For the past three decades, Decision Support Systems (DSS) have looked to provide better decision-making support for difficult and complex semi-structured and unstructured decisions. However, debate continues over where DSS fits into the history of Management Information Systems (MIS), whether it is still the primary focus of MIS research, and in which direction DSS is heading. In an attempt to address these and other questions, we can apply Thomas S. Kuhn's paradigm model from his text, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, to a DSS literature review. The literature demonstrates that DSS was indeed the paradigm for MIS, but MIS may currently be in a time of crisis whereby this paradigm could be threatened.


We study inelastic energy relaxation in graphene for low energies to find out how electrons scatter with acoustic phonons and other electrons. By coupling the graphene to superconductors, we create a strong dependence of the measured signal, i.e.,\ critical Josephson current, on the electron population on different energy states. Since the relative population of high- and low-energy states is determined by the inelastic scattering processes, the critical current becomes an effective probe for their strength. We argue that the electron-electron interaction is the dominant relaxation method and, in our model of two-dimensional electron-electron scattering, we find a scattering time $\tau_{e-e}=5... 13$ ps at T=500 mK, 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller than predicted by theory.


Abstract : The goal of the 3D PDF technical data demonstration (an adjunct R&D task under STP 4-06, Model-Based Technical Data in Procurement) is to help DLA move toward the use of more modern technical data in its daily procurement activities and influence DoD to adopt 3D PDF data files as a means of transferring those data. The use of modern 3D data would give DLA a more agile, more reliable, and less costly way to have parts built to support America's warfighters. The project's objective is to assess DLA's capability to acquire Class IX parts using modern technical data recorded in a 3D PDF file with an attached STEP file. To accomplish this objective, the demonstration will exercise DLA's current procurement process to buy real parts in an operational environment. Phase 1 of the project, which is the focus of this report, concentrates on establishing the groundwork and performing the planning actions for parts procurement during the follow-on phases of the 3D PDF technical data demonstration.


Freud: Darkness in the Midst of Vision by Louis Breger (New York: Wiley, 2000, 480 pp.) This review of Freud: Darkness in the Midst of Vision by Louis Breger considers the book in view of previous biographies of Freud and of historical scholarship. The strength of the book, which plainly is written for an audience of contemporary psychoanalysts and clinicians, consists in its portrait of Freud's character and his work with patients, both contextualized in terms of human relationships as well as theory. The book also contains impartial assessments of Freud's collaborators, such as Adler, Rank, Ferenczi, Jung, and data about trauma and loss in the lives of patients as well as colleagues.


Aim: It is aimed to reveal the importance of markers such as inflammation markers, c-reactive protein, complete blood count parameters (white blood cell, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio), delta neutrophil index (immature granulocyte), which play a role in acute appendicitis pathology and progression, in the diagnosis of pediatric acute appendicitis, and the relationship between these markers. Materials and Methods: 47 patients who applied to Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Uni- versity Medical Faculty Hospital between 01.01.2019 and 31.08.2022 due to acute appendicitis were included in the study. Demographic and medical information of the patients were obtained by examining the hospital automation system. Results: In the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pediatric patients, delta neutrophil index, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and platelet lymphocyte ratio, which are inflammatory markers, were found to be statistically significantly higher. It was stated that delta neutrophil ındex, white blood cell, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and platelet lymphocyte ratio measurement are easily accessible blood parameters without requiring additional cost to the health system, as they are worked automatically within the parameters of the complete blood count. Conclusion: We recommend the use of delta neutrophil index, neutrophil lymphocyte ra- tio and platelet lymphocyte ratio values along with physical examination, imaging studies, and laboratory tests to assist in the diagnosis of pediatric acute appendicitis patients.


Prodasineura yulan is described from a male from Maludam National Park, Betong Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It is allied to Prodasineura interrupta.


This article explores and interrogates the common practice of asking students to write personal narratives within elementary English Language Arts classrooms, addressing some of the difficulties that may arise when students are required to share personal details. Using interview and focus-group data from a study of internationally adopted children and schooling, and a number of autobiographical experiences, using a complexity thinking frame, we address some of the challenges such assignments can present for students who have diverse cultural, family or life history backgrounds. We examine some teacher biases that can present difficulties within writing assignments and present some new narrative possibilities and literacy practices that can be more inclusive of all students and acknowledge diversity.


This paper presents the results of some laboratory investigations, at the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) of India, of the properties of coal ash and soil combinations that could be used to construct roads. Use of coal ashes for roads and buildings would solve the problem of ash disposal and pollution, and save reserves of hard stone. Burning of coal in power stations produces both fly ash and bottom ash. Suitable mixtures of fly ash and ground bottom ash and water are known as pond ash. Laboratory studies were conducted to find the suitability of these types of coal ashes, and especially of their strengths when mixed with different types of soil. The selected soils were in the CL, ML and CH groups of the IS Soil Classification System. Soils mixed with bottom ash were found to be stronger than those mixed with fly ash or pond ash. Thus bottom ash from power stations should be collected for their appropriate use in road works. Soils which are not strong enough for use in subgrade should be mixed with coarser coal ashes to improve their strength. Bottom ash could be used as a road sub-base. Mixtures of coal ash and black cotton soil could be used for embankment construction in clayey (BC) soil and for subgrade improvement.


