ing electricity, and scavenging in rubbish tips. Historical practices such as the celebrated quilombos show that dropping-out is a serious, and often successful, strategy for the most oppressed. James Scott's work shows that peasants, slaves, and marginal groups use various tactics of exodus to minimise their subservience to elite power. Similarly, when highly oppressed groups become sufficiently angry, they often use the most militant forms of protest as we have seen in cases like Paris 2005, London 2011, Los Angeles 1992, and so on. Poor people also use all kinds of high-risk survival strategies, from undocumented border-crossing to involvement in the drug trade.There is also evidence that dropping-outworked to defeat aspects of capitalism in the 1970s (Shukaitis). Why, then, do IPs oppose exodus? I would hazard a guess that the real underlying objection is not that poor people cannot drop out, but that they should not: dropping-out contradicts the IP's political agenda, resting on strong spectres and identities within the existing frame. Structural determinism precludes escape on principle. IPs celebrate their current blockages, internalise their cage, and insist that the cage is both inescapable and revolutionary. This is not a perspective of escape — it is a perspective of entrapment in the guise of solidarity. IPs' emphasis on community really comes down to a fear of placelessness. Their ideological vision of society requires that everyone have definable positionalities: a conservative vision, but inverted.This requires that categories remain dominant over lines of flight, escape, and becoming. Hence the need to enforce a prohibition on exodus a prohibition which reveals their similarities with states and other hierarchical systems, which similarly prohibit the withdrawal of participation and restrict mobility. It is easy to see how the fear of the uncontrollable and unknowable and the parallel desire to order all of reality into a fixed schema lies beneath these discursive strategies. A lot of the objection to exodus comes down to a hatred of play. Drop-outs are accused of turning poverty into a game, of saying someone can be poor and have fun (Anon, Smack and White Boy Part Two). This may just as well be said of important strands of peasant resistance such as carnivalesque and folk culture. IPs flourish on a culture of deadly seriousness and urgency, tied up with a celebration of trauma. Real activism, after all, is hard work, sacrifice: I cant have fun, so you shouldn't either. This entails denying pleasure to others whenever possible. Of course, dropping out does lead to a kind of privilege the person who has escaped clearly has a better life


For the multipath reflection problem in the meter-wave radar height-finding, a conception of product factor was introduced by analyzing the relationship between direct signal and indirect signal in the meter-wave radar received signals, and it was found that the product factor was the function of angles including direct angle and indirect angle. The function was constructed in the case of accounting for earth's curvature, and a meter-wave radar multipath array compositive model considering the product factor was proposed herein. Computer simulations and real data processing results show the effectiveness of the proposed model under the condition of meter-wave radar height-finding.


Cryptococcosis is predominantly a systemic mycosis caused by an encapsulated yeast-like fungus with worldwide distribution. There are several species of the genus Cryptococcus; however, C. neoformans is the most frequently reported species causing disease in people as well as in domestic and wild animals. This organism is most commonly isolated from soil contaminated with pigeon droppings. The cutaneous presentation is very rare in dogs and cats compared to the more common respiratory, central nervous system and ocular forms. To the author's knowledge, dermal cryptococcosis in avian species has not been reported. A 1-year-old female African parrot presented with a 3.0 cm diameter ulcerative mass located at the left distal phalange wing of 6 months duration. It was removed by surgery; however, due to local infiltration, it could not be excised completely. The sample was processed for dermatopathological examination and stained with H&E. In addition, a swab was taken for culture. Histopathologically, the epidermis was ulcerated with many free round-to-oval organisms measuring 6–12 μm that stained faintly pale and eosinophilic, and were surrounded by a clear halo. Throughout the dermis, multiple granulomas were seen with identical microorganisms in addition to macrophages and granulocytes. Microorganisms stained positive with Gomori methenamine silver and PAS. Cryptococcal-like organisms with clear halos against a black background were seen in an India ink preparation from the swab material. The sample was cultured on Sabouraud's agar and identified as Cryptococcus neoformans.

Funding: Self-funded.


The collagen signature in colorectal submucosa is changed due to remodeling of the extracellular matrix during the malignant process and plays an important role in noninvasive early detection of human colorectal cancer. In this work, multiphoton microscopy (MPM) was used to monitor the changes of collagen in normal colorectal submucosa (NCS) and cancerous colorectal submucosa (CCS). What's more, the collagen content was quantitatively measured. It was found that in CCS the morphology of collagen becomes much looser and the collagen content is significantly reduced compared to NCS. These results suggest that MPM has the ability to provide collagen signature as a potential diagnostic marker for early detection of colorectal cancer.


Hippophae is a tree species with ecological, economic and social benefits. In this study, we assembled and annotated chloroplast genomes of sympatric Hippophae gyantsensis and H. rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis. Their full-length are 155260 and 156415 bp, respectively. Each of them has 131 genes, comprising 85 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes and 38 transfer RNA genes. After comparing the chloroplast genomes, we found 1302 base difference loci, and 63.29% are located in the intergenic region or intron sequences and 36.71% are located in the coding sequences. The SSC region has the highest mutation rate, followed by the LSC region; the IR regions have the lowest mutation rate. Among the protein-coding genes, three had a ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (Ka/Ks) >1 (but P values were non-significant) and 66 had Ka/Ks <1 (46 were significant). In general, the chloroplast protein-coding genes may be subject to purification selection. Among H. gyantsensis and H. rhamnoides subsp. yunnanensis chloroplast protein-coding genes, there are 20 and 16 optimal codons, respectively. Most of the optimal codons were ending with A or U, which indicates significant AT preference. It is an important reference for studies on the general characteristics and evolution of the Hippophae chloroplast genome.


Ecological ditches have a good effect on improving polluted runoff, and their removal efficiency and construction length play a decisive role in the implementation of ditches. Based on the field monitored data of Wulihu River, the water quality was evaluated by the comprehensive index method. Then, the removal efficiency of nutrients in the ecological ditch was studied, and the optimum lengths of ecological ditch for main pollutant removal were obtained. The results showed that the water quality gradually became better along the Wulihu River and the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand was the largest (60.52%). The optimum ecological ditch length for total nitrogen removal was 6.05 km and that of nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand were 29.45 km, 5.61 km and 6.92 km, respectively.


Actuating device of an adjusting device of a motor vehicle seat, having a) has a hand lever (28), which can be, alternatively pivoted out of a middle position, which it assumes in the rest position of the operating device in both directions of rotation, and a driver (48), b) an adjusting wheel (36) has a circumferential toothing, c) a frame which supports the hand lever (28) having a stop (30) and an output shaft (34) of the adjusting wheel (36) receives, d) a pivot lever (70) has a left engaging portion (74) and a right engaging portion (76), which are each provided with teeth (78) of the toothing of the adjusting wheel (36) are adapted and in the rest position of the actuating device except engagement with the toothing of the adjusting wheel (36), and e) a left and a right spring arm (52, 54), - The facing driving surfaces (56) have, between which the stop (30) of the chassis and the driver (48) of the hand lever (28) are located, ...


Saikat Sarkar, (undergraduate student of VisvaBharati University) If anyone has a problem to understand, feel free to ask me any question. My Mail id is saikatsarkar098gmail.com. Q. 1. Draw the graph of the following functions: (i)f(x) = sin x , (ii)f(x) = cos x , (iii)f(x) = tan x , (iv)f(x) = |sin x|, (v) f(x) = ax + b , where a and b are any arbitrary value of a real number, (vi)f(x) = |x + a|, where a is any arbitrary value of a positive real number, (vii)f(x) = |x + y| ≤ 1, where x and y is any real number, (viii)f(x) = min{|x|, |x − 1|}, (ix)f(x) = ce , where c is any arbitrary value ofpositive real number , (x) f(x) = e , (xi)f(x) = [x], (xii)f(x) = logx, (xiii)(x − a) + (y − b) = r, (xiv)f(x) = x − [x], where [x] denotes the greatest integer which is less than or equal to x; (xv)f(x) = { x , if x ≥ 0 0 , if x < 0 .


Supercapacitors have been used for the first time as load to PV cell/modules for characterizing their behavior. In this paper, a novel and essentially simple design of a V–I plotter is attempted with a bank of super capacitors (SC) as the load to the PV modules of varying capacities. The distinct advantages of the SC's over the erstwhile capacitors have been comparatively experimented. Finally, an elaborate regression analysis (RA) of principal electrical parameters have yielded consistently high values exceeding 0.993 experimental evaluation of quality parameters like fill-factor (FF) and performance ratio (PR) have yielded a range of 70–79% while PR values frequently ranges from 90% to 99%. Suitability of poly-Si PV modules at the level of PV panel configurations have been ascertained through experimental estimate of series and parallel relative power loss (RPL) values. Typical values below 2% obtained for widely varying climatic level is also a quality indicator for the new metrology in question. Such a prototype I–V plotter is expected to be duly considered for commercial testing applications in PV industries.


elements in the resident́s cage were analyzed. Initially, the effects of ethanol (1.0 g/kg), secondly flunitrazepam (0; 0.01; 0.1; and 0.3 mg/kg) were determined in all mice and rats; subsequently, flunitrazepam or vehicle, given intraperitoneally (0; 0.01; 0.1; and 0.3 mg/kg) was administered plus ethanol 1.0 g/kg or vehicle via gavage. Results: The most significant finding is the escalation of aggression after a moderate dose of ethanol, a low dose of flunitrazepam and after flunitrazepam plus ethanol in mice and rats. Conclusion: Ethanol can heighten aggressive behavior and flunitrazepam further increases this effect in male mice and rats.


