This book is product of a series of conferences designed for serious scholars who wish to investigate new trends of Islamic thought in Indonesia. It is intended to meet e need felt by those whose understanding of Indonesian Islam has been hampered by a number of major developments of religious phenomena since the advance of the New Order regime that, to a significant degree, provides a new paradigm among Indonesian Muslims. the purpose of this book, according to the editor, is to provide an academic map through political and anthropological studies; it seeks to present Muslim's perspective in the light "new paradigm" to study Indonesian Islam. DOI:  10.15408/sdi.v4i3.776


Leaf litter arthropod population changes were monitored by means of extensive can trapping over a thirteen month period at a lowland evergreen forest site in Costa Rica. Samples were taken within an undisturbed forest plot and an adjacent fallow cacao plantation. Comparisons of abundance were made between nocturnal and diurnal samples as well as between months. The dominant arthropod groups in the samples in order of abundance were the Formicidae, Apterygota, Orthoptera and Arachnida. Total numbers of individuals in all major groups were consistently greater in the initial stages of the rainy season and remained relatively constant throughout the remainder of the year. It is suggested that numbers increase in response to the onset be the rainy season. Greater numbers of individuals were collected in the undisturbed forest than the fallow cacao plantation. Significant diel differences in abundance were found for many of the major groups included in the study. Maximum arthropod abundance corresponded to the time of greatest leaf litter depth within the study plots.


Abstract An unusually high mortality of eggs and fry of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) from Lake Taupo in 1966 was possibly caused by excessive exposure to DDT and its metabolites. The egg and fry mortality (44.6%), and DDT level in the fry (4.63 ppm), was compared with other similar cases of possible DDT poisoning in young salmonids, both in New Zealand and North America. Other possible adverse effects on young salmonids exposed to DDT were discussed.


The dynamic transmission accuracy for the 2K-V-type drive is researched in comprehensive consideration of the nonlinear factors (such as manufacturing errors, assembly errors, clearances, meshing stiffness of gears and bearings, etc.). The nonlinear dynamic model is set up and is solved by using Newmark method. So it lays a good theoretical foundation for the research of the dynamic transmission accuracy of 2K-V-type drive and is also beneficial to the research of dynamic transmission accuracy of other similar gear drives.


Centralised grain storage is an integral part of the overall grain marketing system in Australia. Historically it was associated with grain pooling which guaranteed farmers a partial payment for their grain on delivery to the pool with further payments once the pool had been finalised. The grain distribution system was characterised by statutory monopolies established and protected from competition by Commonwealth and state legislation. A common feature of marketing the major grains was a single marketing body, such as the former Australian Wheat Board and the former Australian Barley Board, for both export and domestic markets. Grain transport was also regulated in all mainland states except for Victoria. In the regulated states, a formal agreement between the rail authority and the bulk handling authority directed grain traffic to rail instead of road. Over the past decade there has been considerable easing of the regulations affecting the grain marketing and distribution system. The result has been a gradual deregulation, corporatisation and privatisation of the domestic marketing and handling arrangements, allowing farmers to sell directly to marketing agents and end users of grains. With the changes in the marketing system, a wider variety of grain payment and delivery options for farmers have been introduced. These new arrangements allow farmers more flexibility in how they dispose of their grain.


Comparing with future goods and spot goods,we aim at the keys of making initial margin under inventory impawn financing.We hope it can provide an reference when commercial banks perform the inventory impawn financing.


Pre-conference Tutorial (Seminar on Current Trends and Status of Organic Light Emitting Diode and Organic/ Hybrid Solar Cell) - Talk: 14 Jun (Sun)


Diarrhea1 diseases have great public health significance, being a very common cause of illness and malnutrition in young children (l-3). In Venezuela, approximately seven children die every day of these diseases (4). Studies in various parts of the world have shown rotavirus and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (henceforth referred to as ' 'ETFK") to be the most frequent agents of acute diarrhea (5-7). However, another microorganism known since 1372 to be associated with enterocolitis in man and animals is Campylobacter jej~lni (S-lo), This microbe, identified in both sick and apparently healthy persons, has been found in many countries (g-14). At present, CampyZobacter infection is considered a zoonosis. In some areas, including the industrialized


Following the requirements of "The Guidelines for Physical Education Courses of China's Common Colleges and Universities" decreed by the Ministry of Education, according to the practical situation of course and human resources of the college, the author bring out some views on the establishment and implementation of physical education and health curriculum system, hoping to offer a useful reference for the PE course reforms of colleges and universities.


Language Diversity and Thought:. Reformulation of the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis. John A. Lucy. Studies in the Social and Cultural Foundations of Language, 12. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992. 328 pp.

Grammatical Categories and Cognition:. Case Study of the Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis. John A. Lucy. Studies in the Social and Cultural Foundations of Language, 13. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992. 211 pp.


The invention discloses an electronic cigarette heating core, and belongs to the technical field of electronic cigarettes. The electronic cigarette heating core comprises a sealing sleeve, a sleeve head, a sleeve middle and a sleeve bottom, the left and the right of the top of the sleeve head are each perpendicularly provided with a first hole channel, the left and the right of the lower portion of the sleeve head are each horizontally provided with a second hole channel, the middle of the sleeve middle and the middle of the sleeve bottom are a main air channel, and the upper portion of the main air channel is communicated with the first hole channels and the second hole channels; a first annular groove is formed in the center of the top of the sleeve bottom, and a second annular groove is formed in the side edge of the top of the sleeve bottom. The electronic cigarette heating core has the advantages that in the air channel, the first hole channels and the second hole channels are mutually staggered, air can flow smoothly, and cigarette tar can be prevented from entering; by means of the first annular groove formed in the sleeve bottom, redundant cigarette tar heaped on the joint of the sealing sleeve and an electronic cigarette shell is reduced, the aging speed of the sealing sleeve is decreased, and leakage of the cigarette tar is prevented; the second annular groove is combined with an original groove, and sealing is achieved through a sealing ring which is made of materials harmless to a human body, so that the sealing performance of the heating core is particularly good.


The acoustic detection of buried objects is hampered by the fact that, at frequencies high enough to resolve the object, the ground is a poor conductor of the acoustic probe signal. In order to circumvent this problem, techniques have been developed whereby high‐level low frequency probe signals are used to excite resonances in the object, which, in turn, cause microscopic displacement of the ground surface that can be sensed with a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). Although this approach shows great promise, it is limited by speckle noise. This is a form of noise arising from the coherent property of the laser signal. In this paper we demonstrate real data results using an innovations detector, which operates by sensing the change in the statistics of the returned laser backscatter signal when a target is present. When there is no target present, the signal can be modeled by a Kalman filter, such that its innovation sequence is zero mean and white. Any deviation of the signal from this model then disrupts ...


PurposeThis paper examines how sophisticated and better-informed investors, such as short sellers, trade on information along the supply chain. Given the economic linkages between suppliers and customers, one would expect short sellers to trade on such information and to capitalize on investors' inattention to such economic links.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses both multivariate regression analysis and portfolio analysis where the time series averages of equally weighted monthly portfolio returns are reported to explore the abnormal returns of long-short trading strategies.FindingsResults indicate that short interest predicts unexpected earnings news, consistent with short sellers extracting information from economic relationships. There is a strong negative relationship between short interest in the supplier firm and the one-month future stock return of the customer firm. This negative relation significantly persists for at least 12 months. One plausible channel explaining the information content of supplier (customer) firm's short interest for the customer (supplier) firms is the short sale constraints on the customer (supplier) firms.Originality/valueThe paper addresses a gap in the literature by examining whether short selling in a firm in the months leading up to a customer's (supplier's) negative shock is negatively correlated to the customer's (supplier's) future performance. Overall, the findings suggest that short sellers play an important role in the price discovery of related firms in the supply chain, which is beyond the direct effects documented in prior literature.


Maize (Zea mays L.) plants exposed to low water potentials (ψw) at anthesis frequently experience failure of reproduction despite high plant ψw before and after anthesis. Since the supply of reserve carbohydrates in maize stems may be low at anthesis and low ψw can inhibit photosynthesis, it is possible that a water deficit at anthesis causes a deficit of photosynthetic products or their derivatives, which could lead to premature cessation of reproductive development. To test this hypothesis, a high-sucrose (150 g L⁻¹ liquid tissue culture medium was supplied to the stems of dehydrating maize plants from an external reservoir using a new stem infusion technique. Plants were grown in controlled environment chambers in large pots containing soil. At midday, the rates of net photosynthesis of upper leaves of well-watered plants were ≈20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and the ψw of these leaves was −0.6 MPa. Approximately 5 d after water was withheld from pots, upper leaf ψw dropped to −1.6 to −1.8 MPa and photosynthetic rates of the same leaves were ≈20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Stem infusion of liquid tissue culture medium during 5- or 7.5-d water-deficit periods initiated 1 d after silking prevented reproductive failure without rehydrating the plant. Final grain yields of some of the medium-infused plants approached control yields. Dehydrated plants which received infusion of a similar volume of water or which were not infused experienced nearly complete reproductive failure. Following rehydration, photosynthesis of all plants exposed to low ψw during anthesis recovered, but only those infused with the medium during low ψw continued kernel development to maturity. Additional experiments indicated that plant growth regulators were not required for an effective medium. These experiments identify assimilate supply and not low plant ψw per se as a limiting factor in maize reproductive failure near anthesis and suggest that improvement in drought tolerance may be achieved by changes in the assimilate storage patterns and/or the phenology of maize plants. Additionally, this whole plant system provides an agriculturally relevant model system for studying the cellular and subcellular mechanisms associated with failure of reproductive growth at low ψw. Contribution of the Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Paper no. 25800 in the technical article series. Support for this work was provided in part by the Gas Res. Inst. project Advanced Concepts in Biomass Production and Biological Pretreatment (J.S. Boyer) and by Dep. of Energy grant DE-FG05-84ER13273 (J.S. Boyer).