Sludge disposal is a growing problem for all wastewater treatment companies, as intensifying wastewater processing to meet more stringent discharge limits leads to increased sludge production. Anaerobic digestion can reduce the overall mass of the waste sludge requiring disposal, but the end product is generally more difficult to dewater. Microbial extracellular polymer (ECP) has previously been shown to influence sludge dewaterability. This investigation examined the relationship between the quantity and composition of ECP present in sludge samples, prior to and after the digestion process, at full-scale municipal sewage treatment works. Anaerobic digestion was shown to alter the quantity of ECP present, with digested sludge containing 25% less ECP on average than raw sludge. The level of ECP that may give maximum sludge dewaterability was calculated as 21 mg ECP g-1 SS for raw sludge and 10 mg ECP g-1 SS for digested sludge. The organic composition of the ECP extracted from digested sludge contained more protein with respect to carbohydrate than that extracted from pre-digested sludge. These changes in the sludge ECP were shown to correlate with changes in sludge dewaterability.


Pediatric heart transplant recipients are at risk for complications from prolonged exposure to immunosuppressive drugs, pharmacokinetic challenges in maintaining consistent immunosuppression, and medication non‐adherence. Basiliximab (BAS), an interleukin‐2 receptor antagonist, is used for induction therapy across many pediatric heart transplant centers, but use as maintenance immunosuppression has not been well described.


A 23-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a 1-month history of rash, arthritis, and fever. The patient was in excellent health until 1 month prior to presentation, when she noted the spontaneous onset of a pruritic rash that began on her face and then progressed to involve her trunk and extremities. Shortly afterward, she developed pain and swelling of both hands, particularly of her wrists and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. One week prior to presentation, she noted a sore throat and diffuse body aches together with subjective fevers and chills. She denied drenching sweats during febrile episodes. On evaluation in an emergency department, she was afebrile and had a diffuse erythematous rash that spared her palms and soles and mucous membranes. Laboratory evaluation showed a normal complete blood cell count, normal chemistries, including liver tests, and a normal urinalysis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 35 mm/hour (normal value 20) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 53 mg/liter (normal value 3.1). A rapid test on a pharyngeal swab for group A Streptococcus was negative, as were urine tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Her chest radiograph revealed a calcified granuloma in the right mid-lung, but was otherwise normal. She was discharged with a diagnosis of "polyarthritis and rash" with a recommendation to take prednisone 40 mg orally daily and ibuprofen for 5 days. Despite compliance with the prednisone and ibuprofen, her symptoms persisted without improvement. She continued to have fevers and noted that her rash worsened during her febrile episodes. She was admitted to this institution for further evaluation. Past Medical History


An extensive range of second order rate constants for the addition of hydrogen halides to alkenes in 98% v/v ethanoic acid (acetic acid)–water have been obtained by conductivity measurements. The rate constants are in the expected order of HF < HCl < HBr < HI. The rates with different alkenes cannot be rationalised solely by a consideration of carbocation stability and it has been necessary to consider steric effects in order to explain the observed order.


Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) represents a source of charged as well as neutral reactive particles. Plasma created in sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas is a source of SO radicals suitable for functionalization of delicate organic materials with SO groups, provided the appropriate discharge mode is chosen. The ICP was sustained in either Eor H-mode. In the first case, the plasma glow is rather uniform along the entire reactor and the color is dark blue due to extensive radiation originating from excited SO radicals. In the H-mode, the light intensity is orders of magnitude larger in the coil, and the image is white due to various atomic transitions in the entire spectrum. The plasma density in the H-mode is, therefore, large enough to cause not only dissociation of SO2 to SO but also destruction of SO radicals to S and O atoms, so plasma created in H-mode is not that suitable for functionalization of organic materials with SO groups.


An improved resonant energy transfer method based on high Q value was proposed to solve the problem of short wireless power transmission distance and low efficiency in the loose coupling of electromagnetic induction mode of percutaneous wireless power supply system.First,the theoretical model of the resonant energy transfer and the role of Q in energy transfer efficiency were analyzed.Second,in order to reduce the influence of source resistance and load,the basic circuit of percutaneous induction was improved by adding a pair of resonance coil between load coil and power coil.Finally,an experimental test device was set up to build comparative experiment,in which system Q value is increased by adding the resonant coil,and energy transfer efficiency was improved by four times and the transmission distance has also been significantly improved.Therefore,it proves the effectiveness of the method.


For eight point-based differential methods of image velocity measurement, including two new methods, quantitative evaluations are reported based on synthetic images, and qualitative evaluations based on real images.  A new method  (cluster method) is characterized by the determination of the nearest point to all constraint lines, and the other (VF expansion method) by local approximation of the motion vector field. For six methods, solutions for algorithmic use are compiled, e.g. also iterative solutions for the Schunck and the Nagel constraint. The given quantitative evaluations may be used for characterizing situations where methods may be applied, and where not, and what parameters may be suggested.