A method for estimating total body fat (TBF) and the amount and distribution of adipose tissue in humans by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRJ) is described. Thirty transaxial images of subjects were taken by a nuclear magnetic imager (0.02 1). Adipose tissue volume was calculated from ad ipose tissue area in each image and from the distances between images. The CV when estimating total volume of body adipose tissue was 1.5%. TBF of healthy Swedish women was estimated by the Mifi method (n = 25), by underwater weighing (UWW) (7z= 20), and by body-water dilution(BWD) (n = 23). When assessed by MRI and BWD, women contained 1.4 ±2.9% less and 4.7 ±4.0% more TBF, respectively, than when assessed by UWW. On average, 74.2% of total adipose tissue volume was situated subcutaneously. Subcutaneous fat:fat-free body weight and nonsubcutaneous fat:fat-free body weight were both signif icantly correlated with percent TBF but the women stored excess fat subcutaneously rather than nonsubcutaneously. AmJ Clin Nutr 1993;58:830â€"8.


In their seminal work, Cordero-Erausquin, Nazaret and Villani [Adv. Math., 2004] proved sharp Sobolev inequalities in Euclidean spaces via Optimal Mass Transportation, raising the question whether their approach is powerful enough to produce sharp Sobolev inequalities also on Riemannian manifolds. In this paper we affirmatively answer their question for Riemannian manifolds with non-negative Ricci curvature; namely, by using Optimal Mass Transportation with quadratic distance cost, sharp $L^p$-Sobolev and $L^p$-logarithmic Sobolev inequalities (both for $p>1$ and $p=1$) are established, where the optimal constants contain the asymptotic volume growth arising from precise asymptotic properties of the Talentian and Gaussian bubbles. As a byproduct, we give an alternative, elementary proof to the main result of do Carmo and Xia [Compos. Math., 2004] (and subsequent results) concerning the quantitative volume non-collapsing estimates on Riemannian manifolds with non-negative Ricci curvature that support certain Sobolev inequalities.


Lung cancer mortality has increased dramatically during the twentieth century. Tobacco smoking is a well established cause of lung cancer and it is largely agreed that the changes in smoking habits explain the major part of the trends in lung cancer mortality. However, lung cancer is also an important occupational cancer and changes in occupational exposures may have influenced the trends. Other generally operating riskfactors, such as exposure toindoorradon andits decay products and air pollution, may also have a role in explaining the increasing trends of lung cancer. In the following, we shall try to estimate the non-smoking related lung cancer trends using the attributable risk model.' The model will be applied to data on lung cancer mortality and smoking habits in Swedish women during the last decades. First, however, we will describe the trends in lung cancer in Sweden, both for men and women. For comparison, we have also added data from Italy and the United States.


This article first summarizes the history of the notion of competence, showing that it emerged simultaneously in linguistics and in the field of labor, with two different meanings. It then examines the multiple and diverse definitions of this notion and argues for an understanding of competence restricted to the processes involved in the praxeological dimension of activities. The article then deals with the conceptions of linguistic competences put forward in the field of didactics of language. After commenting the different problems raised by these theories, the article refers to several themes of the Saussurean conception of language, as it is reconstructed at present, in order to work out an alternative conception of linguistic competence, as a process involved in the interactions between internal language, normative language and discourse. Finally, on this basis, the article reexamines the objectives of language teacher training and of language student education, introducing several proposals for reconsidering the function of gnoseological aspects (i.e. knowledge) and praxeological aspects (i.e. competences) in the teaching and learning of language. Mots-cles: competence, didactique, discours, gnoseologie, langue, praxeologie Depuis plusieurs decennies, la logique des competences a envahi le champ de la formation. Ce phenomene constitue une enieme version des tentatives de renouvellement jalonnant l'histoire de l'education, et comme les tentatives anterieures, elle pose un ensemble de problemes que nous examinerons en quatre etapes.


The present thesis deals with non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during labour. It consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part encompasses informati-on on the ways and uses of non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during labour. The practical part, which is presented in form of a questionnaire survey, focuses on and explo-res the rate of women's awareness of these methods. It investigates women's intentions to use such a method, where they gain information about them, and most importantly, whether women know which methods of pain relief may be classified as non-pharmacological in general.


Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a series of laboratory experiments aimed at understanding the frazil ice growth in polar regions during the summer whence a freshwater layer at temperature 0°C spreads between an old ice sheet and underlying salty seawater that is at its freezing point. The aim of the experiments was to study the influence of external turbulence on the rate of new frazil ice formation. The experiments were conducted in a large walk-in freezer at a temperature near 0°C. To produce controlled turbulence, two oscillating grids were installed in a tank filled with two layers of water: fresh water at temperature 0°C in the upper layer and salty (35 psu) cold water at temperature −1.9°C in the bottom layer. During the experiments, the bottom layer was cooled from below, using Peltie elements, and its temperature was near the freezing point. The turbulence induced in both layers facilitates the transport of heat across the density interface between layers, and as th...


Objective:To observe the effect of puncture needle Ashi point combined with dragon wagging tail on lumbar transverse process syndrome.Methods:Patients were randomly divided into two groups.Treatment group were treated with puncture needle Ashi point combined with dragon wagging tail,while control group were treated with routine puncture.Effects of two group were compared.Results:The total efficiency of treatment group(96.67%) was higher than that of control group(76.67%)(P0.05).Conclusion:Puncture needle Ashi point combined with dragon wagging tail showed good effect on lumbar transverse process syndrome.


TRABO REMARKED (7.304) that the Athenians named their slaves after the country they came from, calling them for instance "Lydos" or "Syros": or they gave them names common in their country of origin, so that a Phrygian would be called "Manes" or "Midas", and a Paphlagonian "Tibios". Later the geographer states (12.553) that Paphlagonian names are common amongst the Cappa dodans, and amongst his examples gives Tibios and Manes. Manes, then, is not simply Phrygian but is also at home in Pontus; and Herod otos shows that the name is also linked with Lydia, where a king Manes once reigned.! Tibios, however, seems to be peculiar to Paphlagonia and to Cappadoda nearby. That the name was not con fined to slaves is shown by its having been borne by a kinsman of Strabo, whose family enjoyed great distinction in those parts2 • A variant of the name Tibios is also found in the Pontic country as a place name. According to Arrian, Thiba was a place in Pontus named after an Amazon killed by Herakles.3 The people of Thiba, who were called Thibeis or Thibii,4 evidently impressed Greek imaginations as being thoroughly disagreeable barbarians. Anyone they looked at or breathed upon or spoke with, fell ill; their eyes had double pupils; and their bodies would not sink in water even when weighted down.5 Even allowing for exaggeration, we can see that the Thibii, Thibeis, or Tibioi must in their wild homeland have long resisted the advance of Hellenism. It seems, moreover, that already in the time of the Hittite empire the Tibians were causing trouble to their neighbours in Pontus. The annals of the Hittite emperor, Mudilis II, state that in the time of his father Suppiluliumas, a certain Pikhuniyas, the Tibyan, had plun


Meta-analyses for fMRI are booming but remain challenging, given the complex structure of the data and the often censored reporting of results. Because many fMRI studies only report locations of peak voxels that survive a statistical threshold, coordinate-based methods (CBMA), such as ALE [1,2,3], have been developed. Meta-analyses are in general prone to publication bias or the systematic difference between results of published and unpublished studies, but fMRI studies may be particularly susceptible to small sample bias. fMRI studies with small sample sizes may tend to employ more lenient thresholding to compensate for underpowered tests. In classical meta-analyses this is assessed by regressing the observed effect sizes of studies on the sample sizes [4]. The limited amount of information that serves as input for CBMA prohibits the use of these classical techniques to assess and correct for publication bias. In this study, we explore patterns in ALE results that are observed under small sample bias scenarios. The presence of small sample bias in the form of lenient thresholding alters the ALE results and reveals distinct patterns in the regression of sample sizes on study contribution, with smaller slopes in meta-analyses that suffer from small sample bias.

[1] Eickhoff, S.B., Laird, A.R., Grefkes, C., Wang, L.E., Zilles, K., and Fox, P.T. (2009), 'Coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging data: A random-effects approach based on empirical estimates of spatial uncertainty', Human Brain Mapping, vol. 30, pp. 2907-2926.
[2] Eickhoff, S.B., Bzdok, D., Laird, A.R., Kurth, F., and Fox, P.T. (2012), 'Activation likelihood estimation revisited', NeuroImage, vol. 59, pp. 2349-2361.
[3] Turkeltaub, P.E., Eickhoff, S.B., Laird, A.R., Fox, M., Wiener, M., and Fox, P. (2012), 'Minimizing within-experiment and within-group effects in activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses', Human Brain Mapping, vol. 33, pp. 1-13.
[4] Egger, M., Davey Smith, G., Schneider, M., and Minder, C. (1997), 'Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test', British Medical Journal, vol. 315, pp. 629-634.


Summary:  Purpose: To determine whether antiepileptic treatment with tiagabine (TGB) is associated with an increased frequency of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in patients with refractory epilepsy.


This work is description of a fundamental study to evaluate and characterize a helical screw expander, which is a rotary positive displacement type machine, for small energy conversion machines. Ideal helical screw expander, in which the working fluid is supposed to expand adiabatically without losses, is investigated and compared with experimental results. Using the indicator diagram technique, the characteristics of internal leakage has been investigated.


The recent earthquakes in Gyeongju and Pohang have damaged the major local structures and buildings since they occurred in urban areas and near nuclear power plants. Thus, this study aims to reveal, experimentally and analytically, the earthquake behavior of the piping systems of nuclear power plants and to assess their seismic performance. Based on shaking table test results, the numerical analysis model of a piping system was developed and validated; then, it was used to assess its seismic performance. The validation showed that the fundamental frequency, damping ratio, and displacement response of this numerical model were consistent with the shaking table test results. In addition, the seismic performance estimated by using this model was relatively similar to the performance range of existing nuclear plant piping systems. Thus, these results of this study could serve, in future studies, as quantitative data for assessing the seismic performance of piping systems in nuclear power plants.