In this paper, robust filtering theory is applied to the estimation problem in an intercept system. First, the intercept system is analyzed. A robust filtering problem is formulated for missile seekers. The designs of robust filters is also discussed. A design example is given to illustrate how the new technique can improve the performance of an intercept system.


The first flight model PLEIADES high resolution instrument under Thales Alenia Space development, on behalf of CNES, is currently in integration and test phases. Based on the SED HI detection unit concept, PLEIADES detection unit has been fully qualified before the integration at telescope level. The main radiometric performances have been measured on engineering and first flight models. This paper presents the results of performances obtained on the both models. After a recall of the SED HI concept, the design and performances of the main elements (charge coupled detectors, focal plane and video processing unit), detection unit radiometric performances are presented and compared to the instrument specifications for the panchromatic and multispectral bands. The performances treated are the following: - video signal characteristics, - dark signal level and dark signal non uniformity, - photo-response non uniformity, - non linearity and differential non linearity, - temporal and spatial noises regarding system definitions PLEIADES detection unit allows tuning of different functions: reference and sampling time positioning, anti-blooming level, gain value, TDI line number. These parameters are presented with their associated criteria of optimisation to achieve system radiometric performances and their sensitivities on radiometric performances. All the results of the measurements performed by Thales Alenia Space on the PLEIADES detection units demonstrate the high potential of the SED HI concept for Earth high resolution observation system allowing optimised performances at instrument and satellite levels.


In this short paper, a unified framework for performing density-weighted fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering of feature and relational datasets is presented. The proposed approach consists of reducing the original dataset to a smaller one, assigning each selected datum a weight reflecting the number of nearby data, clustering the weighted reduced dataset using a weighted version of the feature or relational data FCM algorithm, and if desired, extending the reduced data results back to the original dataset. Several methods are given for each of the tasks of data subset selection, weight assignment, and extension of the weighted clustering results. The newly proposed weighted version of the non-Euclidean relational FCM algorithm is proved to produce the identical results as its feature data analog for a certain type of relational data. Artificial and real data examples are used to demonstrate and contrast various instances of this general approach.


Taking the square in Shanghai as an example,the paper determines underground water distribution features,permeability coefficient and pumping influencing radius and other important hydrological parameters within foundation excavation influencing scope through in-situ pumping test,which has provided design basis and research basis for foundation excavation and dewatering engineering.


In this work, silicon carbide (SiC) coatings were successfully grown by pulsed chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The precursors silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) and ethylene (C2H4) were not supplied in a continuous flow but were pulsed alternately into the growth chamber with H2 as a carrier and a purge gas. A typical pulsed CVD cycle was SiCl4 pulse—H2 purge—C2H4 pulse—H2 purge. This led to growth of superconformal SiC coatings, which could not be obtained under similar process conditions using a constant flow CVD process. We propose a two-step framework for SiC growth via pulsed CVD. During the SiCl4 pulse, a layer of Si is deposited. In the following C2H4 pulse, this Si layer is carburized, and SiC is formed. The high chlorine surface coverage after the SiCl4 pulse is believed to enable superconformal growth via a growth inhibition effect.


A distributional analysis has been undertaken of the event mean concentrat ions (EMCs) of pollutants discharged during storm events from separately sewered stormwater drainage systems in four representative French urban catchments. Six basic distributions have been tested following a review of both the literature and of actual fitting procedures which
demonstrated that stormwater EMCs appear to conform to a lognormal distribution. A BASIC program compatible for IBM PC use has been developed and the goodness of fit evaluated for COD, BOOs, TSS, 2n:2 .... , NO:3 - and NNH
4 .... , in respect of two sets of urban catchments located in the Paris and Aix-en-Provence regions respectively.

The optimum fits are provided by maximum likelihood methods with three of the tested distributions possessing broadly similar fitting performances: the three parameter lognormal distribution; the Frechet (Extreme Value type 2) distribution; the two parameter lognormal distribution.

These three distributions showed best fits for TSS and COD EMCs.

A stepwise regression analysis has also been undertaken to provide a regional di fferent'iation of the pollution parameters based on lumped hydrological and storm event characteristics. Although the resultant multiple correlation coefficients are relatively weak, the main explanatory variables confirm the significance of peak flow rates and rainfall intensity in driving the stormwater flow quality within the sewer system, especially in the case of the southern Mediterranean catchments. Antecedent dry period is only of significance in the northern Parisian catchments.


Note: An isochromosome 17 results in a loss of the short arm (17p) and duplication of the long arm (17q) leading to a single copy of 17p and three copies of 17q. An i(17q), usually observed in a complex karyotype, has been reported in solid tumors and in various types of hematological diseases: acute and chronic myeloid leukemias, acute lymphoid leukemiasand chronic lymphoid leukemias, and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In chronic myeloid leukemia, i(17q) is a frequent and well known secondary anomaly, either solely in 10% of cases, or with other additional anomalies, in at least another 10% of cases, in particular with +8.


In view of the problem of serious imbalance between supply and demand of water resources,this paper selected the national water consumption data from 2000 to 2012,and established GM(1,1)model and the optimized grey prediction model respectively for a short-term water consumption prediction.The research verified the practicability of the grey prediction model.In addition,compared with other models,the prediction of the model with the weakening operator is more accurate.


Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) belonging to Sapindaceae family is an important commercial crops in Taiwan, which blooms in late March and fruit matures in late June. The flower is usually considered as disposable agricultural byproducts. Our pervious study found that litchi flower extract had a noticeable phenolic level and also exhibited good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Reports indicated that phenolic compounds had good anti-carcinogenic effect. There are, however, no related reports regarding anti-carcinogenic effect of litchi flower. In this study, cytotoxic activity of ethanolic extract from litchi flower on A549, KB, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines was evaluated first. The litchi flower extract had better anti-proliferative effect on HepG2 cells. Through the comparative experiments with Clone 9 normal rat liver cell line and two drugs (fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX) used in the treatment of cancer), 0.3 mg/ml is the best concentration used to investigate the apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms for the litchi flower extract-induced death in HepG2 cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that HepG2 cell treated with ethanolic extract from litchi flower was arrested at G2/M phase. Western blot analysis showed that ethanolic extract from litchi flower-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis should attribute decrease of Bcl-2 expression and increase of Bid expression; furthermore, decreased expression of procaspases-3, 7, 8 and 9, and increased PARP degradation could also be observed. For PI3K/Akt pathway, expression of PI3K and Akt was increased, and phosphorelation of Akt was down-regulated through treatment of the litchi flower extract, which led to HepG2 cell apoptosis. Moreover, ethanolic extract from litchi flower-induced HepG2 cell autophagy should attribute increase of p53 expression, which suppressed expression of phosphorylated mTOR, phosphorylated p70S6K, PS6K(D57) and PS6K(D58), and up-regulated LC3 I/II expression.


Objective To explore the morphologic changes of astrocyte,GFAP expression and synapse in rats at the early stages of severe scald.Methods Healthy SD rats were divided into three groups as following:normal control,sham-scalded group,scald group,scald group were quantified at 3,6,12,24,and 48 h post thermal injury.The ultrastructural change was observed by transmission electron microscope;The change of brain GFAP expression after severe scald was determined by immunohistochemical method.Results Under transmission electron microscope,the number of synapes and synapes vesicle decrease and synaptic cleft broaden.Brain GFAP expression were significantly increased after burn.Conclusions The increase in GFAP expression,astrocyte activation,synapse,associated with increased BBB permeability following thermal injury,indicates that GFAP may contribute to observed BBB disruption in peripheral thermal injury.


Experimental studies have been conducted in a curved mixing layer in which both the velocity ratio and the density ratio were variable. Flow visualization studies and profile measurements covered a wide range of experimental conditions. The structures observed experimentally were examined in the light of three different instability mechanisms which can exist in the same mean flow. For the case of mixing layers with uniform density, it was found that the normal large spanwise vortex structures can be weakened or inhibited by Taylor-Gortler instability if the inner stream is faster than the outer stream. For the case of mixing layers with different densities, three-dimensionality is greatly enhanced by Rayleigh-Taylor instability if the inner stream is heavier than the outer stream, and especially if the inner stream is also faster. In the former case the growth rate of the mixing layer was found to be insensitive to changes in the velocity ratio. The effects of curvature on the structure of the curved turbulent mixing layer were explored in terms of length scales and celerity for the large spanwise structures where these structures could be observed. Other things being equal, the celerity of the large structures was found to depend on density ratio and velocity ratio but not on the sense of the mean streamline curvature.


ABSTRACT From 1870, in the United Kingdom, a generally liberal legal framework for life insurance existed which commanded wide support, particularly from the actuarial profession. Despite its apparent liberalism, however, it is likely that the regulatory framework impeded market entry, particularly of mutual companies. The liberal framework broke down in a number of incremental steps from 1946. This paper traces the development of U.K. life assurance regulation for 101 years from the mid-Victorian period, analyses contemporary reflections on the legal framework within the actuarial profession, and examines the appropriateness of the legal framework for achieving specific economic objectives for long-term insurance regulation.


