% callus formation rate at NAA 2 mgL-1 and BA 4 mgL-1 treatment in E. elegans. The shoot induction rate from callus was highest at NAA 0.1 mgL-1 and BA 3 mgL-1 treatment in E. laui and NAA 0.3 mgL-1 in E. elegans. In addition, the number of shoots formation was 10.4 shoots high in NAA 1 mg L-1 and BA 1 mgL-1 treatment in E. laui and 12.0 shoots in most effective NAA 1 mgL-1 and BA 0.1 mg L-1 treatment in E. elegans. In the case of acclimatization of regenerated plant, growth characteristics did not show any significant difference (35 ~ 55%) shading with respect to the different ratio of substrate mixture, and it was determined that would be appropriate considered plant height and appearance preference of E. laui and E. elegans. It was established that the optimization of culture condition was responsible for the mass propagation in vitro cultures of E. laui and E. elegans.


Agnes's brakes fail. Should she continue straight into the busy intersection or should she swerve into the field? Add to the story, what Agnes does not and cannot know, that continuing into the intersection will cause no harm, whereas swerving into the apparently empty field will cause a death. I evaluate arguments for the claim that she should enter the intersection, i.e. for objectivism about right and wrong; and arguments for the claim that she should swerve, i.e. for subjectivism about right and wrong, and conclude that subjectivism is more plausible. I also consider the view that 'ought' and 'wrong' are systematically ambiguous, that she subjectively ought to swerve and that she objectively ought to enter the intersection. I argue that most versions of this suggestion are unworkable, and that even the best version is less plausible than pure subjectivism.


Expected utility and risk analysis for stochastic influence networks requires accounting for the complex interconnections between agents as well as between agents and stochastic phenomena. Conditional game theory provides a framework within which to study expected utility and risk for such networks. Key features of this approach are a) mechanism for modulating individual preferences in response to social and stochastic influence; b) a mechanism for aggregating social and stochastic influence to generate a comprehensive stochastic social model; c) an operational definition of coordination as a measure of the shared intentionality of a network; d) analysis of expected utility and risk for each member of the network; and e) analysis of the expected coordination utility and risk of the network.


The world's transition to green economic growth, considering the Agenda for Sustainable Development, provokes relevant structural changes in the world market. Consequently, it boosts the business sector's ability to incorporate green dimensions into their development policies to intensify their green competitiveness in the market. In this case, it is necessary to identify the appropriate indicators that affect a company's green competitiveness. Thus, stakeholders and management could intensify or decline a company's green competitiveness depending on the efficiency of communication between them. The paper aims to analyze the role of stakeholders' engagement in the company's management in enhancing green competitiveness. The research data were compiled from a questionnaire of 75 respondents, who represent the Ukrainian company's management. The study applies PLS-SEM to test the hypotheses of the investigation. The empirical results allow us to conclude that stakeholders' engagement in the company's management positively affects the company's green competitiveness. The most statistically significant impact on the company's green competitiveness is experience in communication with stakeholders and managing stakeholders' conflicts, with loading factors of 0.802 and 0.806, respectively. The findings show that to improve green competitiveness, the company's management should develop targeted stakeholder communications and extend knowledge and awareness of stakeholder interests and values. At the same time, management should incorporate stakeholders' suggestions and recommendations when promoting a company's green competitiveness.


Communications devices operating in the TV white space (TVWS) spectrum will be strictly regulated, requiring compliance with spectral masks to protect incumbent users and sufficient frequency agility to allow access to numerous frequency bands at different times and locations. Therefore, future designs sampling directly at radio frequency (RF) have been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an implementation of such a transceiver at a scaled-down frequency implemented on the OMAP-L137 evaluation module, whereby the RF link can be replaced by the device's audio I/O, thus enabling easier observation and algorithm testing for students.


AbstrcatFollowing the development of computer technology,especially the development of Internet,great changes have taken place with traditional GIS on component of construction and technological application etc.WebGIS based on MapXtreme is the development trend of GIS.This paper analyses the technologies and application model of WebGIS,and introduced MapXtreme for Java's technology and its exploiture mode.Thinking about the users basic requirement of GIS,design a WebGIS prototype system based on J2EE technology by using the component package provided by MapXtreme,and give an actual example in water conservancy information system.It resolved some questions about independence operation system and data integration in groundwater inspecting system.


Abstract Four new semiconducting quaternary antimony sulfides, KAg 2 SbS 4 (I), K 2 AgSbS 4 (II), RbAg 2 SbS 4 (III), and Rb 2 AgSbS 4 (IV) were prepared in supercritical ammonia at 160°C in 4 days from the appropriate mole ratios of K 2 S 4 , K 2 CO 3 , or Rb 2 CO 3 with Ag, Sb 2 S 3 , and S 8 . Both silver-rich materials, I and III, crystallize in structure types previously observed in BaAg 2 GeS 4 and SrCu 2 SnS 4 , respectively. However, it was determined that the space group of the latter compound was inaccurately reported in the literature. Novel structure types were obtained for II and IV. The structures of I–III contain three-dimensional anionic frameworks, either [Ag 2 SbS 4 ] − or [AgSbS 4 ] 2− , built from a variety of edge- or vertex-shared antimony sulfide and silver sulfide tetrahedra. The alkali metal cations in I and II reside in two orthogonal, intersecting channels, and in three isolated one-dimensional channels in III. Compound IV has a layered structure, with a double layer of rubidium cations separating the neighboring anionic frameworks. It is noteworthy that I–III crystallize in noncentrosymmetric space groups. The structural diversity resulting from the condensation of quite regular SbS 4 and distorted AgS 4 tetrahedra in these four compounds and their optical band gaps are discussed. Crystal data: (I), red polyhedron, tetragonal space group, I 42 m , a = 6.886(1) A, c = 8.438(2) A, V = 400.16(9) A 3 , Z = 2, and R ( wR ) = 0.0397(0.0335); (II), yellow plate, orthorhombic space group, Pnn 2, a = 10.348(2) A, b = 10.522(2) A, c = 7.946(2) A, V = 865.2(3) A 3 , Z = 4, and R ( wR ) = 0.0377(0.0392); (III), yellow-orange needle, trigonal space group, P 3 2 21, a = 6.630(1) A, c = 16.700(2) A, V = 635.8(2) A 3 , Z = 3, and R ( wR ) = 0.0244(0.0310); (IV), yellow polyhedron, monoclinic space group, P 2 1 / n , a = 8.229(3) A, b = 10.857(2) A, c = 10.346(2) A, β = 91.55(2)°, V = 924.0(4) A 3 , Z = 4, and R ( wR ) = 0.0377(0.0405).