A model for genetic diseases and associated markers is defined where two distinct susceptibility alleles are possible, each associated with a different marker allele. Marker genotype distributions in a disease population are then expressed in terms of haplotype frequencies and penetrance parameters. It is shown that, if the heterozygote with two different disease alleles has a higher penetrance than the two disease homogzygotes, the observed to 'Hardy‐Weinberg‐expected' ratio of associated marker genotypes (the α/β ratio of Falk, Mendell & Rubinstein, 1983) will always be greater than or equal to one. When all disease penetrances are equal, the model becomes indistinguishable from a recessive one‐s‐allele model with α/β= 1.


The developments in the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges commonly use concrete as the main material due to its strength and hardiness. However, the quality of the concrete may decrease due to some factors namely the age of the concrete, temperature, pressure, tension, etc. Thus, it is important to monitor its condition to find out any small damage such as cracks. Utilizing optical fiber power loss, a sensor capable of detecting cracks on a concrete can be made. This research uses multimode fiber optic planted inside the concrete. Sensor variation model being planted is in the form of wave. The lightweight concrete is designed using plastic aggregate. A specific tool capable of responding the change of the laser power coming through the fiber optic using phototransistor is also made in this research. The concrete is tested using two testing equipment at a time namely pressure testing that uses UTM (Universal Test Machine) to assess mechanical loading. Testing out the concrete using designed result tool is done by shooting laser on one side of the optical fiber and read the output power. During the test, the concrete is loaded continually and gradually increases using the UTM. The source of the light is laser, 850 nm of length. The result of the experiment and tool testing show that when the quality of the concrete decreases, laser power output through optical fiber increases.


In distribution networks, the grounding point is often led out from the HV side of zigzag grounding transformer and equipped with arc suppression coil to limit single-phase earth fault current to ensure power reliability and safety. By research on the effect of various grounding modes on ration test of zigzag grounding transformer, the paper analyzes the causes for different test results in different connection modes and proposes the reasonable connection mode and precautions for ration test of zigzag grounding transformer.


A small solid-state radar combined with a microprocessor makes possible collision-mitigation braking and automatic headway control in cars of the future. The collision-mitigation function involves the application of antiskid brakes under conditions where, based on radar and other sensor inputs, it is certain that a severe collision will take place. The decision-making algorithm is optimized to prevent the unjustified application of the brakes from false alarms. The automatic headway-control function keeps the car at a safe distance with respect to other vehicles on the road ahead. In the absence of other cars the system operates as a conventional cruise control.


Objective To investigate the surgical treatment on fractures of the posterior of acetabulum.Methods 18 patients with posterior wall fractures who had been treated by internal fixation between September 2006 and September 2010 were analyzed.Their average age at operation were 32 years and the mean follow-up period was 20 month.Results By Matta's criteria,there were 14 cases of anatomical reduction,3 cases of satisfactory,1 case of malreduction,there were excellent result clinically in 15 cases,1 case of avascular necrosis of the femoral head,2 cases of ectopic ossification.Conclusions The main way to gain successful operation are correct imaging diagnosis,anatomic reduction in the operation,strong internal fixation,early functional drill after operation.


In recent years, psychoacoustic impacts of a product has won increasing importance in various design and manufacturing sectors. However, conventional measurement setups based on microphones are expensive and noise-sensitive. This paper proposes a novel method to estimate psychoacoustic parameters from accelerometer measurement by using artificial neural networks. The proposed method has been successfully applied on automotive vehicle interior components which produce nonstationary sounds when operated. In order to develop and tune the proposed method, the operation sounds are first measured by a microphone and an accelerometer simultaneously. Then, static and dynamic psychoacoustic parameters are calculated from the microphone signals according to the auditory model. Finally, the relationship between the psychoacoustic parameters and the accelerometer signals is approximated by feedforward multilayer neural networks. As a result, the performance of the proposed method using artificial neural networks is successfully validated on the existing database.


The invention relates to a method and a device for quickly identifying local characters in a picture and a terminal. The method includes steps of A, acquiring and displaying an integral target picture; B, acquiring circled and selected signals on the target picture, and obtaining and storing a target area range to be identified of the target picture according to the circled and selected signals; C, displaying a local picture within the target area range on the target picture; and D, identifying the characters on the local picture, computing the proportion of the integral local picture to a character area in the local picture, and extracting and storing the characters in the local picture when the proportion is larger than the preset proportion. By acquiring the circled and selected signals on the target picture to identify the target area range with the characters to be identified and identifying the characters in the local picture within the target area range, local character information in the integral picture can be quickly identified and user experience is improved.


The paper addresses problematic aspects of sociocultural dynamics of values in a modern family. The authors show prospects of sociological research of family values of youth in sociology of the culture.


This is the author's fourth revision of a geriatrics bibliography. Approximately one‐third of the previous references have been replaced by more current or more detailed articles. Because the literature pertinent to geriatrics has continued to grow ever more rapidly, it has been necessary to omit many informative articles from the bibliography. Preference is given to recent publications; almost all of the references date from the past four years. Some articles were selected to highlight current controversies or changes in viewpoint. An occasional unrefereed article is cited to amplify geriatric aspects of common diseases.


Background: Walking is the main aspect of mobility and independence therefore emphasis should always be given to improve it in spastic children. There are many studies that are carried out to reduce spasticity with conventional physiotherapy approaches enhancing gait. But there is scarcity of studies where intervention including strengthening and endurance both applied for the same. Hence this study incorporates PEDALS to find out the improvement on gait parameter in children with spastic lower extremity.
Objective: To find out the effects of pediatric endurance and limb strengthening on gait parameters in children's with spastic lower extremity.
Methodology: 30 Children diagnosed with spasticity of lower limb between the age of 6 to 15 and Gross Motor Function Classification system levels II and III was recruited for this study. PEDALS protocol for 12 week period was given. Pre and post intervention values were measured. Outcome measures were Gross Motor Function Measure-88, 30 second walk test and gait parameters.
Results: Comparison between pre and post intervention heart rate showed extremely significant result (p< 0.0004), GMFM values showed significant result (p< 0.05) and gait parameter showed significant result (p< 0.05) respectively.
Conclusion: There was improvement in gait parameters of children with spastic lower extremity when treated with PEDALS protocol. Improvement was seen on gait parameters and GMFM-88 components.


The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has had a significant impact on the Australian and New Zealand motor vehicle landscape over the past 20 years through its independent, non-regulatory, consumer-driven program. Five star cars are now available in all vehicle categories; the majority of manufacturers now approach ANCAP to obtain a rating prior to launch to leverage sales; and ANCAP assessments are now seen as the de facto standard, taking the place of regulation. Since 2011 ANCAP has been increasing the stringency of its requirements for each star rating level annually. In future years ANCAP will continue to raise the bar, updating and broadening its suite of physical crash tests and introducing performance testing of safety assist technologies (SAT). These advancements will see consumers provided with even safer vehicles, and in time, perhaps even cars that will not be able to crash at all.


The invention discloses an agricultural straw cooking stove which is characterized in that a delivery sheet (4) and a grate (7) are arranged in an up-and-down arrangement mode, and a gap is left between the delivery sheet (4) and the grate (7); the grate (7) and a grate supporting plate (10) are combined into a whole, an air channel (5) is left between the whole and the front surface of a stove body shell (6), and the whole is tightly combined with the bottom of a hearth inner wall (3) and the left, right and back surfaces of the stove body shell so as to form a C-shaped secondary air chamber (12); the upper part of the C-shaped secondary air chamber (12) is positioned in a combustion chamber and provided with a C-shaped fire-stop ring (14); and an air inlet dust hopper (8) is arranged at the lower part of a stove body and above a base (9). According to the invention, an operation of adding fuels at any time is facilitated according to the actual demands, thereby saving fuels, and reducing the time of early-stage preparation; and the agricultural straw cooking stove disclosed by the invention is closer to the traditional cooking habits of common people, and the wide application of the cooking stove in rural areas achieves active promoting effects on relieving the energy-constrained situation of China, implementing the comprehensive utilization of straws, protecting the rural ecological environment and realizing the low-carbon life.


The present study aims to investigate the effect of social capital on human development in Iran. For this purpose, Iran society in the period 1984 to 2009 by using time series data and Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) technique has been studied. Due to the quality of social capital variable two variables i.e. the number of judicial cases related to nonsufficient fund checks and embezzlement, bribery and forgery, and elections' participation rate have been used to measure the effect of social capital. The results suggest that there is a negative and significant effect of judicial cases on human development index (HDI) level and elections' participation index statistically has not significant effect on Iran's human development index


The present invention provides a low dielectric constant glass fiber and preparation method for a printed circuit board, which comprises the following components by mass percent: SiO? 48% ~ 53% 2; Al2O3? ? 13% ~ 16%; B2O3? ? 19% ~ 25%; P2O5? ? 0.5% ~ 2%; CaO? 5.0% ~ 8.5%; La2O3 0.5% ~ 8%; ZnO? 0.5% ~ 2.5%; TiO2? ? 0.5% ~ 2%; Na2O, K2O and Li2O is less than 1%; SO3 is less than 0.45%; less than 0.45% of Fe2O3. It has a very low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, temperature, dielectric constant at 1MHz is 4.8 to 5.5, a dielectric loss of 4 ~ 8 × 10-4; and a good adhesion with the resin, subsequent processing easy particularly suitable as reinforcing material for a printed circuit board. In a case where the present invention is not existing lines significant modification in the production, and the difference between the upper limit of the molding temperature of the glass fiber and the devitrification temperature is greater than 70 ℃, some even higher than 150 deg.] C, is very conducive to shaping operation, easy production .