Past research of predictive optimal control of active and passive building thermal storage inventory has confirmed the importance of accuracy in the employed building model. In a subsequent investigation of modelfree learning control for the same application, a hybrid model-based/model-free control scheme based on simulated reinforcement learning has been proposed. Experimentation validated this approach, yet the experiment data analysis also revealed that the accuracy of the training model for the learning controller can significantly affect the knowledge base of the controller and its resultant performance. As a result, procedures of model calibration to improve the model accuracy are needed to improve the control quality in both model-based predictive optimal control and hybrid control schemes. This paper describes a methodology for model calibration that is based on system identification and has been successfully applied in both approaches. A numerical analysis demonstrates that by carrying out the model calibration the performance of the controllers has been improved.


We study a class of composite FIR filters (C-filters), each is composed of a prototype filter and a shaping filter in cascade, where the shaping filter is constructed by cascading several complementary comb filters. In particular, the problems of designing C-filters that are optimal in least-squares, equiripple passband and lease-squares stopband, and minimax sense are formulated, and three algorithms for designing such linear-phase FIR C-filters are proposed. The algorithms are based on an alternating optimization strategy in that the prototype and shaping filters are optimized in separate steps, which are coupled and carried out in a sequential manner to yield a satisfactory design. Design examples are presented to illustrate the algorithms and demonstrate the performance of the C-filters relative to their conventional FIR counterparts.


The Superconducting cyclotron at VECC, Kolkata, has accelerated ion beams up to extraction radius successfully confirmed by the neutrons produced by the nuclear reactions. The internal beam tuning process started with beam parameters calculated using the measured magnetic field data [1]. Due to some mechanical and electrical problems we were forced to tune the beam with three major trim coils off. Accurate positioning of central region Dee-extensions ensuring the proper acceleration gaps in the first turn was required for successful acceleration of beam through the compact central region clearing the posts in the median plane. Here we present different aspects and results of initial beam tuning.


Visma Labs AB or Visma wanted to conduct experiments to see if file metadata could be indexed for searching files on a public cloud storage. Given that storing files in a public cloud storage is ch ...


This manual contains answers to the even numbered problems listed at the end of the chapters in the 5th edition of "Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists". For those problems requiring a little thought, outline solutions are provided as well as the final answer.


The analytical expression for the signal-to-noise ratio of a slotted surface coil with an arbitrary number of slots was derived using the quasi-static approach. This surface coil based on the vane-type magnetron tube. To study the coil perfomance, the theoretical signal-to-noise ratio predictions of this coil design were computed using a different number of slots. Results were also compared with theoretical results obtained for a circular coil with similar dimensions. It can be appreciated that slotted surface coil performance improves as the number of coils increases and, outperformed the circular-shaped coil. This makes it a good candidate for other MRI applications involving coil array techniques.


With the development of RFID applications, the rapidly increasing number of companies actively participated in the RFID system development and the RFID devices which adopt the different communications protocol. So the RFID middleware becomes a very hot topic. RFID middleware is a new breed of application software which facilitates data communication between automatic identification equipments like RFID readers and enterprise applications. At the same time, the data of the application program are written in the tag and data security is very important to ensure application software security such as WMS, ERP. This paper refers to data management model of RFID middleware to increase the data security and tag capacity and describe the architecture of RFID middleware. Because the capacity of tag is limited, the store space of the ciphertext is must be considered and it is possible that the key table is very big in order to reduce the query speed. So this system used two-step encryption and adopted improved the transposition encryption. To increase the storing capacity of RFID tag, this paper adopt LZW compression algorithm. The RFID middleware rapidly becomes the common interface of different RFID devices.


This paper discusses existing military capability models and proposes a comprehensive capability meta-model (CCMM) which unites the existing capability models into an integrated and hierarchical whole. The Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture is used as a structure for the CCMM. The CCMM takes into account the abstraction level, the primary area of application, stakeholders, intrinsic process, and life cycle considerations of each existing capability model, and shows how the models relate to each other. The validity of the CCMM was verified through a survey of subject matter experts. The results suggest that the CCMM is of practical value to various capability stakeholders in many ways, such as helping to improve communication between the different capability communities.


Rate equations for optical pumping sodium atoms to the 32P3/2 (F=3) state are solved. Although the total upper‐state population reaches its equilibrium value after approximately the natural lifetime τ, the magnetic sublevel population (expressed in terms of state multipole moments) becomes stationary only after over 15–30τ even in the high‐intensity limit.


Disordered carbons, normally divided and defined as the "soft carbon" and "hard carbon" according to their graphitization capability at the high temperature above 2500 C, have been captured extensive interest as anode materials for Na-ion batteries (NIBs). Both of the two types have their own advantages and disadvantages, for instance, the fossil fuel derived soft carbon is cost-effective but generally delivers a capacity below 100 mAh/g while the biomass derived hard carbon typically has a sodium storage capacity of around 300 mAh/g but at the cost of either high precursor price or low carbon yield, which hinders their practical application.


: The understanding of households' socio-economic characteristics and their behaviour has been acknowledged as a key factor while assessing the energy demands. There is considerable research in the area of building simulation and energy modelling; however, the representation of occupants and their behaviour needs further work. For instance, every degree rise in internal temperature settings will increase the household energy consumption by 10 %. This research investigates the energy use behaviour of a specific demographic and ethnic group, the British Asian households. A large-scale housing survey is used to gather self-reported information about the British Asian households' energy use behaviour, for instance, heating patterns, appliances use, ventilation behaviour, as well as other socio-economic characteristics. Data collected will be transformed into energy models, which includes Space heating behaviour models, electrical appliances and lighting use models, and Ventilation behaviour models. The outcome of this research demonstrates how social perception and economic aspirations limit the acceptability of sustainable design and construction strategies. This research involves active community participation and engagement; a major part of the dissemination will aim at communicating the research findings to the British Asian households, which will have a direct impact of energy reduction by informed behaviour choice.