Abstract : The problem of a subcritical, potential, steady, three-dimensional flow past an unyawed ellipsoid is considered, using ellipsoidal coordinates. The full equations of motion and the exact body surface boundary condition are used throughout. Further, by means of a simple transformation the entire flow field is taken into the computation. A finite difference method, followed by an iterative process is used for the solution of the flow equations. Mach number distributions are given for a number of examples, for the free-stream flow aligned along either the major axis, or the second major axis of the ellipsoid. (Author)


The researcher investigated the literature review process of educational doctoral students at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. The independent variables investigated were gender, program of study, university attended, Masters thesis written, years between completion of a masters program and commencement of the doctoral program, and campus residency while engaged in the review of the literature process. The dependent variables were computer indices used, print indices used, scores from scales of usefulness of print indices, scores of scales for usefulness of computer indices, methods for learning how to use indices, and formal training in how to do a review of the literature. The sample consisted of 61 subjects with 35 from Kansas State University and 26 from the University of Kansas. Eleven composite null hypotheses were tested. The researcher made a total of 70 comparisons plus 30 recurring comparisons. Of the 70 comparisons plus 30 recurring comparisons. Of the 70 comparisons 40 were main effects and 30 were interactions. Of the 40 main effects, two were statistically significant at the .05 level. The significant main effects were: 1) years between masters and doctoral program and using electronic indices; and 2) gender and having someone other than the subject complete a computer search. Of the 30 interactions none was statistically significant at the .05 level. The results of the study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. There is an association between gender and having someone else complete a search; 2. There is an association between years between completion of a Masters degree and commencement of a doctoral program and using electronic indices; 3. There is no association between program of study and the literature review process; 4. There is no association between university attended and the literature review process; 5. There is no association between writing a Masters Thesis and the literature review process; and 6. There is no association between campus residency and the literature review process.


During 1978, 308 women were referred by general practitioners to the Breast Clinic at Herlev Hospital for a wide range of breast complaints. Of these referrals, 83 had breast cancer and 225 were discharged with a benign diagnosis, in 124 cases based on a biopsy. The women were submitted to a diagnostic programme', based on three main principles: diagnosis and treatment are carried out as far as possible in the out-patient department; diagnosis should be quickly established and with as few visits as possible; and a diagnosis ofcancer is made before admission for mastectomy. In the out-patient department physical examination was performed by a senior resident or consultant. Mammography was performed in all patients and ductography when indicated. Cysts were needle-aspirated, small solid lumps were removed and knife biopsies taken from larger, lessdefined lesions. Subclinical clusters of microcalcifications found on mammography were removed surgically after marking with a hookwire'. At the follow-up investigation in 1982 the same diagnostic procedures were used.


The 2015 Colloquium Balticum took place at the University of Tartu from 5 to 7 November. This annual colloquium first held in 2001 at Lund University, has continued to bring together Antiquity scholars from Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Russia. While participants come mainly from classical studies, researchers from a variety of disciplines have also recognised the conference's merit. Over the years, the programme has addressed disciplines such as philosophy, Greek and Latin literature, as well as, for instance, the Greek and Latin education or the influences of ancient mythology in contemporary literature. The delivered papers are authored by both recognised scholars and by MAand PhD-students presenting their first academic achievements. The subtitle of this year's Colloquium Balticum XIV Tartuense was Pontes ad fontes (Bridges to Sources), aiming to draw attention to methodological questions in researching Classical Antiquity and reception of ancient culture. As expressed in the conference invitation, a wide variety of activities could be considered Pontes (Bridges) to Antiquity: discovery, interpretation, translation, commentaries and teaching of ancient heritage. This subtitle offered an opportunity to include papers on poetry and poetics, methods and possibilities of textual analysis, themes and forms of ancient poetry in contemporary literature, and so on. We will give a short overview of such papers presented during the eight sessions on the colloquium in Tartu. During the first session on 5 November, Anna Strode from the University of Latvia discussed the themes of 17th century occasional poetry in Riga and their relation to the history of Livonia. Due to the domination of Swedish Empire at the time in Livonia, the level of education improved, and in 1631 the Riga Academic Gymnasium was founded and soon scientific texts started to appear. Hand in hand with the growing importance of Latin and Greek language in education, occasional poetry in these languages began to bloom. In order to graduate from the Gymnasium, students had to take part in various disputations (disputationes) held in school as well as in public. Texts of these disputations were printed before the disputations themselves took place; the printed versions included occasional poems congratulating the respondents (that is, students of the Gymnasium, who were the authors of the disputations), which were added to the end of the texts. Strode described how the main


The recent implementation of annual testing at the grade 3, 6 and 9 levels by the Education Quality Assessment Office has forced the school boards in Ontario to try to come to grips with the problem of measuring student achievement. This problem is not a new one in that teachers have been concerned about evaluating student progress since the advent of schooling . In this respect, the literature suggests that most teachers are quite capable of identifying the students in their classrooms who are or are not making sufficient progress. Why then do we need formal testing and in particular, large scale high stakes assessments?


Based on the traditions of role theory (Biddle and Thomas, 1979; Longres, 2000; Mead, 1934; Sarbin and Allen, 1954) and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997), this study examined non-custodial fathers and their involvement with their child. Using a convenience sample (n = 72) recruited from men enrolled in the Erie Family Center for Child Development Fatherhood Initiatives Programs, survey participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess their level of self-efficacy, the co-parenting relationship with the custodial mother of their child, and their parenting satisfaction, each posited to be determinants of their paternal involvement. Path analysis was used to assess the effects of these relationships on paternal involvement. Moreover, this study tested the hypothesis that paternal involvement would co-vary with child custody status and marital status. Study results suggest parent satisfaction had the largest direct effect on paternal involvement while co-parenting relationships had the smallest effect on paternal involvement. Controlling for the effects of child custody status and marital status were not statistically significant. The magnitude of parent satisfaction and the minor effect of co-parenting relationship on paternal involvement may have been moderated by the non-custodial fathers' participation in fatherhood programs. Implications for social work practice and social welfare policy are discussed.


In all the countries, all the communities consist of people having certain attitudes and interests in common. The whole community can be mapped into a graph network. Every distinct individual can be assumed as a node of the constructed graph for the community. To declare a pandemic situation for any country, we first need to check whether the infection is spread throughout the Community or not. For this purpose we need to calculate the existence of cliques and the nodes of the maximal clique will be the infection spreading factors. In this work, we try to find out the presence of these spreading factors in the community graph network.


Stable carbon isotopes from bulk sediment are nowadays commonly used for palaeoreconstructions of humidity. The presence of well-preserved plant fossils containing cuticles brings palaeoenviromental reconstruction into a new perspective. The cuticle is a unique archive of local environmental conditions which were influencing the wellbeing of the plant. Therefore, extracting n-alkanes from the plant cuticle and measuring the δC provides us with information about average local soil moisture or salinity, depending on the nature of the environment. This method is an extremely useful as a tool for palaeoreconstruction of transition environments such as coastal zones. In the Late Cretaceous, there was a sea entering the Palaeozoic Bohemian Massif as result of Alpine orogenesis. During Cenomanian gradual sedimentation the basal part of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin was formed. Vegetation growing in this transition zone has no extant equivalent. This environment was previously reconstructed based on palynology and sedimentological studies as sea-influenced (Uličný et al., 1997). However, the lack of a recent equivalent for this vegetation means that there is no evidence how the vegetation looked like. Was it a salt marsh, or was it a mangrove? The stable carbon isotopes in n-alkanes allow us to get data on water availability and salinity stress. In order to interpret the δC values correctly, a calibration on a recent environment was done. We investigated mangrove and salt marsh vegetation as well as transition zones (mangrove invading original salt marshes) in New Zealand for δC, soil moisture, salinity, and pH. Based on these recent data, we were able to reconstruct vegetation of coastal zone and its distribution in the studied locality. We characterize water stress of individual taxa of the vegetation and reconstruct its distribution as it is also in recent mangroves and salt marshes. In this study we not only present results of stable carbon isotopes in n-alkanes, but we show that using this new tool, calibrated on recent environments, we are able to reconstruct local conditions and vegetation distribution in fossil environment which is not found on Earth in recent time.


This work presents a technique to compute symbolic non-linear approximations of the amount of dynamic memory required to safely run a method in (Java-like) imperative programs. We do that for scoped-memory management where objects are organized in regions associated with the lifetime of methods. Our approach resorts to a symbolic non-linear optimization problem which is solved using Bernstein basis.


We report on the magnetization noise and the imaginary susceptibility for the random anisotropy amorphous alloy DyNi1.32 for frequencies f<10 Hz, temperatures 1.2<T<4.2 K, and excitation field amplitudes <150 μA/m (1.9 μOe). The noise spectra agree, without any adjustable parameter, with the fluctuation dissipation formula and the measured imaginary susceptibility of the material. The spectra show a 1/f shape coming from a frequency‐independent imaginary susceptibility that it is found to be temperature‐dependent extrapolating to zero at zero temperature. We discuss the connection between this approach and the usual relaxation experiments.


injury: survey of the literature. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 1987; 82; 758±763. 2. Abraham SC, Yardley JH, Wu TT. Erosive injury to the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients receiving iron medication: an underrecognised entity. Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 1999; 23; 1241± 1247. 3. Eckstein RP, Symons P. Iron tablets cause histopathologically distinctive lesions in mucosal biopsies of the stomach and the esophagus. Pathology 1996; 28; 142±145. 4. Serck-Hanssen A, Stray N. Esophageal lesions induced by iron tablets. (Norwegian) Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1994; 114; 2129± 2131.