Granular compaction is an important field of study, with numerous applications around us. The mechanisms of granular compaction take place at several different length scales, which makes it complex to predict and model. Here quantitative in-situ studies of granular compaction processes have been carried out at multiple spatial scales using x-ray microtomography, image analysis and digital volume correlation.


Scientific literacy is the foundation on which both California's currently adopted science standards and the recommended new standards for science are based (CDE, 2000; NRC, 2011). The Writing for Science Literacy (WSL) curriculum focuses on a series of writing and discussion tasks aimed at increasing students' scientific literacy. These tasks are based on three teaching and learning constructs: thought and language, scaffolding, and meta- cognition. To this end, WSL is focused on incorporating several strategies from the Rhetorical Approach to Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking to engage students in activities designed to increase their scientific literacy; their ability to both identify an author's claim and evidence and to develop their own arguments based on a claim and evidence. Students participated in scaffolded activities designed to strengthen their written and oral discourse, hone their rhetorical skills and improve their meta-cognition. These activities required students to participate in both writing and discussion tasks to create meaning and build their science content knowledge. Students who participated in the WSL curriculum increased their written and oral fluency and were able to accurately write an evidence-based conclusion all while increasing their conceptual knowledge. This finding implies that a discourse rich curriculum can lead to an increase in scientific knowledge


experimental verification influence coefficients and concludes that it is valid to use the theoretically determined values in 3-dimensional model testing.


In recent years,superparamagnetic nanoparticles for its unique magnetic response and biocompatibility,has drawn increasing attention of scientists.In this paper,some items about nano-magnetic particles were introduced.Firstly,the preparation methods including precipitation,sol-gel,microemulsion and reverse microemulsion method,hydrothermal method,polyol reduction method,chemical vapor deposition,chemical vapor condensation,plasma evaporation method,mechanical milling,evaporation condensation method,magnetron sputtering shooting methods and characteristics of nano-magnetic particles were introduced.Secondly,the characterization of nano-magnetic particles was described.Finally,the research prospect of nano-magnetic particles was presented.


Writing centers developed in the 1970s to provide an alternative to the traditional classroom environment. Whereas the traditional classroom presupposes on the hierarchical relationship between teacher/student, the writing center changes the social context of learning by creating an environment of peer collaboration. Writing center tutors facilitate this environment by encouraging students to enter what Kenneth Bruffee calls "the conversation of mankind." Rather than remaining passive recipients of knowledge, students are encouraged to collaboratively articulate their understanding with their peers. As such, the writing center serves as a place for individuals to converse. Bruffee views conversing (not writing) as the writing center's primary purpose:


The present invention discloses a biodegradable biomedical magnesium alloy, in percentage by weight consisting of the following: Zn1.0 ~ 3.0%, Y0.20 ~ 1.50%, Nd0.40 ~ 1.50%, Zr0.30 ~ 0.50%, the remainder Mg and inevitable impurities. Also discloses a method of preparation of the alloy, the magnesium alloy is made by melting a magnesium alloy general, in the charge Zn, Y, Nd in an amount 1.2 to 1.4 times their content in the magnesium alloy, the amount of Zr in the magnesium alloy in its 2-2.5 times in the content. The present invention is by the addition of Y in the Mg-Zn alloy, Nd, Zr magnesium alloy prepared, cytotoxicity and overcome problems such as corrosion rate is too fast, and after extrusion, which is uniformly dispersed in the matrix a large number of nano-MgZn particulate phase, and reducing the potential difference between the substrate, the corrosion resistance of the alloy can be greatly improved; also has good mechanical properties.


Kin discrimination in tadpoles of Hylarana temporalis (Anura: Ranidae) and Sphaerotheca breviceps�#PWTC��K the former shows social aggregation and the latter live scattered. Early in development, tadpoles of *�� VGORQTCNKU are found in small aggregations in the streams of Western Ghats but in later stages they are generally seen in isolated pools cut off from the main channel following drying up of the stream. 5RJCGTQVJGECDTGXKEGRUbreed during south-west monsoons in TCKP��NNGFRWFFNGUCPFKVUVCFRQNGUCTGCNYC(UHQWPFUECVVGTGF��9GJ(RQVJGUK\GFVJCVVJG� tadpoles living in aggregation exhibit kin discrimination while those not living in aggregation may not exhibit kin discrimination. Further, tadpoles that face desiccation threat may also not exhibit kin discrimination behavior. Tests were conducted on tadpoles of the above two species at two developmental stages (Gosner Stages 28-30 and 34-36) to reveal their association choice with sibs and non-sibs. Tadpoles of *��VGORQTCNKU associated with both familiar (reared with sibs) and unfamiliar (reared in isolation) sibs in early but not in later stages of development. Tadpoles of 5�� DTGXKEGRU showed no association


The dynamic evaporation of gasoline was studied with the methods of TG and dynamic evaporativity experiment, it was found that the dynamic evaporativity of gasoline was improved after treatment of gasoline or air under a magnetic field.


A merging procedure for variable-size block motion estimation is proposed to reduce the computation for block-size decision. A smaller block-size is initially used for motion estimation. An adaptive threshold, which depends on the information obtained from the motion estimation, quantization parameter, and rate distortion cost function is used to determine if the motion vectors of the neighboring blocks should be merged or not. We simulate the proposed merging procedure using an H.264 video encoder to determine if 16x16, 16x8, 8x16, or 8x8 blocksize should be used for each macroblock. Based on the simulations, performance of the proposed method is close to that of H.264 JM2.1 when 16x16, 16x8, 8x16 and 8x8 block modes are enabled and the exhaustive search method is used to determine the block-sizes. Computational complexity can be significantly reduced by the proposed algorithm since it only performs the motion search for one block-size.


Personal privacy of citizens under the environment of big data is a hot spot of social concern. This paper focuses on the issue of the commercialization and sharing of personal data. A simple analytic hierarchy process is used to rationally divide the risk of privacy and build an evaluation system. The privacy equivalent model is then established through the construction of membership functions in fuzzy theory and service level of Vickrey-Clark-Groves (VCG). At last, based on the problem of liability commitment, corresponding recommendations are studied under the data leakage mechanism. Keywords—risk degree; vickrey-clark-groves (VCG); membership function; privacy pricing model


The utility model relates to a multifunctional LED desk lamp which comprises a lamp holder, a lamp body and a connecting plate for connecting the lamp holder and the lamp body, wherein an LED lamp is mounted inside the lamp body, a music playing interface is formed in the surface of the lamp holder, a main-control processor and a loudspeaker are mounted inside the lamp holder, the music playing interface is electrically connected with the loudspeaker through the main-control processor and an amplifier in sequence, a touch panel used for controlling an LED lamp switch and dimming the LED lamp is further arranged on the surface of the lamp holder, and the touch panel is electrically connected with the LED lamp through a touch-control induction circuit and a constant-voltage circuit which are mounted inside the lamp holder. The multifunctional desk lamp provided by the utility model integrates functions of lighting, music playing (including Bluetooth wireless playing and WiFi wireless playing), calendar and clock displaying, wireless charging (QI), USB charging as well as music and FM radioplaying, USB external charging and the like, is compatible with charging to mainstream digital equipment in the market, and greatly enriches the functions.


BACKGROUND
Infective endocarditis (IE) may be complicated by acute kidney injury, yet data on the use of dialysis and subsequent reversibility are sparse.

METHODS
Using Danish nationwide registries, we identified patients with first-time IE from 2000 to 2017. Dialysis naïve patients were grouped into: those with and those without dialysis during admission with IE. Continuation of dialysis was followed one year post-discharge. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to examine one-year mortality for patients surviving IE according to use of dialysis.

RESULTS
We included 7,307 patients with IE; 416 patients (5.7%) initiated dialysis treatment during admission with IE and these were younger, had more comorbidities and more often underwent cardiac valve surgery compared with non-dialysis patients (47.4% vs. 20.9%). In patients with both cardiac valve surgery and dialysis treatment (n=197), 153 (77.7%) initiated dialysis on- or after the date of surgery. The in-hospital mortality was 40.4% and 19.0% for patients with and without dialysis, respectively (p<0.0001). Of those who started dialysis and survived hospitalization, 21.6% continued dialysis treatment within one year after discharge. In multivariable adjusted analysis, dialysis during admission with IE was associated with an increased one-year mortality from IE discharge, HR=1.64 (95% CI: 1.21-2.23).

CONCLUSION
In dialysis-naïve patients with IE, approximately 1 in 20 patients initiated dialysis treatment during admission with IE. Dialysis identified a high-risk group with an in-hospital mortality of 40% and an approximately 20% risk of continued dialysis. Those with dialysis during admission with IE showed worse long-term outcomes than those without.