Abstract : Coupling light from fibers to film for example integrated optic structures requires coupling over some finite length for materials which do not cleave easily. Some form of distributed coupler familiar to microwave circuitry is required. In this sense distributed means coupling over some finite aperture in the direction of propagation typically hundreds or thousands of wavelengths. This report describes a method of generating efficient couplers which do not require precise control of physical parameters and hence relax the tolerances for coupler construction. This crossed-beta coupler requires phase match between the two waveguides at only one point. Typically, this coupler may be realized by two waveguides whose respective propagation constants (beta) change linearly for a short region and cross at the phase match point. Analytical solutions for coupler efficiency and physical dimension are given. (Author)


A fluorometric method, based on the fluorescence properties of the aluminium(III)-hesperidin complex, for the determination of hesperidin in hu- man plasma and pharmaceutical forms has been developed and validated. The complex shows a strong emission in the presence of the surfactant betain sul- phonate SB 12 at 476 nm with excitation at 390 nm. The linearity range for pharmaceutical forms of hesperidin was 0.06-24.4 μg mL -1 with a limit of detection, LOD, of 0.016 μg mL -1 and a limit of quantification, LOQ, of 0.049 μg mL -1 . Recovery values in the range 99.3-99.7 % indicate good accuracy of the method. A linear dependence of the intensity of fluorescence of the com- plex on the concentration of hesperidin in plasma was obtained in concentra- tion range from 0.1-12.2 μg mL -1 . The LOD was 0.032 μg mL -1 while LOQ was 0.096 μg mL -1 . Recovery values were in the range 98.4-99.8 %. The re- liability of the method was checked by an LC-MS/MS method for plasma samples and an HPLC/UV method for tablets with direct determination of hes- peridin after separation. Linearity range in determination of hesperidin in phar- maceutical forms was obtained in the range from 0.05 to 10.00 μg mL -1 . The LOD was 0.01 μg mL -1 and the LOQ was 0.03 μg mL -1 . The linearity range for the determination of hesperidin in plasma was 0.02-10.00 μg mL -1 with an LOD 0.005 μg mL -1 and an LOQ of 0.015 μg mL -1 . The good agreement between the two methods indicates the usability of the proposed fluorometric method for the simple, precise and accurate determination of hesperidin in cli- nical and quality control laboratories.


The study examined the socio-economic factors influencing the capacity of small and medium enterprise (SMEs) to alleviate poverty in Southwest Nigeria. Primary data were used for this study. The target population was (SMEs) in three states(Lagos, Ogun and Oyo) in the Southwest region of Nigeria. The choice of these three states was based on size and concentration of SMEs. Data were collected using questionnaire from a sample of 700 SMEs using systematic random sampling procedure. The data collected were analysed using appropriate descriptive statistics and inferential techniques. The results showed that majority(75%) of surveyed SMEs operating in the Southwest were micro-enterprises employing less than 10 workers while only (19%) and (6%) of the respondents engaged in small scale and medium scale enterprises employing between 10 and50 workers respectively. The results also showed that there was substantial increase (133%) in number of SMEs owners that have grown in terms of employment generation from micro enterprises to small scale and medium firms over the span of 5 years. The study concluded that business registration, business size, nature of business, sources of capital were the major factors determining both income and employment generation potentials of SMEs


The purpose of this research was to discover the degree of variation in the test results of five classes that have taken the national high school admissions examination (Examen Nacional de Ingreso a la Educacion Media Superior—EXANI-I) in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Also studied was the influence of diverse socioeconomic and educational variables. The data corresponded to the total population evaluated (between 229 thousand and 260 thousand individuals), analyzed with tools of descriptive statistics and correlation. The results showed that parents' schooling, the family income, the type of junior high school of origin and the grade averages obtained in junior high school are the variables that have the most important relationship with the students' performance levels on the examination.


That the general surgeon and the neurologist should work together in the advancement of cerebral and spinal surgery is accepted by the best men of the profession. That the professional relations of the railway surgeon and of the neurologist should be more comprehensive and extend to nearly all cases of railway injury has not, to my knowledge, been generally recognized by the chief surgeons of the great railway systems. A brief abstract from the reports of two cases of alleged railway injury will aid in bringing this subject before the Association for discussion: Case 1. —J. R., in 1889, while climbing down from his upper berth in a Pullman sleeping car, was thrown to the opposite side of the car by some accident which caused the engine and one or two cars to jump the track. He was not rendered unconscious nor did he appear to be greatly injured. He


informs me that he has performed a post-mortem on such a case. Secondly, these cases may have had other peptic ulcers on the posterior wall of the viscus, penetrating the pancreas and giving rise to a local area of pancreatitis. The previous history, the rapid return of the diastase to normal, and their uneventful progress does not seem to favour this possibility. Many such cases, however, have been described, particularly by Probstein, Wheeler and Gray (1939), and by Meyer and Amtman (1936). The third suggestion is, that at the time of perforation the viscus is filled with pancreatic juice and this is discharged from the duodenum, and hence adsorbed from the peritoneum.