Equipment for mixing a feed fluid with the treatment fluid in two adsorbent beds are shown. This instrument, the fluid is mixed with the two adsorbents beds, there is space for redistributing fluid mixture. Process fluid enters from the upper adsorbent bed, the distributor box of the feed fluid is passed through the space between the adsorbent bed, it is mixed with process fluid feed fluid. The mixture is then redistributed to reach the lower adsorbent bed through.


The theme of this paper is the effect of the Arab Spring upon countries surrounding the Mediterranean, with a special reference to Jordan. The Mediterranean basin has witnessed protests and revolution over the last five years. The southern shores of Europe have felt repercussions of the Arab Spring following the fall of military rulers and dictators and attempts to hold parliamentary elections and to encourage democracy. The resulting chaos, lack of stability and agreement in post revolutionary countries has led to serious consequences for the region. My PhD research is focused upon Jordan and the evolution of its national identity since the disengagement of 1988. The Arab Spring has raised serious issues of national identity in those countries affected. National identity debates within Jordan may be viewed as a microcosm of larger debates taking place in the Mediterranean countries. Socio-economic disruptions have had a serious impact upon Greece, leading to serious debates about its future.


This article analyzes New York's No Fault Law's serious injury rule. Whether a person's injury with its resulting pain and disability is sufficient to establish prima facie a serious injury under these categories has been problematic since the enactment of the No-Fault Law, due in large measure to the substantive and proof requirement articulated for these categories by the Appellate Divisions in the absence of Court of Appeals precedent. The Court of Appeals' decision in Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Systems, Inc., which dealt with three separate cases from the Appellate Divisions, Toure v. Avis Rent A Car Systems, Inc., Manzano v. O'Neill, and Nitti v. Clerrico, has brought about needed clarification, if not outright change, to this legal landscape, both to the substantive requirements of establishing a serious injury and the proof necessary to establish a prima facie case of serious injury under these requirements. The decision is an important one not only as to its various holdings, but also as to what it portends for future serious injury appeals. With respect to the latter, the Court, as it did in Oberly, has signaled that it will give no deference to Appellate Division precedent, even if such precedent reflects unanimity among the Appellate Divisions and is of longstanding duration.


Through analyzed the impact of ecological environment status quo for recent years in Inner Mongolia, it explored and discussed the direction of sustainable development of ecological environment.


The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Brazil epidemic had shown an increase in heterosexual transmission and decrease in vertical transmission. However, its incidence has increased among men who have sex with men. Serological screening of patients at a voluntary counselling and testing center in Cabo de Santo Agostinho city, Pernambuco province, Northeast Brazil, was performed to determine the HIV-1 prevalence and incidence. The HIV-1 incidence in the frozen serum aliquots obtained from 2006-2009 was determined using BED-capture enzyme immunoassay. This study evaluated 23,862 individuals, who were serologically tested for HIV-1. HIV-1 infection was diagnosed in 318 individuals (1.33%). MSM showed a higher prevalence of infection (6.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.9-9.5) as compared to heterosexual men (2.8%; 95% CI: 2.35-3.36) and women (0.9%; 95% CI: 0.76-1.0) (p < 0.0001). MSM also showed a higher rate of incidence with 3.93 per 100 people/year. Early diagnosis and preventive measures can reduce the pandemic spread.


A description is given of a research program, funded by the Energy Research and Development Administration, conducted under controlled laboratory conditions simulating the various factors under which a transformer may be vulnerable to failure; i.e., high ambient temperatures, high transformer loading, and the occurrence of a lightning storm. Correlations relative to aging were also established. The impulse breakdown strength was determined for new and laboratory-aged transformers loaded from 0 to 175 percent of nameplate rating while subjecting them to the laboratory equivalent of a lightning storm and heavy precipitation. The following results were obtained. Commercially available overhead-type distribution transformers have significantly different thermal characteristics. New transformers exceed the minimum BIL requirement, but by amounts ranging from 10 to 50 percent. Aging and loading cause a substantial decrease in impulse strength, and on transformers with marginal thermal designs the resulting impulse level can be below the standard protective limits. Rainfall associated with summer lightning storms does not have a significant effect on breakdown strengths. Unaged core-type transformers tested were on the average higher in impulse strength, but this difference decreased with aging. Impulse failures caused permanent damage to the winding insulation but did not, except in one instance, result in amore » 60-Hz failure causing the protective equipment to trip out.« less


The common-octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 has high commercial value, and it is the most important octopus species on landings all over the world. Age estimation is vital for the comprehension of species life cycle and population dynamics, and further elaboration of an adequate management planning of its explotation. In this study, 120 beaks of O. vulgaris had its growth increments counted and, assuming a daily basis periodicity, growth curves were adjusted, taking into account the relation between estimated age (a) and dorsal mantle length (DML), total weight (Wt) and upper beak crest length (CrL). The octopuses analyzed ranged from 50 to 163 mm of DML (162 and 290 marks, respectively) and 55 to 1,498 g of Wt (164 and 356 marks, respectively, consider a one year life expectancy). The best fit for all the analyzed situations was found using power equations: DML = 0.876a0.871, WT = 0.001a2.424, CrL = 0.210a0.790, considering individual with number of marks from 118 to 356. Counting increments on the upper beak of octopus appears to be a relatively simple and useful way of estimating its age.


Three species of Colymbidae were dissected and diagrams of the arrangement of the main arteries in the region of the neck and thorax prepared. Individual differences in arrangement-pattern were noted. Although a previous worker reported both "aves bicarotidinae normales" and "aves laevo-carotidinae" in the Colymbiformes, the species included in this study were "aves laevo-carotidinae." Both the ligamenturn aortae and the right ligamenturn botalli were present and prominent.


We should correctly analyze the status of university students' psychological health,fully understand the vital role of psychological health education in ideological education for university students,grasp ways and methods of university students' psychological health education,thus promoting university students' overall psychological quality enhancement as well as overall and harmonious development of their personality.


Housing-accumulation fund system is a compulsory and long-term savings system established in the course of the reform on housing system in China. The housing savings fund, which is paid by both the individual and his/her working unit, involves such game participators as government, enterprises, individual and banks. The analysis of their behaviors indicates that housing-accumulation fund plays an important role in solving the problem of housing and meanwhile there exist some problems. Active measures should be taken to strengthen the supervision.


Purpose: Risk stratification after surgery for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) is achieved using clinicopathologic variables, however, is of limited accuracy. We sought to derive and externally validate a multigene expression assay prognostic of overall survival (OS) that is superior to clinicopathologic variables in patients with surgically resected CRLM. Experimental Design: We measured mRNA expression in prospectively collected frozen tumor from 96 patients with surgically resected CRLM at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC, New York, NY). We retrospectively generated a 20-gene molecular risk score (MRS) and compared its prognostic utility for OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS) with three common clinical risk scores (CRS). We then tested the prognostic ability of the MRS in an external validation cohort (European) of 119 patients with surgically resected CRLM at the University Medical Center Utrecht (Utrecht, the Netherlands) and Paul Brousse Hospital (Villejuif, France). Results: For OS in the MSKCC cohort, MRS was the strongest independent prognosticator (HR, 3.7–4.9; P < 0.001) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 0.3; P ≤ 0.001). For OS in the European cohort, MRS was the only independent prognosticator (HR, 3.5; P = 0.007). For RFS, MRS was also independently prognostic in the MSKCC cohort (HR, 2.4–2.6; P ≤ 0.001) and the European cohort (HR, 1.6–2.5; P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with CRSs, the MRS is more accurate, broadly applicable, and an independent prognostic biomarker of OS in resected CRLM. This MRS is the first externally validated prognostic multigene expression assay after metastasectomy for CRLM and warrants prospective validation. Clin Cancer Res; 22(10); 2575–82. ©2016 AACR.


. In this paper we address the problem of designing O ( n ) space representations for permutation and interval graphs that provide the neighborhood of any vertex in O ( d ) time, where d is its degree. To that purpose, we introduce a new parameter, called linearity, that would solve the problem if bounded for the two classes. Surprisingly, we show that it is not. Neverthe-less, we design representations with the desired property for the two classes, and we implement the Breadth-First Search algorithm in O ( n ) time for permutation graphs; thereby lowering the complexity of All Pairs Shortest Paths and Single Source Shortest Path problems for the class.


A high-throughput ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method with UV detection was elaborated and validated for the simultaneous quantification of flunitrazepam and its major metabolite, 7-aminoflunitrazepam, in human plasma. After a simple liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, chromatographic separation was performed on a BEH C18 chromatographic column with a binary mixture of acetonitrile/10 mM potassium monohydrogen phosphate (pH = 8.5) as the mobile phase, under gradient elution (flow rate = 0.275 mL/min). The total run time of the chromatographic analysis was 4.2 min. UV detection was performed at 314 nm for flunitrazepam and at 242 nm for 7-aminoflunitrazepam. To our knowledge, this is the first reported UPLC-PDA method for the quantification of flunitrazepam and 7-aminoflunitrazepam in human plasma. The assay was applied successfully for the analysis of the selected two analytes in real human plasma samples obtained from a healthy volunteer, after ingestion of a single dose of flunitrazepam.


?A type of capacitive sensor used in moisture measurement in grain is presented.To make it more reasonable the configuration of the sensor is optimized.According to the sensor designed,the corresponding electronic circuit is schemed out.The principle of the circuit is analyzed and the emulation result is given.In the end,the measurement data of some grain samples is acquired.