FORAGING MOTION OF SWARMS AS NASH EQUILIBRIA OF DIFFERENTIAL GAMES Aykut Yıldız Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Advisor: Arif Bülent Özgüler September 2016 The question of whether foraging swarms can form as a result of a non-cooperative game played by individuals is shown here to have an affirmative answer. A dynamic (or, differential) game played by N agents in one-dimensional motion is introduced and models, for instance, a foraging ant colony. Each agent controls its velocity to minimize its total work done in a finite time interval. The agents in the game start from a set of initial positions and migrate towards a target foraging location. Such swarm games are shown to have unique Nash equilibra under two different foraging location specifications and both equilibria display many features of a foraging swarm behavior observed in biological swarms. Explicit expressions are derived for pairwise distances between individuals of the swarm, swarm size, and swarm center location during foraging. Foraging swarms in one-dimensional motion with four different information structures are studied. These are complete and partial information structures, hierarchical leadership and one leader structures. In the complete information structure, every agent observes its distance to every other agent and makes use of this information in its effort optimization. In partial information structure, the agents know the position of only its neighboring agents. In the hierarchical leadership structure, the agents look only forward and measures its distance to the agents ahead. In single leader structure, the agents know the position of only leader. In all cases, a Nash equilibrium exists under some realistic assumptions on the sizes of the weighing parameters in the cost functions. The consequences of having a "passive" leader in a swarm are also investigated. We model foraging swarms with leader and followers again as non-cooperative, multi-agent differential games. We consider two types of leadership structures, namely, hierarchical leadership and a single leader structure. In both games, the type of leadership is assumed to be passive since a leader is singled out only due to its rank in the initial queue. We identify the realistic assumptions under which a unique Nash equilibrium exists in each game and derive the properties of the iii


Given increasing environmental concerns, lower energy building materials are being developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ancient technique rammed earth has been combined with modern industrial waste products to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce waste. The new rammed earth mixes have been developed using alkaline activation (sodium hydroxide) of industrial by-products: fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume. This paper explores the 'cradle-to-gate' life cycle assessment, assessing global warming potential of these rammed earth materials, considering acquisition of raw or recycled materials and processing to final product of residential building envelope. These are compared with commonly used building envelope materials, brick veneer and cavity brickwork, and the more common rammed earth variety, cement-stabilised rammed earth. Results show that greenhouse gas emission savings can be made using these rammed earth mixes compared to the control building materials while achieving comparable or better material properties. Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the building envelope materials are reduced by more than half or one third when compared to cavity brickwork or brick veneer respectively. Following testing of the waste products in surplus in a given area, the same process could be followed for any geographic location.


Many enterprises proceed to introduce thin clients for internal control. In a thin client environment, a large capable storage is required. However, such storage is expensive. So, we propose novel storage based on PC data grid, and then we call it VLSD (Very Large-Scale Disk). We developed prototype storage of 70TB using VLSD. In our experience, we found that there are several security issues in VLSD. For example, conventional VLSD allows becoming, wiretap and alteration. In this paper, we propose a security framework for VLSD in order to solve these issues on security. Using, this framework, these issues can be solved. In addition, we evaluate the performance of this security framework.


Based on characteristic of infrared communication,framework of N-LOSNon-directed Infrared WLAN and its key technology are discussed firstly,then bandwidth efficiency,anti-jamming performance and mutual-operation capability of the WLAN are analysed.Influence from different optical multiplexing to capacity of the WLAN is emphasis.


Plasma lipid profiles in the winter were studied in 128 male subjects. They were Japanese sub jects born on the main island, those born on Hokkaido, and Ainu.Appreciable differences were not detected among these three groups in the concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids, total and free cholesterol, and esterifled fatty acids in the plasma, although average values of total cholesterol and phospholipids were considerably low, as compared with values reported by American or European investigators.Highly significant differences were observed in the plasma levels of FFA; the lowest values were obtained in the Ainu who were considered to be well adapted to cold, while the highest in sub jects born on the main island and not adapted to cold.The results suggest that FFA mobilization is related in some way to the thermoregulation in the cold and the development of cold acclimatization.


The Covid-19 case that has spread in Indonesia requires efforts from various parties to resolve it. The Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University, is also making efforts to prevent and control Covid-19. The purpose of this activity is to minimize the possibility of the rapid spread of Covid-19 and preventive efforts to keep the people around Pauh, Kuranji, and Air Cold healthy and protected from Covid-19. This activity was carried out in three health centers: Pauh Puskesmas, Kuranji Health Center, and Padang City Puskesmas Air Cold. The method used is KIE (Educational Information Communication) about the COVID-19 disease in publishing articles in the mass media and giving masks. The target of the activity is the community around Pauh, Kuranji, and Air Cold Padang City. The results of the activities obtained include producing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as many as 80 face shields, 400 masks, and 60 hazmat suits involving MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) and convection. Furthermore, this PPE is distributed to health centers in need, namely Pauh Puskesmas, Kuranji Health Center, and Puskesmas Air Cold Padang City. Furthermore, it is distributed to parties in need, namely the public and medical personnel. The Covid-19 prevention and control program is carried out to suppress and reduce the positive number of Covid-19 and protect medical personnel from providing top service to patients. Furthermore, making PPE that involves MSMEs and convection can help the community's economy, which has declined due to this pandemic.


The insightful discussion of the relationship between the construction of metallographic and fatigue life and proposition of mathematical relationships describing this relationship was conducted in the paper. This paper presents a method for estimating the fatigue life, based on the construction of the microstructural material taking into account the grain size and the participation of ferrite and pearlite phase.


Ultrasound guided brachial plexus blocks have gained popularity. This observational study compared block performance time, time of onset of sensory and motor block , success and failure rates , need of rescue block and intraoperative analgesic supplementation and complications rate between ultrasound guided and traditional paraesthesia elicitation techniques. Methods: Total 70 ASA I-II adult patients undergoing elective upper limb surgery excluding shoulder were observed for supraclavicular plexus block performed routinely by different anaesthesiologists using either traditional technique with 35 ml anaesthetic agent or ultrasound guidance with 25 ml anaesthetic agent and were equally divided into two groups. Parameters noted were block performance time, onset of sensory and motor block, failure rate, success rate, need of supplementation and complications. Results: Block performance time was lower in traditional group as compared to USG group( 5.78+/_0.97 vs 7.41+/_1.40, p=0.844). Onset of sensory block was in lesser time in USG group as compared to traditional group (12.8+/_4.60 vs 17.0+/_8.28, p=0.821) and similar for motor block (14.06+/_5.21 vs 18.86+/_9.58, p=0.880). More block failure in traditional group (2.85% vs 0) and more need of supplementation (14.7% vs 5.7%) in traditional group compared to USG group. USG group had higher success rate (94.3% vs 82.85%) than traditional group. Vessel puncture was more in traditional group (22.8% vs 8.57%) along with mild chest pain/pneumothorax (2.85%) as compared to USG group. Conclusion: Ultrasound guidance allows use of lesser anaesthetic drug, earlier onset of sensory and motor effect, more success blocks, less need of supplementation, lesser block failure and lesser complications compared to traditional technique.


1. Product type natural beverage comprising only natural ingredients, including monatin and at least an acidulant comprising lactic acid and at least tartaric and (or) citric acid, and optionally other organic carboxylic acids, but without phosphoric acid. ! 2. natural beverage products according to claim 1, wherein the acidulant comprises lactic, tartaric and citric acid. ! 3. natural beverage products according to claim 1, wherein the acidulant content is from about 0.01% to about 1.0% by weight of the beverage. ! 4. natural beverage products according to claim 1, wherein the content of the acidulant is from about 0.05% to about 0.25% by weight of the beverage. ! 5. The product of natural beverage according to claim 1, wherein the pH is from about 2.0 to about 5.0. ! 6. The natural beverage products according to claim 1, further comprising carbonated water. ! 7. natural beverage products according to claim 1 comprising an additional natural sweetener. ! 8. natural beverage products according to claim 7, wherein the additional natural sweetener comprises at least one of the components including sucrose, fructose, glucose, corn syrup, high fructose, invert sugar, maple syrup, maple sugar, honey , brown sugar molasses, cane molasses production, sugar beet molasses, sorghum syrup, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, glycyrrhizin, D-tagatose, erythritol, mezoeritirt, maltol, maltose, lactose, fructo-oligosaccharides, Lo Han Guo, could ozid V, steviol glycosides, xylose, arabinose, isomalt, laktilol, maltitol, trehalose, rhamnose, ribose, thaumatin, monellin, brazzein, L-alanine and glycine.


An algebraic rank condition for controllability and observability of time-varying linear systems is given. The time-varying structure matrix is expanded in generated Lie algebra, with respect to a basis. It is proved that under a differential-algebraic condition for the time-dependent coefficients, controllability and observability are equivalent to a multivariable Kalman's condition, independent of the time-dependent terms.<<ETX>>


The authors report 17 cases with a similar clinical pattern but corresponding to different processus: The diagnosis of the disorders was made by microscopical study


When the Soviet Union dismantled in the early 1990s, there was no significant disparity between Germany and Korea in terms of political options and the opportunity presented. However, the results were quite different. South Korea was not prepared to exploit the chance for the reunification of the Korean peninsula. A new environment for the reunification of the Korean peninsula emerged in the beginning of the 21 st century. Although relations among the regional powers based on realism remain intact, the flexibility increases in politics as economic interdependence increases. The international order after the Cold War supports the reunification of the Korean peninsula and the internal situation within the Korean peninsula appears to be a dominant variable in shaping the reunification environment. The most important issue is to recover and strengthen the social Tao in the creation of a state of accord between the leader and the public in South Korea. It is recommended to prioritize the establishment of a strong Tao in order to prepare for the opportunities of the 21 st century.


Abstract : A series of tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of a slow-release lubricity dosing filter for equipment protection and storage stability. The hardware system used for testing was a high-pressure common rail system found on John Deere 4.5L Powertech Engines. The completion of a modified test protocol based on the NATO test cycle was set as the passing criterion at 60 oC, 82.8 oC, and 93.3 oC. These results were compared to the results from WD 04 (Task XIX) at similar temperatures, where in the fuels were treated in bulk with DCI-4A. Based on this criterion, the dosing filter was effective in improving the performance of Jet A at 82.8 oC, and 93.3 oC. It was ineffective in improving the performance for SPK at any temperature. The performance of the dosing filter was comparable to direct DCI-4A treatment for 50/50 Jet A/SPK fuel blend. HRD fuel passed the test cycle without the lubricity additive doser at all test temperatures.