Andradite, variety demantoid, is a rare gem mineral. We describe gem-quality garnet crystals from serpentinized harzburgites from Dobšiná, Slovakia which were faceted. Both the andradite samples were transparent, with a vitreous luster and a vivid green color. They were isotropic with refractive indices >1.81. The measured density ranged from 3.82 to 3.84 g·cm−3. Andradite var. demantoid appeared red under Chelsea filter observation. Both samples contained fibrous crystalline inclusions with the typical "horsetail" arrangement. The studied garnet had a strong Fe3+ dominant andradite composition with 1.72–1.85 apfu Fe3+, Cr3+ up to 0.15 apfu, Al3+ 0.03 to 0.04 apfu, V3+ up to 0.006 apfu substituted for Fe3+, Mn2+ up to 0.002 apfu, and Mg up to 0.04 apfu substituted for Ca. Raman spectrum of garnet showed three spectral regions containing relatively strong bands: I—352–371 cm−1, II—816–874 cm−1, and III—493–516 cm−1. The optical absorption spectrum as characterized by an intense band at 438 nm and two broad bands at 587 and 623 nm and last one at 861 nm, which were assigned to Fe3+ and Cr3+. Transmission was observed in the ultraviolet spectral region (<390 nm), near the infrared region (700–800 nm), and around 530 nm in the green region of visible light, resulting in the garnet's green color.


For the 1.1 million school-age children receiving speechand language therapy from their school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs), the public schools are not only an environment for learning but the context through which their communication disorders are addressed. Indeed, the charge for SLPs is not simply to boost the oral language proficiency of these students but rather to support children's shortand long-term academic success. As such, effective speech-language therapy must consider not just the child's needs but also the environment in which the child finds him/ herself. This is indeed a complicated task. As discussed by Schmitt and Justice, schools are complex host environments in which the quality of the academic environment both proximally (individual classrooms) and distally (school administration, public policy) impacts children's learning. Children who experience high-quality learning environments not only show increased shortand long-term academic gains but also experience a protective buffer from negative home environments. Classroom contexts may be best understood with consideration of environmental, instructional, and structural features. Environmental features are most commonly defined as the quality of interactions within the classroom. Interactions could include teacher–child interactions, child–child interactions, SLP–child interactions, as well as interactions with the general academic content/curricula. Educational researchers have studied environmental features extensively, concluding that the more positive and high quality the multitude of interactions in a child's classroom context, the better the academic outcomes. Interestingly, similar analysis of high-quality interactions within speechlanguage therapy have not shown significant associations with children's outcomes; however, this may be due to lack of variability. A study of the quality between 75 SLPs and their clients showed an overwhelmingly high level of interactions, especially with regard to emotional support. This finding may not be surprising— SLPs tend to be quite proficient at showing care and concern for the students. However, these same children may or may not experience the same level of warmth and acceptance in their general classrooms. As a result, peer interactions and interactions with educators are important considerations for SLPs when planning and implementing academically-relevant and contextualized intervention. Instructional features include the curricula and quality of instructional practices used by classroom teachers and SLPs. Research suggests that for children with low academic abilities, direct and high-quality instruction corresponds to greater outcomes at the end of the year than classrooms with more child-directed learning and less-quality input. Additionally, children situated in classroomswhere the interactionwith the teacher and course content is high quality make more gains in literacy, language, and math than peers in lower quality instructional


The article's focus is on the creation of the notion of divorce in online legal discourse. The study material comes from an Internet forum discussing legal issues. The analysis shows that divorce is generally presented as a conscious decision of an individual; one that requires preparation and often time and effort as well. Moreover, it is a crucial point in life at which the divorcees solve their current problems. The term is also associated with new opportunities and is often a chance to talk about human experience. The article distincts the most frequently-used words accompanying divorce: child, alimony, money and flat. It is worth noting that the studied material uses only one meaning of the word divorce, introduced by the Napoleonic Code and understood as 'a dissolution of legally-valid marriage'.


In the course of the three years work in the Arctic with ArcticDEM digital elevation models (DEM), the researchers have obtained fundamentally new results on the natural catastrophic transformations of the landscapes of the Yamal Peninsula in the process of powerful gas blowouts and explosions. They have proved the possibility of detecting gas-explosive objects and processes during regional 4D monitoring based on DEM processing, and in the course of the retrospective 4D monitoring, have identified a number of potential gas blowout objects. The authors have identified disadvantages and proved the need for further improvement of the ArcticDEM data. They have built 3D-models of the areas of catastrophic induced gas blowouts during the drilling of exploration wells in the Arctic, including the Kumzhinskoye field. Using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone DJI Mavic Pro), the researchers carried out aerial photography and built 3D models of a number of gas blowout craters. For the first time in Yamal, they performed an underground aerial photography of the gas blowout crater space C17, indicating the existence of a gas-sat


Hippocampus is a brain region crucial for memory encoding and retrieval. Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures preserve the in vivo hippocampal architecture and cell-to-cell connections to a large extent. We established an interface between organotypic hippocampal slice cultures and high-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEA), in order to record from and stimulate the same slice culture at different time points during long-term cultivation, so that the hippocampal neuronal network activity can be continuously observed over extended time (i.e. over 30 days). The HD-MEA chip contains 11'011 platinum electrodes within an area of 2x2 mm2 (electrode diameter: 7 µm, pitch: 17 µm), allowing us to record network activity and single-cell activity of neurons that have been identified via spike sorting. Spontaneous spiking activity and stimulation-triggered spikes were recorded.