Background : The drug resistant tuberculosis has emerged as an important public health problem. Some epidemiological factors are known to influence the emergence multi drug resistant tuberculosis. This study was undertaken to study the epidemiological factors and clinical factors in emergence of multi drug resistant tuberculosis. Material and Methods : A cases control study was undertaken in the department of Chest and tuberculosis of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 30 cases confirmed as Multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients constituted the cases. About 60 age and sex matched controls were taken in to the study. A detailed history was taken with the help of a standardised proforma for both cases and controls. Results : Most of the multidrug resistant tuberculosis cases belonged to earning age group and males outnumbered females. Cough was the common symptom in cases followed by shortness of breath, expectoration, fever, haemoptysis, chest pain and wheezing. Controls had symptoms in lesser extent than cases in this study. The diabetes mellitus and HIV were the common comorbidities among the cases. About 50% of the cases were former smokers and 40% were alcoholics and 16.7% were tobacco chewers in this study. The treatment was regular in 30% and missed doses were more than 40 in 46.3% of the cases. About 60% of the cases were compliant with the drugs. Conclusions: This study had shown that, epidemiological factors play key role in emergence of


【Objective】To observe the therapeutic effect of oxymatrine on chronic hepatitis B. 【Methods】80patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided randomizedly into two groups, 50 patients in oxymatrine group re-ceived oxymatrine and regular therapy, while 30 patients in control group only received regular therapy. 【Results】After 24 weeks of treatment, the serum total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotrans-ferase (AST) were significantly lower in oxymatrine group than in control group, while the negative seroconversionrate of HbeAg and HBV DNA were significantly higher in oxymatrine group than in control group. 【Conclusion】Oxymatrine had good therapeutic effect on patients with chronic hepatitis B.


The title complex, [Co(C2N3)2(C7H6N4)2(H2O)2] or [Co(dca)2(pytrz)2(H2O)2], where pytrz is 4-(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole and dca is the dicyanamide monoanion, was prepared using pytrz, Na(dca) and CoCl2·6H2O. The CoII atom lies on a center of inversion and is coordinated in a slightly distorted octahderal geometry by two pytrz ligands, two dca ligands and two trans-oriented water molecules. In the crystal structure, complex molecules are linked by O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network and further into a three-dimensional network via weak C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds.


This paper describes an underactuated robot finger whose link posture is controlled by using dynamical effect. The finger posture control method where the vibration center angles of the active joint and the passive one are controlled independently of each other, is proposed. First we introduce the analytical model of two-joint two-link system which has the active joint driven by an actuator and the passive joint with a viscoelastic element. Based on the model, we theoretically reveal Variable Vibration Center Effect (VVCE) of the viscoelastic joint with respect to the input frequency of the active joint. We then discuss how to control the finger link posture by utilizing the effect. We show the finger mechanism design for grasping an object and for expanding the working space. Finally, we experimentally confirm the proposed method and demonstrate a grasping motion by the prototype.


ancient Iraqi mathematics can simply be told 'start with Robson' as all the introductory primary material is here and there are clear indications on how to access further primary material. A further strength of this book is that the primary material is given reliable and modern translations, as translations skewing the material towards a dubious affinity with later ideas have held back the discussion of ancient Iraqi science (and the science of other ancient cultures) in a broader audience. Robson's book is an exemplar for work on other sciences in ancient Iraq and for the study of mathematics and science in other ancient cultures. While I would agree with Robson on the nature and development of the study of the mathematics of ancient Iraq, I would disagree to some extent on the diagnosis of this. Robson sees the problem as stemming from mathematical realism, the view that mathematical entities have in some sense an independent existence. If you are a realist, then the appropriate historiography lies in identifying the historical occurrence of these real mathematical objects and 'equating the terminology used to describe and manipulate them with their modern day technical counterparts' (p. 273). As a mathematical realist and historian myself, I do not recognize the necessity of this link. This is one approach a realist might take, but realists might also be interested in the social/ religious/philosophical context which influenced these ideas being discovered and formulated in this way, rather than other ideas or formulations. They might also be interested in how the ancients constructed and understood their own mathematics independent of any later development and so too how mathematics was used in education, administration and production. As a realist, I had no problem reading this social history or giving it a very positive review. On the contrary I was fascinated by the light it throws on some of the issues just mentioned and the way it breaks intelligently with previous historiography. Rather, I would suggest as an alternative diagnosis, that the problem has been Whiggish historiography, which for our purposes here I would characterize as being interested solely in how the mathematics and science of the past match up to their modern counterparts or could be thought of as in some way leading up to them. One can be both Whiggish and a non-realist. One could, for instance, believe that it is true and significant for modern mathematics and science that 2 + 2 = 4, without being a realist about numbers and so believing that 2 or 4 exist independently of instances of 2 or 4 things. One could say something similar though more sophisticated about Pythagoras' theorem or a theorem from Euclid. That would then lead a Whiggish non-realist to the narrow focus mentioned earlier on tablets such as Plimpton 322 on Pythagorean triples, YBC 7289 on √2 and IM 55357 on similar triangles, etc. I would add as a parallel that in more general philosophy of science non-realists have written some very Whiggish works and note that while there has been no great move away from mathematical realism in the twentieth and twenty first centuries, there has been a significant shift away from Whiggish historiography. However we theorize the new approach, it is important that this book takes a wide historiography and provides such a rich account of ancient Iraqi mathematics. This book is well produced and very well illustrated with 77 figures and an abundance of tables, all of which are clear and informative. The indices and in particular the index of tablets are excellent. This is a unique book and deserves to be widely read. No other work covers its range either in terms of time or in terms of the breadth of its approach to ancient mathematics. It will rapidly become the key work in the study of ancient Iraqi mathematics but has much to offer other readers as well, not least those who are interested in the archaeology of the region.


South Africa's democratic election in April 1994 was widely ac claimed as a marvel of our time. A country that eight years earlier many feared was on the edge of civil war negotiated a political com promise that transferred power from the white minority to the black majority. Majority rule will be implemented in two stages; the cur rent government of national unity, which gives all parties of signifi cance a place, yields to unrestricted majority rule in 1999. Since the election, the once-feared threat of right-wing violence has faded. Although extremist Eugene Terre'blanche of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement still appears on his horse from time to time, most conservative Afrikaners accept the new government, which President Nelson Mandela has made easier for them by bend ing over backward to respond to white concerns. And in black com munities there has been little evidence of populist factions in revolt against the compromises of the new government. Unfortunately, economic progress has not matched this rosy polit ical picture. The economy has turned up since the election, but growth for 1995 was still only about 3.5 percent. While that pace is a marked


Carbon-based nanoelectromechanical devices are approaching applications in electronics. Switches based on individual carbon nanotubes deliver record low off-state leakage currents. Arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes or nanofibers can be fabricated to constitute varactors. Very porous, low density arrays of quasi-vertically aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes behave mechanically as a single unit with very unusual material properties.


This chapter reviews the development of rotatable curtain antenna array for television transmitters. It feature the rotatable antenna array from TCI and Telefunken Sendertechnik, and the Voice of America's Delano short wave station.


The styles of official documents in the Ming Dynasty experienced four changes: the diversifying period (from HongWu toYongLe), the grouping period (from HongXi to TianShun), the centralizing period (from ChengHua to JiaJing), and the dissimilating period (from LongQing to ChongZhen). The main characteristic styles of the official documents in the Ming Dynasty were writing official documents in the style of articles in imperial examinations,lacking suggesting strategies, and stubborn verbosity.


Time, the irrevocability of choice and commitment as well as the finality of death are central premises in modern moral and political thinking. This irreversibility is understood to reflect something about the organism, and something about the world. As culture comes to be mediated more and more by digital architectures in which time can be skipped, reversed, and begun again, it becomes important to revisit these premises. This paper seeks to bring together thinkers across nations and across disciplines to organize the question of time in the digital age. In particular the relationship between human beings and the virtual/digital world of knowledge databases and online video games.


A MCAI was built for submarine voyage simulator, which is based on individual and long-distance instruction.The key techniques of the MCAI, such as Microsoft Agent, Shockwave, and sound processing etc,were discussed. The obtained results can provide reference for the design of the MCAI based on individual and network instruction, and are valuable for developing the training simulator MCAI system in project practice.


General population demographics in the United States are undergoing dramatic changes. Long-term customary populations which provided the bulwark for many successful dental practices are being replaced by the many minority populations, in particular the Hispanic population. Despite these significant general population developments, the demographic profile of the dental profession has experienced (and apparently--based on dental student populations--will continue to experience) limited changes. The economic strength of the profession may well be predicated upon its responses to these developments.