— This contribution is focused on statistical methods for analyzing the worldwide commonly used synthetic musk compounds. Method of maximum likelihood considering doubly left-censored samples is used for statistical modeling of musk compound concentration. As for model distributions, the exponential and Weibull distributions are considered. The suitability of replacement of Weibull distribution with exponential distribution is explored using the asymptotic tests (Lagrange multiplier test, likelihood ratio test, Wald test). Moreover, using the asymptotic properties of maximum likelihood estimates, methods for comparison of two censored samples from exponential distribution are proposed and applied in analysis of concentrations of musk compounds extracted from the fish samples caught in front of and behind a wastewater treatment plant. The power functions of particular tests are compared by simulations.


The saliva is indispensable for preservation of healthy mouth and teeth, due to its composition and physical and chemical properties. Saliva preserves the teeth and favors their remineralization for account of afflux of irreplaceable minerals: calcium and phosphor. Due to contents of such epidermal growth factor it participates in tissue repair. The saliva contains the antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drug resistance factors, suppressing the bacterial colonization of teeth and mucosa. Dry mouth (xerostomia) results in development of stomatitis, periodontitis effects, increases a risk of infectious lesions of oral mucosa. The severest forms of such pathology (Degrees II–III) are observed in the patients administered of X-ray therapy on head and neck area and in case of Sjogren's syndrome, when the irreversible degenerative changes develop in эпителии salivary glands epithelium. Etiology and pathogenesis of xerostomia are not exhaustively studied yet, and treatment of such complex pathology is still symptomatic.


Having observed a few months ago in Switzerland, as I mentioned in a recent paper (see p. 13), numerous fine instances of roches moutonnées, I desired, when I came home, to look again at the rocks of Corstorphine Hill, which had always to my mind presented a singular appearance. I have therefore made a pretty general survey of the hill, and I have come to the conclusion that the phenomena exhibited by its superficial geology are frequently remarkably similar to the roches moutonnées I observed among the Alps. The extremely interesting character of the rocks of Corstorphine Hill is not, I think, sufficiently known,—one cause of the absence of investigation of them on the part of the public being, I have no doubt, the fact that the various small properties of which the hill is composed bristle with placards proclaiming the various proprietors' exclusive rights of property. Such notices will undoubtedly deter many from rambling over Corstorphine Hill in pursuit of scientific knowledge. From my general survey of Corstorphine Hill, it seems to me that it has evidently been subjected at one time to the abrading action of an agent operating like ice. The minutely complete way in which the surfaces of the many rock-masses in situ have been rounded and polished; the uniform contour which these smoothened rock-masses display; and the wide extent of area over which polished rocks are found on Corstorphine Hill, are circumstances which, from Alpine instances, we know are attendant upon glacial action, and which


To explore the possible diagnostic value of liquid biopsy, two multiplex panels using picoliter-droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) were established to quantitatively assess the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from the plasma of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Plasma samples derived from 22 patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC harboring EGFR mutations in matched tumor tissues confirmed by amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) analysis were subjected to two multiplex ddPCR panels to assess the abundance of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) -sensitive (19DEL, L858R) and TKI-resistant (T790 M) mutations. Fluctuations in EGFR mutant abundance were monitored by either of the multiplex ddPCR panels for three patients undergoing EGFR-TKI treatment, with serial plasma sample collections over 2 months. The multiplex ddPCR panels applied to plasma cfDNA from advanced NSCLC patients achieved a total concordance rate of 80% with the EGFR mutation profiles obtained by ARMS from matched biopsy tumor specimens (90% for 19DEL, 95% for L858R, 95% for T790M, respectively) and revealed additional mutant alleles in two subjects. The respective sensitivity and specificity were 90.9 and 88.9% for 19DEL, 87.5 and 100% for L858R, 100 and 93.8% for T790M. The fluctuations of EGFR mutant abundance in serial plasma cfDNA were in accordance with the changes in tumor size as assessed by imaging scans. The authors demonstrated the utility of multiplex ddPCR panels with ultra-sensitivity for quantitative analysis of EGFR mutations in plasma cfDNA and obtained promising usefulness in EGFR-TKI decision-making for advanced NSCLC patients.


Anion exchange membranes (ferricyanide ion type) prepared by the "paste method" were treated with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, and the resultant microporous membranes had no ion exchange capacity but water permeability. By measuring the water permeability of the membranes and observing the electron microphotographs of the membrane surfaces, it was elucidated that the anion exchange membranes contained microheterogeneity of colloidal dimension.


The desiccants diquat, glufosinate-ammonium, dimethipin and glyphosate were applied to flax when 44–84% of the capsules were green to reduce damage from subsequent frost. Beginning 3 d after desiccant application, plant samples were taken at 2–4 d intervals and exposed to a temperature at −20 °C overnight. Diquat application gave the most promising results, reducing the proportion of discolored seed and sometimes reducing loss of germinability, while resulting in a small yield loss compared with freezing of untreated plants. Key words: Flax, Linum usitatissimum L., desiccants, frost damage, seed quality, germination


ABSTRACT Datafication changes variables of our society within the political and cultural realms. In this study, we argue that platform affordances and algorithmic curation can impact users' civic participation through filtering and classifying users' online political content. Scholars from various disciplines – among them communication, computational studies, and political science – are working on different concepts in order to understand such effects. What we already know is that users' civic participation is often mediated by algorithmic curation on the one hand, and by the platform's built-in logic – often referred as mechanisms of affordances – on the other. Few works are cited across the field pointing out the significance of algorithmic personalization in the making of civic participation. One question that still plagues the research is how the impact of Facebook on civic participation is mediated by algorithmic curation and platform affordances. This paper responds to this need by locating existing scholarship within a common conceptual framework using as a starting point: algorithmic curation, civic participation, and platform affordances. This provides a logical structure that facilitates connections between concepts and disciplines that might otherwise be difficult to discern on an interdisciplinary basis.


A79-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for surgical intervention. Elsewhere, she had undergone transesophageal echocardiography after transthoracic echocardiography had shown severe mitral regurgitation and a mass adjacent to the posterior mitral valve leaflet. To better evaluate this mass, we attempted to perform preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, but the patient could not tolerate it. Instead, we performed electrocardiographic-gated 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). This method revealed a 7.1 × 1.7-cm, echodense, crescent-shaped, semilunar mass with sharp margins. The mass was located along the posterior mitral annulus in the posterolateral wall of the left ventricle (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 Images from 64-slice multidetector computed tomography. A) Two-chamber view shows an echodense, crescent-shaped, semilunar mass and peripheral calcification (arrow). B) Short-axis view shows heterogeneity of the caseous calcification of the mitral ...


To investigate the distribution and alteration of lymphatic vessels and draining function in knee joints of normal and osteoarthritic mice.


Immune response to FMD oil adjuvant vaccines in four month old calves born of vaccinated dams showed increased antibodies to FMD type '0', 'A', Asia 1 and 'C' within a month after primary vaccination. The antibody level remained satisfactory till 270 days post vaccination. It is concluded that FMD oil adjuvant vaccine elicits efficient response against all types of FMD virus in calves even in the presence of maternal antibodies.


Abstract The corrosion resistance and galvanic behavior of three stainless steels (SS), Alloy 33, and titanium were analyzed in commercial lithium bromide (LiBr) heavy brine solutions used in heating and refrigerating systems, with and without additives, using potentiodynamic anodic polarization measurements. Corrosion rates were determined from the Tafel slopes and inhibitor effects were also analyzed. The highest corrosion currents were obtained in the less-concentrated LiBr solution and the most negative corrosion potentials were obtained in a chromate-inhibited LiBr brine. The most effective action of the inhibitor was observed on titanium while it was least effective for Alloy 33. Critical potentials were calculated at 100 μA/cm2, and it was observed that the chromate inhibitor did not improve the resistance of SS to pitting corrosion. Galvanic current and mixed potentials were calculated for all possible combinations of the tested materials from polarization curves according to the mixed potential t...


Through experiences ranging from playing make-believe to cuddling soft toys to making things happen with machines, children are developing their physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language abilities. Research underpins the author's claim that play in ten distinct categories is, by all rights, essential to the childhood experience. This play should be facilitated by adults, but largely child-directed.


whether these non-formal values can be legally guaranteed by the creation of formal legal entitlements to specific procedures. Pincoffs proposes a Kantian reading of the basis for procedural due process, viz., that certain specific procedures have non-instrumental value in virtue of exemplifying the Kantian injunction never to treat anyone as a mere means. Grey plausibly insists that many due process demands ought not to be seen as procedural because, "they are . . . designed to protect various substantive rights and interests." Procedural demands, strictly speaking, are all to be understood as being "designed to promote the correct decision of disputes." Thus, in contrast to Pincoffs, Grey offers a fully instrumentalist account of procedural rights.


We present an analysis of the level of polarized dust and synchrotron emission using the WMAP9 and Planck data. The primary goal of this study is to inform the assessment of foreground contamination in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) measurements below ℓ ∼ 200 from 23 to 353 GHz. We compute angular power spectra as a function of sky cut based on the Planck 353 GHz polarization maps. Our primary findings are the following. (1) There is a spatial correlation between the dust emission as measured by Planck at 353 GHz and the synchrotron emission as measured by WMAP at 23 GHz with ρ ≈ 0.4 or greater for ℓ < 20 and fsky ⩾ 0.5, dropping to ρ ≈ 0.2 for 30 < ℓ < 200. (2) A simple foreground model with dust, synchrotron, and their correlation fits well to all possible cross spectra formed with the WMAP and Planck 353 GHz data given the current uncertainties. (3) In the 50% cleanest region of the polarized dust map, the ratio of synchrotron to dust amplitudes at 90 GHz for 50 ⩽ ℓ ⩽110 is 0.3−0.2+0.3. Smaller regions of sky can be cleaner although the uncertainties in our knowledge of synchrotron emission are larger. A high-sensitivity measurement of synchrotron below 90 GHz will be important for understanding all the components of foreground emission near 90 GHz.