In this paper, we present a method for investigating concepts in use. Besides providing an inventory of mental representations as they can be inferred from the speakers' linguistic behaviour, also their conditions of usage are being analysed. The methodology proposed rests on the assumption that common sense reasoning is observable in the speakers' displays of their interpretations of the preceding utterances, which in the human-robot communication data investigated here are reformulations of the previous utterance. The linguistic choices speakers make and the order in which they appear allow us to infer the speakers' underlying hypotheses about language, the communication partner, and the world. 1 Studying Concepts in Use The focus of this paper is on how our mental representations guide our linguistic output. Thus, we are interested in how humans structure their experience and represent information about the world, for instance, about the orientation of objects in a room or an agent's movement through space, and the linguistic consequences of such representations. For example, we can assume that the way spatial configurations, such as rooms with objects in them, are mentally represented may influence the way speakers talk about them. The most natural source to look at when we want to find out about what goes on in people's heads may be psychology or, with respect to language, psycholinguistics. Thus, we may want to look at psychological literature to understand speakers' mental representations of spatial configurations. Experimental psychology provides us with a rich body of data on how humans may store spatial knowledge. For instance, a large body of research shows that one such representation of spatial knowledge may be as a mental model (e.g. JOHNSON-LAIRD 1989). Mental models are analogous to imagined diagrams of states of affairs, they are calculable, finite, economical (such that there may be a few and only a few alternative representations), and their inner structure corresponds to the situation represented (HABEL 1995). However, spatial reasoning does not seem to rely exclusively on mental models; according to ROBERTS & NEWTON (2001), people may also employ strategies that point to very different underlying mental


Al/AlN multilayers were prepared by cylindrical DC magnetron sputtering method.The hardness of the Al/AlN multilayer films was determined using a nano-indentation tester.The wear properties of the films were measured by a UMT-2MT tester in reciprocating mode.The tribological properties of the Al/AlN multilayers showed obvious enhancement in the Al/AlN layer thickness ratio of 2.9/1.1 compared to the thick AlN layer in modulation period.With the same Al/AlN layer thickness ratio but varying modulation period,the film exhibited low friction coefficient,but it also exhibited poor tribological performance at high load due to its low hardness.


In recent years, China's service trade has experienced rapid progress. While compared with the US, China's foreign trade in service still lags far behind. China's gap with the US is shown in the following: For the scale of trade in services, China's trade volume equals only one third of that of the US. In addition, trade deficit has kept increasing in recent years. On the contrary, the US's balance of trade in services has kept increasing; China's trade in services is characterized by traditional structure, in which the capital-intensive and knowledge-intensive items take up only a small part while the US's mainly consists of the newly emerging items. With these factors, both TC index and RCA index clearly show that China's international competitiveness has long remained low in the international market. Therefore, it is necessary forChina to learn from the US in the development of trade in services.


The utility model provides an embedded light fixture, including a shell provided with a wall and forming a space for holding the light source; a screw, arranged on the wall of the shell along the axial direction of the shell and with one end connected with the wall so as not to move along the axial direction of the shell; a fixed mount, provided with a hole on the anchor end and extending outwards from the anchor end. The fixed mount is arranged on the screw through the hole on the anchor end; the positioning device of the fixed mount is arranged on the wall and imposes force on the fixed mount when rotating around the screw, so that the fixed mount can be kept in the pre-set position relative to the shell. The utility model also provides an installation device for embedded light fixture. The utility model has the advantages of easy installation and dismantling and good fixing effects.


It is important to establish an evaluation system for the Two Courses in the advanced education. The present system need to be developed scientifically, systematically and objectively. Therefore, the index system must be complete, directive, objective, effective and feasible.


This article examines various approaches to benchmarking and measuring sustainable performance in order to identify long-term high performance companies in South Africa. We set guidelines and select the criteria for benchmarking high performance. This benchmarking approach (based on the accessibility and reliability of standardized financial data) addresses the critical issues in the measurement of sustainable performance: benchmarking approaches, measuring strategic performance, finding the right guidelines for peer performance benchmarks, calibrating sustainability and long-term performance, and comparing individual high performers with the established benchmark. This study sheds light on the practical guidelines for and the benefit of benchmarking high performance. Forty-four peer performance benchmarks and clusters based on 166 Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) listed companies were established. Furthermore, fourteen high and superior performers were identified on the basis of this benchmark process.


Agroforestry, by definition, requires the use of trees in farming systems, The number and variety of different practices that have been developed – or which can be introduced – is considerable, and represents a powerful collection of tools with which to solve land use problems and realise land use potentials. Agroforestry is most effective in farming systems when used to solve specifically identified problems. This paper summarizes the main ways in which a variety of practices can provide benefits both in the form of produce, for home use or as cash crops, and as services, to improve or sustain the environment.