In this study, raw fly ash (RFA) was used to synthesize zeolite (the zeolitized fly ash, ZFA) via a two-step process (alkaline fusion-hydrothermal synthesis). RFA and ZFA were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared. The prepared ZFA was employed as the adsorbent in the batch adsorption of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from cheese whey wastewater. The effect of operational parameters on the adsorption process was investigated. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency increases with the increase of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The optimum conditions were determined as pH of 11, a contact time of 20 min (qe = 330.088 mg/g), and adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g for COD adsorption on ZFA. Kinetic analysis of the COD adsorption on ZFA indicated that the adsorption process was controlled by the Morris–Weber-order model. Moreover, the isotherm models were subjected to the experimental data of the COD adsorption on ZFA. The results revealed that the COD adsorption on ZFA involved physical adsorption with good adsorption characteristics. The calculated values of the thermodynamic parameters such as DH°, DS°, and DG° revealed that the adsorption of COD on ZFA was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. In fact, high adsorption efficiency can be obtained in a short time using ZFA as the adsorbent for the COD removal from cheese whey wastewater.


For a finite group G= 〈X〉 (X = G), the least positive integer MLX(G) is called the maximum length of G with respect to the generating set X if every element of G may be represented as a product of at most MLX(G) elements of X . The maximum length of G, denoted by ML(G), is defined to be the minimum of {MLX(G) | G = 〈X〉, X = G, X = G−{1G}}. The well-known commutator length of a group G, denoted by c(G), satisfies the inequality c(G) ≤ML(G′), where G′ is the derived subgroup of G. In this paper we study the properties of ML(G) and by using this inequality we give upper bounds for the commutator lengths of certain classes of finite groups. In some cases these upper bounds involve the interesting sequences of Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.


e-Navigation is an IMO initiative defined as "the harmonised collection, integration, exchange, presentation and analysis of maritime information onboard and ashore by electronic means to enhance berth to berth navigation and related services, for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment". IMO has dictated that e-Navigation should be 'User Need' led and take into account the Human Element. This paper will explore some of the Human Element issues within e-Navigation and stress that for enhancement of safety, security and environmental protection, the decision maker must be supported not only by the technology, but importantly with effective procedures and training.


Aluminium Nitride (AlN) as a piezoelectric material has certain advantages compared to PZT, like linearity, inherent polarity and the absence of lead as a potentially hazardous substance. Its weaker piezoelectric coefficient can partially be compensated by a higher driving voltage, as AlN usually has a high dielectric strength. Yet, while developing our quasistatic MEMS micro mirrors based on AlN, we frequently encountered dielectric breakdowns between 30V and 80 V, while expecting reliable operation up to 150 V. By means of lock-in thermography, we were able to localize hot spots at the border of the top electrode that would lead to breakdown events. A cumulation of such hot spots was examined by focused ion beam (FIB) slicing and we discovered AlN voids close to the border. An inspection of the Pt bottom electrode by SEM and dark field microscopy showed no significant defect density in this process stage. Our explanation for the failure is therefore a diffusion of ions into the AlN layer that would be mobilized by the electric field across the piezo layer and lead to heating and dielectric breakdown. To conclude the study, we plan further analysis by TEM and EDX.


This paper uses data drawn from a 2010 telephone survey of 500 New Zealand workers to demonstrate that Māori and Pacific respondents perceive their organisations as less supportive of diversity than do their European/Pākeha counterparts. Research linking employees' perceptions of diversity climate to favourable business and employee outcomes is outlined. The Māori and Pacific populations combined will comprise nearly 30% of New Zealand's working age population in 2026 (EEO Trust, 2006). We argue it is critical for organisations to understand the factors that promote feelings of inclusion for these groups in order to fully leverage the benefits they offer. Suggestions are provided for creating a positive climate for diversity recognising the specific needs of Māori and Pacific employees.


We present a time dependent quantum perturbation result, uniform in the Planck constant for potential whose gradient is bounded a.e..We show also that the classical limit of the perturbed quantum dynamics remains in a tubular neighborhood of the classical unperturbed one, the size of this neighborhood being of the order of the square root of the size of the perturbation. We treat both Schr\"odinger and von Neumann-Heisenberg equations.


At the next clinical session, the implant abutments were mounted on the implants using the transfer key and torqued to 35 Nm, the AGCs were placed on the abutments (Fig. 5) and the fit of the abutments was assessed with x-rays (Fig. 6). The mock-up from clear PMMA was placed over the electroformed copings, and the occlusion was checked (Fig. 7). A bite registration was made and a final impression was taken over the electroformed copings and the mock-up using a polyether material (Impregum; 3M ESPE; Fig. 8A). After the impression had been taken, the abutments were left in the patient's mouth and the temporary FPD from colored PMMA was placed on them using temporary cement (TempBond; Kerr, Orange, CA, USA; Fig. 08B).