The description of these processes is extended to general spin transitions. The decay distributions both for pair creation and its inner bremsstrahlung are given for experiments where no polarizations are observed, in terms of two structure functions which may be measured in either process; in most simple cases where a single multipole dominates these are theoretically related.


Changes of water environment adjacent to under construction of foundation pit directly influence the safety of exterior-protected structure.Based on the finite element numerical simulation method,the character of seepage field and the whole working state of structural support system are analyzed in the condition of adjacent high stage of drainage watercourse.In addition,the safe statue of the pit is evaluated based on the deformation of structural support and the anchor tension.This paper could provide reference and consult for the design an d construction of similar deep foundation pit.


Abstract The nitric oxide (NO) donors S -nitrosopenicillamine or DetaNONOate, which release NO at a rate of 0–15 nM sec −1 , were exposed to rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells for a period of 0–24 h. This treatment resulted in an increase in total glutathione levels of two- to threefold under conditions where no cytotoxicity was detected. The signaling pathways do not involve activation of protein kinase G Iα nor are they cGMP dependent. Oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) was found after exposure to NO for 3–4 h at rates of formation at or above 8 nM sec −1 . Increased intracellular GSH was due to enhanced expression of the rate-limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase. Since NO has been shown previously to protect cells against oxidative stress, we propose that the increase in GSH by NO is a potential mechanism for enhancing the antioxidant defenses of the cell. This result also has important implications for identifying redox-sensitive cell signaling pathways that can be activated by NO.


China's foreign direct investment in 54 countries along the "Belt and Road" from year 2003 to year 2019 are adopted as sample data, and economic system indicators such as business freedom, currency freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and fiscal freedom are introduced as the proxy variable for the quality of host-country's economic governance, to analyze the impact of different economic governance levels of countries along the route on China's foreign direct investment. Due to the missing data and the non-random characteristics of China's investment in sample countries, the Heckman two-step model is adopted to solve the issue of self-selection bias, and policy impact of the "Belt and Road" initiative is introduced to explore the quality of economic governance of the countries along the route on China's foreign direct investment. The findings show that, 1) China is more inclined to invest in host countries with a large market, and its investment preference is market-seeking; 2) the host-country labor freedom and financial freedom have a positive impact on Chinese direct investment, while trade freedom and investment freedom negatively affects Chinese investment; 3) the implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative has affected the mechanism of host-country's economic governance on China's foreign direct investment.


It seems that one cannot find many papers relating entropy to sport competitions. Thus, in this paper, I use (i) the Shannon intrinsic entropy (S) as an indicator of "teams sporting value" (or "competition performance") and (ii) the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHi) as a "teams competitive balance" indicator, in the case of (professional) cyclist multi-stage races. The 2022 Tour de France and 2023 Tour of Oman are used for numerical illustrations and discussion. The numerical values are obtained from classical and and new ranking indices which measure the teams "final time", on one hand, and "final place", on the other hand, based on the "best three" riders in each stage, but also the corresponding times and places throughout the race, for these finishing riders. The analysis data demonstrate that the constraint, "only the finishing riders count", makes much sense for obtaining a more objective measure of "team value" and team performance", at the end of a multi-stage race. A graphical analysis allows us to distinguish various team levels, each exhibiting a Feller-Pareto distribution, thereby indicating self-organized processes. In so doing, one hopefully better relates objective scientific measures to sport team competitions. Moreover, this analysis proposes some paths to elaborate on forecasting through standard probability concepts.


A review of the effect of hydrogen on materials is addressed in this paper. General aspects of the interaction of hydrogen and materials, hydrogen embrittlement, low temperature effects, material suitability for hydrogen service and materials testing are the main subjects considered in the first part of the paper. As an example, the study of the behaviour of titanium alloys in hydrogen assisted stress cracking conditions is presented. The technique used for this study has consisted of the SSRT technique; the testing media was sea water and cathodic polarization was used to produce hydrogen on the specimen surface during the mechanical test. Tested specimens have been characterized by metallography and scanning electron microscopy. Three different alloys, Ti Gr-2, Ti Gr-5 and Ti Gr-12, have been considered in this study. Results obtained show that the microstructure of the materials, particularly the β phase content, plays an important role on the sensitivity of the studied alloys to the Hydrogen Assisted Stress Cracking Phenomena.


This paper introduces the structure of highway dynamic weighting system based on DSP and its implement method, and points out that this system can determine automatically the data such as the axle-load, axle-base and speed of the vehicle, and realize the full-automatic dynamic weighting measurement.


The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of 'activity program for effective storytelling' on the empathic ability and language teaching efficacy of a story grandmother. The subjects were 51 beautiful story grandmothers in Gangwon, Gyeongsangdo and Seoul. The research tools used the emotional empathy scale of Jeon(2003), and language teaching efficacy scale of Kim and Lee(2011). As for the research procedure, from March 06 to July 27, 2017, an 'activity program for effective storytelling' was conducted. For data analysis, a t-test of the corresponding sample was conducted to find the difference between the pre- and post-scores of the two variables. As a result of the study, first, the cognitive empathy ability between the story grandmother and the young children after applying the 'activity program for effective storytelling' was higher than that of the dictionary. Second, the language teaching efficacy between the story grandmother and the young children after applying the 'activity program for effective storytelling' was higher than that of the dictionary. Therefore, the 'activity program for effective storytelling' suggests that there is a positive effect on improving the cognitive empathic ability and language teaching efficacy of the story grandmothers.


The aggregation properties of poly(oxyethylene)alkyl ether, non-ionic surfactants (CnEOm), have been studied in the non-polar solvents heptane and decane using light scattering, vapour pressure osmometry and ultrasonic relaxation methods. The results show that the degree of association is low and only small aggregates (N≈ 5–15) are present. The aggregation numbers increase with EO size, and are slightly larger in decane than in heptane. Alkyl chain size has no influence on aggregation. Only at high concentrations does the association phenomenon resemble the behaviour expected from micellar solutions.


The diaphragm which was called the "method of the year" in 1976 has enjoyed a comeback in use and popularity which warrants close examination. Part of its recent popularity comes from disenchantment with the IUD and oral contraceptives. The Sanger Research Bureau Study which proved the diaphragm to be more reliable than most IUDs and the minipill and on a part with the medically dangerous oral contraceptives has added to its appeal. A source of good reputation and experience is essential in obtaining one. 4 basic styles exist which allow for a degree of adaptability for individual users. The use of spermicidal cream as a fail-safe measure is encouraged. Serious health drawbacks do not exist for the diaphragm. Most objections to its use are in regard to spontaneity and convenience of use. Spermicides used in conjunction with it actually have an antiinfection action. Insertion is accomplished in several positions and methods depending on the type of device. Most will last up to 2 years with proper care.


This study examined the role of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in promoting, creating, and sustaining social innovation. Recently, HEIs have extended their contribution beyond the traditional function of teaching and research to perform in socio-economic problem-solving. Considering the increasing trends of higher education involvement in social innovation practices, this study tries to examine the tools such as learning processes and systemic thinking approach that could be helpful to align the function and responsibilities of HEIs towards social innovation. The objective is to develop a theoretical understanding of the "co-creation for social innovation" concept and to understand the functions and activities of HEIs that can contribute to this process. To promote co-creation for social innovation, HEIs should actively encourage collaborative learning tools that focus on open platforms for collective action and systemic change that help them to engage with society and strengthen their collaboration with social actors. Different activities such as mutual learning and knowledge diffusion using a transdisciplinary approach, technology-based learning and collaboration, and relational transformation are key enablers that can promote social innovation.


In order to analyze the security of campus network and solve the problem of network breakdown.We proposed a method using protocol analysis to enhance the security of campus network.Using protocol to analyze the network virus,network attacks,Dos DDos(Denial of Service Distributed Denial of Service),network band width abusing,broadcast and the multicast,MAC(Media Access Control) attacks and so on.The method gets the network condition,gives the definite solution according to the analysis result.The practice proved that this kind of method using protocol to solve campus network breakdown can locate the network breakdown rapidly,obtain a satisfied effect of network breakdown remove and enhance the security and stability of campus network greatly.


We have optically investigated ternary GaAs1-xSbx (x<0.58) epilayers and Sn-doped GaAs1-xSbx (x=0.10–0.14) epilayers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates. Sn-doped GaAsSb layers were grown as a function of Sn Knudsen-cell temperature, and then characterized by low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements and Hall effect measurements. The Sn-doped GaAsSb films grown at a K-cell temperature of 670°C changed from exhibiting p-type conduction to exhibiting n-type conduction, and showed a maximum PL intensity and a maximum electron mobility of 1900 cm2/V s. The PL intensities obtained for Sn-doped GaAsSb films showed a relatively good correlation with the variations in Hall mobility.


In Canada, there continues to be large variations in medical practice across provinces and territories as well as across health regions in each province, raising questions about the efficiency and equity of health service delivery. This chapter focusses on the use of nine health care activities and procedures between 2003 and 2010. Hospital medical admissions have generally declined in Canada and are low compared with other OECD countries, but there remain substantial variations across provinces (nearly two-fold difference) and health regions (nearly four-fold difference). Knee replacement surgery has increased in all provinces since 2003, with no reduction in the large variations across provinces and health regions. This contrasts with coronary angioplasty, which has also increased in all provinces, but more so in provinces that started with a low level in 2003, indicating a certain degree of convergence in the treatment of people following heart attack. There has also been a strong rise in the use of MRI and CT scans, but despite some reduction in the variation in MRI exams across provinces, substantial variation remains (nearly two-fold difference). In 2013, the Canadian Medical Association, in co-operation with some universities and patient groups, adapted the Choosing Wisely campaign initially developed in the United States to promote more informed discussions between doctors and patients and to reduce unnecessary diagnostic tests and procedures. The impact of this new initiative should be closely monitored.