The reduction of certain group 4 metallocene dichlorides by magnesium or lithium in the presence or absence of Me3SiC2SiMe3 in THF or toluene was investigated, giving in the case of titanium the dinuclear Ti(III) complex [rac-(ebthi)Ti(μ-Cl)]2 (1). For zirconium the 1-oxa-2-zirconacyclohexane 2 was formed by ring-opening reaction of rac-(ebthi)Zr(η2-Me3SiC2SiMe3) with THF. As a byproduct from the synthesis of Cp*2Zr(η2-Me3SiC2SiMe3) starting from Cp*2ZrCl2 another 1-oxa-2-zirconacyclohexane (3) was obtained by ring-opening reaction of THF via the dinuclear complex Cp*2Zr(Cl)-(CH2)4O−Zr(Cl)Cp*2 (4). In the case of hafnium the analogous dinuclear complex Cp*2Hf(Cl)−(CH2)4O−Hf(Cl)Cp*2 (5) and 1-oxa-2-hafnacyclohexane (6) were the main products of the reaction, inhibiting the synthesis of Cp*2Hf(η2-Me3SiC2SiMe3) (7). The tendency for ring opening of THF initiated by metallocenes increases in the series Ti, Zr, Hf, thus leading to consequences for the synthesis of metallocene complexes.


The decentralized impulse control of a class of large-scale interconnected uncertain descriptor systems is studied by use of Lyapunov method and matrix norm properties.With a kind of feedback controllers in decentralized state designed the norm bounds of system uncertainties are obtained to ensure the robust stabilizability.Meanwhile,the impulse control of a large-scale interconnected uncertain descriptor system and its every isolated subsystems is studied,thus giving the norm bounds of system uncertainties to ensure no impulse in closed-loop system.As a result,the simultaneously asymptotically stable norm bounds without impulse are obtained for the closed-loop system in the large-scale interconnected uncertain descriptor system and its every isolated subsystems.


Microgrids (MG) has become the most imperative issue in the modern research. A microgrid is a cluster of distributed energy resources (DER) along with energy storage devices in the premises of load, which provides the opportunity to employ renewable energy resources (RES), along with the traditional power system. In most of the developing countries like Pakistan, ageing and overloading of the transmission lines is one of the major problem in energy system. The old infrastructure of electric power grid is not proficient of compensating the increased demand of power. However, these effects can be encountered by deploying the distributed energy resources nearby to the load. Apart from technical constrains, there are certain non-technical issues regarding deployment of microgrids in Pakistan. This survey investigates the problems associated with the implementation of microgrid and its challenges, which hinder its deployment in Pakistan. In this paper microgrid policies of Pakistan, challenges and driving factors of microgrid have been investigated. This will help to motivate the people to implement DER's and MG. Ultimately it will accelerate the implementation process of MG and will improve the overall power system of Pakistan.


Image quality assessment (QA) mimics the user's ability in evaluating image distortion. The presented technique uses a wavelet analysis and a distance measure associated to it. As often noticed, the wavelet analysis is a good approximation of the human visual system (HVS). The main contribution of this paper is the definition of a wavelet-based euclidean distance which embeds both, the deep-structure of the images and the specific orientation of every subband. This new definition of distance allows for an effective QA almost parameterless.


A free field representation for the left-right asymmetric conformal Toda theory based on simply-laced even-rank Lie algebras is given. It is shown that the classical chiral exchange algebra for such theories can be reconstructed from free chiral bosons via Drinfeld-Sokolov linear systems, and is a bit more complicated than that of the standard Toda due to some additional -function terms and extra degrees of freedom.


While natural regulatory T cells (Tregs) are being explored as therapeutic modalities in the context of autoimmune diseases and transplantation, their role in HIV-1 pathogenesis is less well defined and to date it is unknown if Tregs can be isolated and expanded from HIV-1 infected individuals. Tregs and conventional T cells (Tconvs) were isolated from the peripheral blood of HIV-1 infected and healthy donors using flow-based cell sorting, stimulated and cultured. Expanded Tregs were phenotyped by flow cytometry and qPCR. TCR repertoire diversity was investigated by high-throughput sequencing. Suppressive function was assessed using flow-based proliferation and chromium release cytotoxicity assays. Infectability of expanded Tregs was investigated using VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-GFP. Tregs from HIV-1+ individuals, including infants, were successfully expanded with a mean fold change of 29 at day 7. Expanded Tregs expressed high levels of FOXP3, CTLA4 and HELIOS and a demethylated TSDR (Treg-specific demethylated region). The TCR repertoire of expanded Tregs was not skewed and they maintained their suppressive function in vitro. Expanded Tregs were readily infectable with HIV-GFP. Our data show that Tregs from HIV-1 positive individuals can be successfully isolated and expanded ex vivo. This approach holds great potential for detailed studies on the role of regulatory T cells in the setting of HIV-1 infection and has implications for potential future therapeutic use of Tregs.


This article presents an overview of the methods and findings of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. study of intercity passenger transportation which was to comprehensively and accurately compare modes and services in regard to energy efficiency, atmospheric emissions, and service and economic aspects. Some results simple confirm a widespread finding: Intercity buses are superior to all other passenger modes. But the analysis also shows aircraft, autos, and trains to have comparable energy efficiency at the longer distances. The time and cost associated with intercity travel are probably the most important comparative criteria for the passenger.