Background: Dental artificial acrylic resin always contacted with saliva, drinks, and foods, so that it becomes a stain formation, tartar and plaque. Candida albicans which is the part of normal flora of the oral cavity can penetrate the acrylic resin and grows on the surface of the denture that can infect the soft tissues. Denture cleaning can be done mechanically using brush and toothpaste. Toothpaste contain triclosan, which serves as antiplaque material. However, the addition of triclosan to inhibit the effect of Canida albicans's growth is not good, which is caused the toxicity. The function of soursop leaves is to treat various of diseases and it has an antibacterial and antifungal effects which contains flavonoids and tannins that can inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. The effective concentration that inhibits Candida albicans in the acrylic resin heat cured plate is 35%.
Methods: This study used pure laboratory experimental research. The sampling method was calculated with the Federer's formula. The samples were acrylic resin heat cured plate. The growth's effect of Candida albicans in the acrylic resin heat cured plate was analyzed using Independent test t-test with 95% significance level.
Results: From the analysis, the data shows that there was a significant growth of Candida albicans, p = 0.000 (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Toothpaste with additional ethanol extract of 35% soursop leaves (Annona muricata L.) concentration inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in the resin acrylic heat cured plate compared with toothpaste without additional ethanol extract of 35% soursop leaves (Annona muricata L.) concentration


This paper first analyzed the data processing system, selected appropriate system structure and scheme, then analyzed correlative key technologies, obtained corresponding results. The system function is set reasonable, and system runs stably, so the system can be a good tool software for the apple insect pests management, data analysis in field and precision agriculture research.。


— This article attempts to explore neo-orientalism in Don Delillo's Falling Man. The study will mainly focus on islamophobia as the essential impetus of neo-orientalism. Postcolonial critical stances emphasize the issue of orientalism as the opposite of the West. Western civilizations used to perceive the traditional orient in the light of "self" and "other" dichotomy, whereby the West is the self that spreads its hegemony on the Orient, or East i.e., the other. Traditional orientalism is, therefore, based on this long inherited ideological assumption. However, this study focuses on neo-orientalism as a binary opposition of the Western hegemony. Some extreme Islamic attitudes reject American Western hegemony. Accordingly, they express their ideological will through relying on some religious ideas to attack America. Such response results in islamophobia midst Western societies. In so doing, they justify their rebuttal of the Western hegemony in order to establish their own oriental identity. The study is going to discuss this rebuttal as a way of empowering traditional orientalism which turns to be neo-orientalism. For this reason, it will apply three postcolonial concepts, namely, hegemony, self-other relationship and islamophobia. Thus, the application of these concepts will reveal the formation of neo-orientalism as a means of elevating oriental traditional identity.


The article presents a method of psychological diagnosis of emotional intelligence of teachers. The necessity of projective diagnostics of teachers is proven. The possibility of using frustrating replicas is revealed. The authors provide their own research of the problem.


The structure of Dial has been determined by the symbolic addition procedure. Dial crystallizes in the space group C2/c with cell constants a= 14.569 (6), b= 7.289 (4), c= 20.617 (7) A, fl= 99.83 (4) °, Z= 8. Refinement of atomic positions and anisotropic thermal parameters was performed by a least-squares procedure applied to 2034 X-ray reflexions collected with a Siemens automatic diffractometer. The R values are 0.08 with all reflexions and 0.07 excluding 298 unobserved reflexions. In one of the allylic chains, the terminal carbon atom has an unusually large amplitude of thermal vibration and its position was not well defined. The crystal appears to be held together mainly by two strong hydrogen bonds forming single ribbons parallel to the c axis.


This article reports on a performance evaluation on the knowledge management system (KMS) developed for a short-term food assistance program in Hong Kong the authors have conducted. DeLone and McLean's (1992) widely accepted model on information system success is adopted as the evaluative framework. Instead of just another revalidation of the model on KMS evaluation in social services, this study attempts to discuss the effectiveness of the system across different hierarchal levels in the organizations involved. This has remained an unexplored aspect in previous related studies, and the article suggests that the results have implications for further KMS development in human and social services.


High microwave-noise performance is realized in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator semiconductor high-electron mobility transistors (MISHEMTs) on high-resistivity silicon substrate using atomic-layer-deposited (ALD) Al2O3 as gate insulator. The ALD Al2O3/AlGaN/GaN MISHEMT with a 0.25- ¿m gate length shows excellent microwave small signal and noise performance. A high current-gain cutoff frequency fT of 40 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency f max of 76 GHz were achieved. At 10 GHz, the device exhibits low minimum-noise figure (NFmin) of 1.0 dB together with high associate gain (Ga) of 10.5 dB and low equivalent noise resistance (Rn) of 29.2 ¿. This is believed to be the first report of a 0.25-¿m gate-length GaN MISHEMT on silicon with such microwave-noise performance. These results indicate that the AlGaN/GaN MISHEMT with ALD Al2O3 gate insulator on high-resistivity Si substrate is suitable for microwave low-noise applications.


This study aims to suggest the detailed evaluation criteria based on performances for rock slopes. Using the previous research result, final evaluation items are proposed considering characteristics and similarities of each evaluation item. Weight for each evaluation item is deducted using AHP method, verification for suggested evaluation criteria is conducted based on correlation analysis. The research results as follows. All evaluation items have a high statistical correlation with final evaluation result(safety rating). Especially, items of the "rockfall", "ground deformation", "discontinuity characteristic", "instable lithology" were shown the highest in relative correlation coefficient(R), It is judged that items and weight presented in this study well reflect characteristics of rock slopes.


Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of cells that have transformed from the normal cells of the body. The widely used cancer drugs suffers from the drawback of high toxicity not within the reach of a common man. This urgently necessitating the screening of these compounds. This review focuses on the major contributions of preclinical screening models to anticancer drug development over the years till recent times, from the empirical drug screening of cytotoxic agents against uncharacterized tumor models to the target-orientated drug screening of agents with defined mechanisms of action,, a general transition has been observed. The newer approaches to anticancer drug development involve the molecular characterization of models along with an appreciation of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties of compounds [e. g., the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) in vitro 60-cell line panel, hollow fibre assay, and s. c. xenograft]. In vivo tumor models including orthotopic, metastatic, and genetically engineered mouse models are also reviewed. The preclinical screening efforts of the European are also included. In 2015 with the rapid development of cancer modeling in zebrafish, great opportunities exist for chemical screens to find anticancer drug since 1970 the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Cancer Research UK, have been collaborating with the NCI in the acquisition and screening of compounds.


Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method, for determination of arsenic and iron concentration in finger and foot muscles from Blackfoot Disease Patients(BFDPs), by amputation were developed. Thirty-four cases of BFDPs, at the most strict clinical examination and thirty cases of Non-BFDPs(NBFDPs) from the traffic accidents. NBFDPs from the same district were compared as the controls. Arsenic has been claimed to be major causative agents of Blackfoot Disease(BFD) in the south-western coast of Taiwan. We published several papers on this and presented a conception that, as with the increase in clinical stages from the zero, first, second, third and fourth, the increase in the arsenic concentration in blood, hair and urine accompanies as the BFD progressed, although at the third and fourth stages, arsenic decrease might be induced by the antagonistic effect of selenium, zinc and iron For the purpose to prove this, the study was carried out to check whether at the fourth stage, the concentration of arsenic in BFDPs finger and foot muscles by amputation are higher than that of NBFDPs and whether it is also the case with the blood of BFDPs . The arsenic in muscles of finger and foot of BFDPs by amputation was more than 10 times higher than the NBFDPs at the rate of 0.80±0.57 μg/g > 0.07±0.05 μg/g and they were also about 8 times higher than the blood of BFDPs at the fourth clinical stages at the rate of 0.80±0.57 μg/g > 0.091±0.052 μg/ml. Both of them had significantly difference with P 19.82±7.61 μg/g and had a significance difference with P 510.71±163.52 μg/ml. Therefore iron may have some antagonistic effect to arsenic toxicity for the BFDPs and this fact is worthy of more academic study of the BFD in clinical application.


We present a spatially-resolved study of the ionised gas in the central 2 kpc of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 2110 and investigate the role of its moderate luminosity radio jet (kinetic radio power of $P_\mathrm{jet} = 2.3 \times 10^{43}\mathrm{erg\ s^{-1}}$). We use new optical integral-field observations taken with the MEGARA spectrograph at GTC. We fit the emission lines with a maximum of two Gaussian components, except at the AGN position where we used three. Aided by existing stellar kinematics, we use the observed velocity and velocity dispersion of the emission lines to classify the different kinematic components. The disc component is characterised by lines with $\sigma \sim 60-200\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. The outflow component has typical values of $\sigma \sim 700\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$ and is confined to the central 400 pc, which is coincident with linear part of the radio jet detected in NGC 2110. At the AGN position, the [O III]$\lambda$5007 line shows high velocity components reaching at least $1000\ \mathrm{km\ s^{-1}}$. This and the high velocity dispersions indicate the presence of outflowing gas outside the galaxy plane. Spatially-resolved diagnostic diagrams reveal mostly LI(N)ER-like excitation in the outflow and some regions in the disc, which could be due to the presence of shocks. However, there is also Seyfert-like excitation beyond the bending of the radio jet, probably tracing the edge of the ionisation cone that intercepts with the disc of the galaxy. NGC 2110 follows well the observational trends between the outflow properties and the jet radio power found for a few nearby Seyfert galaxies. All these pieces of information suggest that part of observed ionised outflow in NGC 2110 might be driven by the radio jet. However, the radio jet was bent at radial distances of 200 pc (in projection) from the AGN, and beyond there, most of the gas in the galaxy disc is rotating.


The use of the mouse as the dominant animal model for immunologic studies was due in no small part to an inner ear defect in the Japanese waltzing mouse. The tendency of these mice to, when excited, scramble around the cage in a random fashion until exhausted is caused by a single recessive gene that causes an inner ear defect, leading to the curious behavior. In the process of maintaining this behavior through many generations of breeding, mouse fanciers unwittingly, but significantly, reduced the genetic heterogeneity of the species. This reduced heterogeneity made the growth of a tumor derived from a Japanese waltzing mouse far more reproducible. Utilizing this model and knowledge in the early 1900s, investigators began mating mice for many generations, creating inbred strains of mice with known susceptibility to various diseases. These studies led to the theory of the genetic control of tumor susceptibility, and, ultimately, to the use of mice to study what would eventually become the field of immunology. In this chapter, we discuss examples of clinically and/or experimentally relevant viral and bacterial infections that are used for the purposes of vaccine development and analysis.


OBJECTIVE:To discuss the economical effects of different medications on the treatment of same illness. METHODS: 148 cases of functional colonic diseases were collected from literature and were randomly divided into three groups; colloidal bismuth artrate was given to the first group, bifidobacterium to the second and cisapride to the last. Data was evaluated using the pharmacoeconomic cost-effectiveness analysis. RESULTS: Colloidal bismuth artrate was the best medicine to treat functional colonic diseases. CONCLUSION: The pharmacoeconomics play an important role in guiding the physician to choose the best therapeutic regimen in making clinical decision, so as to gain the maximal benefit with the minimal cost.