The article starts to analyze and evaluate the elements of the professional teachers' ability and proposes the several issues that are worthy of studying on the evaluation of teachers' working status. Then according to the system of six capacity factors such as the learning scenario design capacity in the enterprise work process, the paper comprehensively demonstrates the composition of the evaluation system about teachers' teaching ability in art and design engineering alternating reform mode, finally provides a reference for promoting the reform and construction of vocational teachers' job evaluation system.


English writing is a nightmare of many non-English major college students who always make writing errors,which has become an obstacle in improvement of writing ability and overall English skills.Therefore,it is quite necessary to take error analysis as foundation and conclude the laws of students' error by analyzing the language use errors students make in composition.Underlining errors and correcting them help students with correct language imput and teachers with effective teaching methods to promote teaching reform.


Robert Nozick's widely hailed Anarchy, State, and Utopia has been analyzed primarily in terms of the arguments he engages in with his fellow "public philosopher", John Rawls. Yet perhaps the most unusual line of thinking introduced by Nozick is his "invisible hand" explanation for the origin of the state (pp. 78 ff.). This is not meant to be a genuinely historical account. It is clear that no state ever emerged in the way described by Professor Nozick. Yet he finds this satisfying because it attempts to explain the single most important step in the political evolution of mankind in terms largely divorced from the political realm. He feels that he has been able to demonstrate that it is possible for the state to emerge from the Lockean state of nature without violating anyone's rights and without anyone having planned to create a state (p. 113). Nozick tries to shield his "invisible hand" argument by conceding that it may be "fact defective", "law defective", and/or "process defective", yet still remain a "fundamental explanation" packing "explanatory punch and illumination, even if incorrect" (p. 8). It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that the "invisible hand" explanation posited by Professor Nozick is incoherent, and fails to be a "fundamental" explanation of the emergence of the state. It does not present an underlying mechanism capable of yielding that result. (Further, it will be suggested that owing to faulty concepts of prohibition and compensation, Nozick's model of the minimal state contradicts his moral dicta posited elsewhere in the book.) 11. MICROECONOMlCS IN THE STATEOF NATURE


Measurements taken at Mauna Loa, Hawaii show that the atmospheric C02 concentration has increased from 316ppmv in 1959 to 342ppmv in 1983 (Elliott et al., 1985), an 8 per cent increase in 24 years. A variety of direct atmospheric C02 measurements and indirect reconstructions indicate that the preindustrial C02 concentration during the period 1800 to 1850 was 270 ± lOppmv (WMO, 1983; Siegenthaler and Oeschger, 1987). Much of this recent increase in atmospheric C02 is due to the use of fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal), and projections suggest that it will continue into the future.


Objective  To explore the clinical pathological characteristics, immunophenotyping, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and prognosis of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) with anaplastic features.  Methods  HE staining was used for histological observation. The expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin (Vim), CD34, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), progestrone receptor (PR), neurofilment protein (NF), neuronal nuclei (NeuN), synaptophysin (Syn), Nestin (Nes), S-100 protein (S-100), P53 and Ki-67 labeling index were detected by immunohistochemical method. BRAF mutation was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.  Results A 43-year-old male patient presented with repeatedly paroxysmal tic of limbs and disturbance of consciousness. Cranial MRI revealed multiple abnormal signals in left temporo-occipito-parietal lobe and posterior horn of lateral ventricle, with unclear borderline and cystic degeneration. Surgical removal of the lesion was performed. Histologically, the tumor was biphasic. One part was composed of spindle cells arranged in fascicles or as running water, with weird multinuclear giant cells. Abundant vacuolated lipidized cytoplasm could be seen. Mitosis and "map"-like necrosis were noted. Another part revealed the tumor cells were consistent in size and uniform in distribution, with loose background tissue. Immunohistochemistry showed tumor cells were diffusely positive for GFAP, Vim, S-100, Nes, CD34 and P53, and negative for EMA, Syn, NeuN and NF. Ki-67 labeling index was about 15%. Reticular fiber staining showed abundant reticular fibers in the tumor tissue. BRAF mutation detected by PCR amplification was not found.  Conclusions  Classified as grade Ⅱ in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, the prognosis of PXA is good. A diagnosis of PXA with anaplastic features should be considered when the tumor demonstrates mitotic activity > 5/10 high power field (HPF) and/or areas of necrosis. The differential diagnosis from glioblastoma multiforme and gaint cell glioblastoma should be paid attention, as all of them contain variable numbers of pleomorphic astrocytes, in order to avoid overtreatment. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672?6731.2015.08.010


The idea that cognition is controlled hierarchically is appealing to many but is difficult to demonstrate empirically. Often, nonhierarchical theories can account for the data as well as hierarchical ones do. The purpose of this chapter is to document the case for hierarchical control in skilled typing and present it as an example of a strategy for demonstrating hierarchical control in other cognitive acts. We propose that typing is controlled by two nested feedback loops that can be distinguished in terms of the factors that affect them, that communicate through intermediate representations (words), that know little about how each other work, and rely on different kinds of feedback. We discuss hierarchical control in other skills; the relation between hierarchical control and familiar concepts like automaticity, procedural memory, and implicit knowledge; and the development of hierarchical skills. We end with speculations about the role of hierarchical control in everyday cognition and the search for a meaningful life.


Many AI algorithms have been deployed on edge devices as edge computing has the advantages of reducing latency, saving network bandwidth, and protecting data privacy. Whether edge devices can run AI algorithms is an important challenge due to the low-power and low-cost characteristics of edge devices. Therefore, this paper analyzed the performance of optimization techniques by running YOLOv3 on a typical GPU-based low-cost edge device, NVIDIA Jetson Nano. YOLOv3 is a representative object detection algorithm, which is widely used as the benchmark in AI scenarios. We compared latency, memory, and power consumption of three deep learning frameworks, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and TensorRT. Then we squeezed the extreme performance using multiple optimization techniques, including model quantization, model parallelization, and image scaling on TensorRT. The running speed of YOLOv3 increases from 3.9FPS to 13.1FPS on NVIDIA Jetson Nano. It proves that the resource-limited edge device can run AI applications with high computing power requirements in a real-time manner. Moreover, we summarized nine observations and five insights to guide the selection and design of optimization techniques and verified the generalization of these rules on NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX. We also provided a series of suggestions to help developers choose the appropriate method to deploy AI algorithms on edge devices.


We divide measuring techniques on temperature in micro-scale into two kinds in terms of temperature control mode, namely temperature control of probe and temperature control of sample, and the corresponding devices include scanning thermal microscope and variable-temperature sample stage that can be utilized in general scanning probe microscope directly. This paper introduces the structure, principle of work and application of these devices separately and analyzes the differences in two kinds of devices, furthermore, discusses the unsolved problems that lie in variable-temperature assistant devices of scanning probe microscope at present and development prospect of variable-temperature scanning probe microscope.


Correspondence is the pith of human progress. Life would not have been conceivable without this intellectual staff. Language and Linguist designs assume an inexorably essential part in criminal examination and litigation. A suspect's dialect and Linguist has dependably given signals about honesty, mental and passionate anxiety and level of intoxication. Accents and dialect have likewise given data around a person's country. Nowadays, voice prints are being utilized to check the validness of fear based oppressors' taped messages and mental anxiety assessment. In any case, with headway in advance events of criminal activities are furthermore on the development Investigation into law and dialect is exceptionally wide, emanating from the field of historical underpinnings, and additionally from different human sciences. Phonetics is a branch of connected semantics which manages the examination of etymological proof to clear up the ambiguities existing in any legal procedure, particularly in examination violations and legitimate issues. This field researches legitimately significant writings and etymological proof, for example, manually written writings before a suicide, records and confirmation stayed from a wrongdoing scene and notes of abductors. Talk examination is likewise generally completed with the accompanying means to: comprehend the character of the essayist; personality the speaker with reference to the recording; and give master reports to legitimate specialists and police. The investigation of talk significantly helps legal framework work force to discover truth. It is essential for cops, security specialists and judges working in courts to get comfortable with the possibilities and use of crime scene investigation phonetics and its part in the accomplishment of legitimate examinations keeping in mind the end goal to achieve truth injudicial forms. This paper considers the degree to which criminological etymology can be viewed as a science, and diagrams some routes in which it is valuable in legitimate procedures, including voice distinguishing proof, the understanding of police presume cooperation, confirmation of police reports (counting the illicit routine with regards to 'verballing') and diverse bits of knowledge into discourse designs in a court setting. The paper gives a nearer examination of one specific territory, that of origin attribution, especially in SMS messages, and closes by bringing some continuous debates up in legal etymology and by talking about future prospects.


Mathematical models of the quantity and quality of water in hydrographic basins enable simulation of a wide variety of processes, including the production of water and sediments, and the dynamics of point and nonpoint sources of pollution. These models have become increasingly complex, requiring large amounts of input data, which can increase the uncertainty of the results of simulations. For this reason, it is essential to perform calibration and validation procedures. The objective of this work was to conduct sensitivity analysis and calibration of a distributed hydrological model (SWAT) applied to the flows of water in the watershed of the Poxim River. Satisfactory performance of the model was indicated by the values obtained for the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (0.77), the percent bias (5.05), the root mean square error (0.48), and the ratio of the RMSE to the standard deviation of the observations (RSR) (0.49). The set of parameters identified here could be used for the simulation and evaluation of other scenarios.