Accessibility evaluation processes currently face important issues. One is the difficulty to understand the issues pointed out in accessibility guidelines and the procedure to correct them. Other regards the coverage of the accessibility guidelines in relation to the whole technical and social aspects, and contexts of use. Those deficiencies contribute to the low adherence to recommendations and naive solutions since designers usually are not experts in accessibility. Aiming at contributing to this scenario in clarifying understanding and action towards the development of accessible code we proposed a merging of accessibility guidelines for web content from WCAG 2.0 and accessibility physical recommendations from ISO 9241 to Universal Design principles and guidelines. To evaluate our approach we conducted a case study involving students in computer science and specialists in web accessibility. As results we verified relevant contributions regarding the number and quality of the identified accessibility issues even for the specialists in accessibility.


Summary The cytoplasmic, particulate, and cell wall fractions were isolated from disrupted bacterial cells and assayed for MADH, GDH, HX, and GLD enzymes in absence of pigment (control) and presence of various M-3-G concentrations. The magnitude of enzymatic inhibition due to increasing concentrations of M-3-G (1 to 4 μM) was not the same for each enzyme. Two μM of M-3-G inhibited glycerol dehydrogenase (35% of control) in particulate fraction, whereas, 76% inhibition was noted in cytoplasmic fraction with 4 μM of pigment. MADH was inhibited to the extent of 10 and 20% in particulate fraction with 2 and 4 μM of M-3-G respectively and 4% in cytoplasm with both pigment concentrations. For comparative purposes, the effect of M-3-G on the same enzymes obtained commercially from other sources revealed that GDH (Aerobacter aerogenes) was inhibited 85% with 4 μM pigment. Inhibition (87%) of MADH (pig heart) and (17%) GLD (Escherichia coli) was noted with 2 μM M-3-G. Stimulation of HX (yeast) (21% over control) was observed with 1 μM M-3-G; 2 μM had no effect, whereas 4 μM caused 6% inhibition. Competitive and non-competitive inhibition of GLD by M-3-G, depending on how substrate, inhibitor and enzyme were mixed, followed Michaelis-Menton kinetics as indicated by the linear relationship in the Lineweaver-Burk plot with Km = 2.3 × 10-5 M for enzyme and inhibitor equilibrated together and substrate added at zero time.


ABSTRACT Polyindole-based silver and copper oxide (polyindole/Ag–CuO) nanocomposites were synthesized using reflux condensation method by varying the concentrations of polyindole and silver nitrate with copper oxide in N2 atmosphere. They were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The SEM images revealed fascinating shapes of CuO nanoparticles. The FTIR and XRD confirmed the functional group transformation and crystalline natures of silver and CuO existed in the nanocomposites. The polyindole/Ag–CuO nanocomposites were examined for antibacterial activity and found to exhibit the antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Approximate outage probability and rate expressions are derived for systems employing maximum ratio combining, when both the desired signal and the interfering signals are subjected to <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\eta -\mu$</tex-math></inline-formula> fading, with the interferers having unequal power. The approximations are in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function. A close match is observed between the results obtained through the derived analytical expression and the one obtained through Monte-Carlo simulations. Also, the utility of the applications is established in a vehicular application.


This paper presents results from a four-semester classroom experiment to assess whether the introductory programming lecture and closed-laboratory courses would be more effective if they were taught by the same or different instructors. Using a common final exam and lab practical as dependent variables, we determined there is no statistically significant effect on learning outcomes by having the same instructor for lecture and lab. Results of a qualitative survey, however, showed a statistically significant difference in student satisfaction for the same-instructor group over the different-instructor group.


The paper by El-Ashar and colleagues this month (p 587) is unlikely to attract more than a passing glance from most clinicians, yet it centres on a subject that already has considerable clinical relevance, and it sets the scene for an examination of recent developments in corneal immunology, particularly transplantation. Its main conclusion is that class II human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) can be expressed on the corneal epithelium and endothelium, and we need to examine why this is important, beginning with a summary of the role of class I and class II antigens. Class I antigens, encoded by three main regions (HLA A, B, and C), are glycoproteins that are formed on the surface of all nucleated cells. Their natural function is that they are required for the successful interaction of T lymphocytes of the killer subset (CD8+) with self cells which have foreign antigen (particularly viral antigens) on their surface: the CD8+ cells react with self plus antigen ('dual recognition') to produce cell lysis. Foreign (donor) class I antigens in a transplant can be treated in a similar way, specific CD8+ cells seeing them as 'self plus x', with consequent damage to the graft. A good deal of painstaking work has shown that some degree of compatibility between donor and host class I antigens (tissue matching) does, as expected, slightly reduce the incidence of corneal graft rejection in high-risk patients, but there are so many class I antigens that a really good match is highly improbable. Low-risk patients have such a good prognosis that the expensive and time consuming process of matching is not justified for the doubtful benefits. Class II HLA antigens (encoded by the D region) are also glycoproteins, but they are normally more restricted to cells concerned directly with immune responses, such as B cells and macrophages and the antigen presenting cells in the corneal epithelium (Langerhans cells) and stroma (interstitial dendritic cells). Their natural function, again by 'dual recognition', is to guide helper T (CD4+) cells in their interaction with antigen presenting cells, and with B cells, so that this interaction is normally (and quite appropriately) restricted to them. It would usually be unsatisfactory if other cells triggered these reactions. However, it has been realised recently that this can sometimes occur. Liver cells for example can express class II antigens under the influence of interferon during inflammation, and we now learn from El-Ashar and colleagues that corneal epithelial and endothelial cells can do just the same. This has a particularly important bearing on transplantation, as well as taking us further towards unravelling the pathogenesis of some types of corneal inflammatory disease. In the unnatural milieu of transplantation it appears that donor class II antigens, borne on the antigen-presenting cells in the corneal disc, are the main stimulus to the afferent limb of the allograft reaction: they induce CD4+ cells to promote the differentiation of CD8+ cells (via lymphokines such as interleukin 2) which may then destroy the graft. Host antigen presenting cells may be able to initiate the afferent limb by processing donor class I antigens, but this is a much weaker stimulus. It does indeed appear that class II (HLA D) antigen matching reduces the incidence of rejection, and so may attempts at reducing the class 11 antigenic load in the donor. Various experimental methods, and the procedure of organ culture for donor corneal storage, reduce the Langerhans cell count and probably reduce the incidence of rejection. But, surprisingly, a carefully conducted prospective trial by Stulting and colleagues' (published since the paper by El-Ashar and colleagues was submitted) showed that removal of the donor epithelium (and hence the Langerhans cells) did not. Perhaps too many class II bearing cells remain in the stroma. It is all the more worrying to learn now that class II antigens could be expressed both by the corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in states of inflammation. Either this could lead to rejection de novo, if the inflammation was not caused by it in the first place -and this could be one further explanation for the observation that rejection so often seems to follow inflammatory disease such as herpes. Or it could lead to a spiral of worsening rejection if rejection was the original cause of the inflammation. How fortunate we are in ophthalmology that topical steroids are usually so effective at all stages of the rejection process. But perhaps we should be even readier to use them preventively-particularly before, as well as after, the graft.


We present the formal semantics of future in a Scheme-like language which has both side-effects and first-class continuations. Correctness is established by proving that programs annotated by futur...


Objective To observe the bioactivity of recombinant human scFv antibody against NH-lipopolysaccharide binding protein in vitro and in vivo. Methods KM mice, weighing 20-25 g, were burnt on the back to the third degree covering 20% total body surface area. The mice in only burn group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 μg/g LPS and those in scFv-treated group with 1 μg/g LPS and 0.5 μg/g scFv after burn. The mice without any treatment served as controls. All mice were sacrificed in 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 h after all treatment and the whole blood, the tissues of liver, lung and kidney were collected. The serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-6 in burnt mice with endotoxemia was detected by ELISA and the pathological changes of liver, lung and kidney tissues were observed by light microscope. The inhibition of scFv antibody of different concentrations against NH-lipopolysaccharide binding protein on FITC-LPS binding with U937 cells was assayed by FCM. Results The histopathological changes of liver, lung and kidney in mice of scFv-treated group revealed that less inflammatory cell infiltration, less degenerated cells, weaker congestion in tissue as compared with control and only burnt mice. The serum concentration of TNF-α in only burnt mice increased significantly than that of the controls (P0.01 and P0.05), and the serum level of TNF-α in scFv-treated group in 1 h and 3 h was significantly lower than that of only burnt group (P0.05). The content of IL-6 in the only burnt mice was significantly higher than that of controls after 3 h (P0.01 and P0.05). The IL-6 level of scFv-treated group decreased significantly than that of only burnt group (P0.01). The fluorescence intensity on U937 cells was weaken after treated by the scFv antibody. Conclusion The recombinant scFv antibody against NH-LBP plays a potential protective role in the endotoxemia. In addition, result also revealed that LBP plays a key role in the pathogesis of LPS.


This project was completed as part of the graduation requirements for the LTEC masters program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The project was presented at the 20th Annual Technology, Colleges, and Community Worldwide Online Conference.


Thermotolerance of broilers can be altered by acclimation of embryos during critical stages of the incubation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of acclimation time during different periods of embryogenesis on pre-hatch and chick development and chick quality. Control embryos were incubated at 37.8 °C whereas the acclimated embryos were exposed to 39.6 °C for 6 h/d from 12 to 16 d (H 12-16), 13 to 17 d (H 13-17), and 14 to 18 d (H 1418) of incubation. Eggs were removed from incubator at the end of the first day (i.e. 12, 13, 14 d of incubation) of heat treatment and at the end of the heat treatment (i.e. 16, 17, 18 d of incubation). Embryo weights and relative weights of liver, heart, and proventriculus+gizzard were determined. The timing of external pipping and hatching were recorded individually every 2 h between 424 and 490 h of incubation. At hatch, the same measurements were repeated and rectal temperature and chick length was measured and tonic immobility duration was recorded. Acclimated eggs had heavier relative and absolute embryo weight than control eggs. At hatch, chick body weights and yolk free body weights were similar among groups. Higher incubation temperature decreased relative liver weight of embryos from H 13-17 and H 14-18. At hatch, chicks from H12-16 had heavier liver weight than chicks from control while the others had similar liver weights to controls. Treatments had no effect on relative heart weight. At hatch, highest relative gizzard+proventriculus weight was found for chicks from H 12-16. Egg weight loss on d 18 of incubation was higher in the control group than heat treatment groups. These results indicated that development of embryo and chick might change due to the timing of acclimation. Heat acclimation for 5 days after the 12 day of incubation accelerated external pipping and hatching compared to the controls and affected chick quality by the means of decreased chick length and increased tonic immobility duration.


The current outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed many challenges before the whole world Many countries and territories went into lockdown


Like many European thinkers, Diderot found confusion to be the general reaction of the blind man who has recovered his sight and then is asked to name a cube and a sphere he could not touch. He paradoxically uses the state of confusion both as a behaviour to be avoided through analytic methodology and as a necessary condition for enlightenment. Moreover, he would make of it a state to be maintained and not always to be avoided. Taking an inherently philosophical position, he believed that confusion ultimately defines our humanity and that it could lead us to a new realism.


The adoption of practical proposals, such as the four outlined here, to ensure that crises do not escalate into superpower confrontations may prevent nuclear war even in the absence of fundamental changes in U.S.-Soviet relations.


The corresponding industry and resources as the foundation and platform into productive forces of creative tourism,became the common choice for the government and tourism enterprises.Tourism was a creative culture as the platform,through contemplate the tourism product development,operation and management of the creative process,also was used to express the creative thinking of the novel concept and unique ideas.This paper began with the concept and the creative tourism driving factors of development of tourism creative to explore the creative tourism in the tourism economic growth in the value realization mechanism,analyzed the role of creative tourism sustainable development in tourism economy.


Introduction: pain is the most common symptom in medical consultation, and a major public health problem. In Colombia, there is still a lack of reliable data on the impact of pain on the general population. Aim: to estimate the prevalence and clinical aspects and management of chronic pain in the general population in a representative sample of the department of Caldas, Colombia. Subjects and methods: 1.008 people older than 18 years, of both genders, were surveyed in homes of randomly selected districts in the cities of Manizales, Neira, Villamariaa, and Chinchina, using a semistructured questionnaire through interview at home. The information was processed with the statistical package Epiinfo. Results: the prevalence of pain during the last month was 50%, and chronic pain (more than 3 months) 31%, with a predominance of women in most causes of pain and with increased frequency in older age. The duration of chronic pain was more than 1 year in 62% of cases and over 5 years in 30%. The most frequent localizations were in order: head, legs, lower back, upper limbs and abdomen. Daily activities (ADL) were partially limited in 62% of cases and totally in 13%. Pain affected mood in one half of the subjects. NSAIDs were used in 59%, acetaminophen in 53%, while only 3% used opioids. Self-prescription was reported by 41% and use of complementary medicine in 33%. Conclusions: the study highlights the high prevalence of chronic pain, its chronic nature, the low use of opioids and the high consumption of NSAIDs, as well as the habit of self-prescription, which results in inadequate management of chronic diseases.


Five cases of Kaposi sarcoma-like granuloma occurring on the lesion of diaper dermatitis are reported. The common characteristic features of the clinical findings in these cases are summarized with discussion of the similarities and the differences between Kaposi sarcoma and the granulomas.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTION: THE ODYSSEYS OF POSTCOLONIALISM 1. A Martiniquan Ithaca: Aime Cesaire's Cahier d un retour au pays natal 2. Invisible Odysseus and the Cyclops: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man 3. The 'unread' Homer: Derek Walcott's Omeros and The Odyssey: A Stage Version 4. A Deep South Odyssey: Jon Amiel's Sommersby 5. Cross-Cultural Nostoi: Wilson Harris' The Mask of the Beggar 6. South African Penelopes: Njabulo Ndebele's The Cry of Winnie Mandela CODA: NEW DIRECTIONS: JATINDER VERMA AND TARA ARTS CONCLUSION: REWRITING ODYSSEYS APPENDIX: INTERVIEW WITH JATINDER VERMA BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX


Background In 2009 we presented a method for standardisation of different evidence grading systems (EGS) to simplify the comparison of levels of evidence (LoE) from different guidelines. For this purpose, LoE from guidelines were allocated to a reference standard, the EGS from the Federal Joint Committee's (G-BA) Code of Procedure. This approach has not yet been tested on several different EGS from guidelines. Objective To test the feasibility of a method for standardisation of different EGS from COPD, asthma and breast cancer guidelines. Methods We conducted a systematic search for the above guidelines in guideline databases and websites of guideline providers. The search period covered 11/2007 to 7/2012. Eligible guidelines were evidence-based English or German guidelines using an EGS. The LoE reported were allocated to the EGS from the G-BA's Code of Procedure. Results 43 guidelines on chronic diseases with 19 different EGS and 188 different LoE were included. With 4 exceptions, all LoE used in the EGS could be allocated to at least one category of the reference standard. In 44 cases, the LoE from the identified EGS could be allocated to exactly one category and in 63, an LoE was allocated to several categories. Several LoE from one guideline were allocated to one category in 15 cases; this can result in loss of information. Discussion The testing of a method for standardisation of different EGS indicates that standardisation of LoE using a reference standard can be successfully implemented and can simplify the comparison of different EGS.


Sweeping changes are needed in the organisation and ethos of the NHS's dedicated inpatient facilities and care homes for people with learning disabilities, the health watchdog for England has said.

Care at NHS facilities for people with learning disabilities falls short of modern safety and quality standards, says the Healthcare Commission in a new report, and many people live in bleak accommodation far away from their families.

Institutional failings mean that many people are being deprived of their human rights and dignity and have little access to advocacy services, few choices about how they live their lives, and limited activities, the report says. Services are too reliant on drug treatment to …


We consider the problem of finding the Pareto front of the expected deployment cost of wireless caches in the plane and the expected retrieval cost of a client requesting data from the caches. The data is allocated at the caches according to partitioning and coding strategies. We show that under coding, it is optimal to deploy many caches with low storage capacity. For partitioning, we derive a simple relation between the cost of the cache deployment and the cost of retrieving the data from the caches. Lastly, we show that coding results in a lower Pareto front than partitioning.


Brand plays a pivotal role to firms in today's business. The increasing attention on brand has led to the introduction of the concept "brand equity" in the 1980s. More recently, brand equity has been defined in customer-based contexts since the company's real value lies in the minds of existing or potential buyers. In this study, based on Aaker's well-known theory of customer-based brand equity (CBBE), the measurement of CBBE is constructed on four main dimensions, including brand loyalty, brand awareness, brand associations and perceived quality. By investigating the interrelationships between brand loyalty and the remaining components of customer-based brand equity, this study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of brand equity from a consumer perspective in the Vietnamese tablet market, from which some implications for practitioners working in the tablet industry are drawn. The findings conclude that there is no discriminant validity between brand awareness and brand association. Brand loyalty and brand awareness/association, brand loyalty and perceived quality are found to be positively correlated.


Date The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. Through the years, stochastic physics has provided important insight into natural phenomena that possess an inherently random nature. From its foundations in the study of Brownian motion up through its myriad present applications, a stochastic description of nature has yielded an elegant theoretical understanding, as well as providing practical and efficient simulation techniques. One particularly important application is to the field of quantum optics, in which the interaction of light and matter is treated in a fundamentally quantum-mechanical manner. The work presented here utilizes the methods of stochastic physics to understand a variety of quantum-optical phenomena involving the dynamics of atoms interacting with photons. A solid theoretical understanding of such phenomena is often necessary to describe laser cooling of atoms, and many such applications are discussed here. A detailed model of atoms with complex internal structure interacting with three-dimensional laser fields is presented, as well as the rich dynamics of three-level atoms interacting with two lasers. Applications to cavity cooling of atoms and molecules are discussed, and a method for describing non-Markovian dynamics using relaxation techniques is presented. A novel cooling scheme utilizing Feshbach resonances in the scattering of two atoms is also treated. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Chris Greene for his many years of guidance and support during my graduate career. His passion for physics is contagious and it inspires those who interact with him strive for a deeper understanding of nature. His curiosity extends over a very broad range, and he is often willing to tackle projects outside of his main expertise in order to expand his understanding of physics. I appreciate his willingness to allow me to pursue a study of quantum optics and stochastic physics even given his limited experience in these fields. I believe that our collaboration has been very fruitful. Combining my day-today learning about quantum optics with Chris's comprehensive understanding of traditional atomic physics has allowed us to develop models of atom-photon dynamics with unprecedented attention to an accurate treatment of atomic internal degrees of freedom. Our collaboration has often led to the realization of parallels between quantum-optical concepts and the many theories developed by Fano, which Chris knows so well. For me, this conceptual bridge …