(3 Cephei stars are early B-type stars which show periodic variations of lu minosity, radial velocity and line profiles. They have periods between 2 and 7 hr. Their variability is now believed to be caused by the classical K-mechanism operating in the heavy-element ionization zones. Many of the /? Cephei stars are multimode pulsators, and radial as well as nonradial pulsation may occur. Advances in the last few years in both the observational and theoretical studies of multiple pulsation modes of 8 Scuti stars have reached the stage that real istic comparisons of the results and examination of predictions can be carried out (Breger et al. 1998; Stankov et al. 1999). We now want to apply those asteroseismological methods to the much hotter (3 Cephei stars. The observations were made at the 1-m telescope at Siding Spring Observa tory, Australia, with a SITe 2K CCD during one run of 7 nights in 1999 February and March. Exposure times were 2.5 s for Johnson V, 4.5 s for B and 20 s for U. Approximately 320 observations in each of the three colors were made for all nine j3 Cephei stars. We binned 5 data points to one. Star & (/ ,


Relativistic configuration interaction calculations are carried out on the low‐lying states [1/2, 3/2, 1/2(II), 3/2(II), 4Σ−1/2, B2Σ+1/2 ] of PbF, together with comparison calculations on the five low‐lying λ‐s states (2Π, 2Σ+, 4Σ−, 2Δ, 4Π). Spectroscopic properties and dissociation energies of these states are computed and compared with the available experimental results. The ground state spin‐orbit splitting is calculated to be 7895 cm−1. Our calculations enable the assignment of experimentally observed X1, X2, A, and B states to 'u2Π1/2, 2Π3/2, 2Σ+1/2, and 2Σ+1/2(II), respectively. The B state is assigned to the lowest Rydberg state arising from σ2σ′R π4 configuration. Calculations of 4Σ−1/2 (in type C coupling) and 3/2(II) state are reported which are yet to be observed.


Objective To analyze the correlation of the expression of IGF-I and Ki-67 in breast cancer and make sure the role played in breast cancer cells' proliferation and malignancy degree.Methods There were 90 cases collected randomly,each group of breast cancer,breast fibroadenoma and breast hyperplasia tissue was 30 cases.The expression of IGF-I and Ki-67 in different breast tissue were detected by immumohistochemical technique S-P.Results The positive expression of IGF-I had no difference(P0.05) in breast cancer,breast fibroadenoma and breast hyperplasia tissue,however,the strong positive expression of IGF-I in breast cancer was significantly higher than the other two groups(P0.05).There was positive correlation between IGF-I and Ki-67 in breast.The positive expression of IGF-I and Ki-67 had no correlation(P0.05) with different ages,hormone receptors and histological types.However,the difference was related with the sizes of the primary tumor,lymph node metastasis group and different stages of TMN(P0.05).Conclusion The over expression of IGF-I could facilitate the proliferation of tumor cell and it may be one of the factors to result in the initiation and development of breast cancer.The co-test of IGF-I and Ki-67 is a very useful indicator to judge the breast cancer cell's proliferation and malignancy degree.


Depending on the sensitivity of the diagnostic procedures used, the prevalence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported to be between 10% and 60% (1–3). ILD is one of the major causes of death in patients with RA and is often refractory to immunosuppressive therapy (3–6). Even in the era of highly efficient RA therapies including the use of biologics, information about the efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibodies with regard to fibrosing alveolitis is unavailable or limited to registry data (7). No clinical trials have been conducted so far to investigate the influence of biologics on ILD in RA. Considering the relatively high prevalence of ILD in RA and the poor prognosis in a subset of patients under conventional immunosuppressive medication and steroids, a close follow-up and a detailed investigation of patients with ILD undergoing treatment with monoclonal antibodies are needed to explore potentially valuable therapeutic options for selected patients showing this kind of fatal systemic manifestation. It seems to be reasonable to intensify immunosuppressive therapy at an early stage of disease to prevent fibrosis. However, clinicians are often reluctant to do so because conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide, but also biologics, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a blocking agents or rituximab, may trigger or aggravate ILD in RA patients (8, 9) and infections might contribute to the increased mortality in these patients. Interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) blockade using tocilizumab has been shown to improve systemic manifestations of RA such as anaemia or fatigue a few days or weeks after initiation of therapy. IL-6 shows profibrotic effects antagonizable by IL-6R blockade (10), suggesting a potential benefit of this therapeutic strategy in RA-associated ILD. We report the case of a 58-year-old female patient with seropositive [rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody positive] RA, who presented with morning stiffness and symmetrical swelling of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints as well as wrists. She had been suffering from these complaints for about a year prior to her first visit. Until then, MTX and leflunomide had been used to treat her RA in combination with steroids. During that year she also developed a cough and increasing dyspnoea The American Thoracic Society score (ATS grade 2), resulting in the withdrawal of MTX and steroid monotherapy because MTX-associated pneumonitis was suspected. However, no improvement but a worsening of symptoms was observed after stopping MTX despite intensified steroid medication (1 mg/kg body weight). Figure 1A and 1B show a computerized tomography (CT) scan confirming the suspected alveolitis. Serology and other laboratory parameters are shown in Figure 2. To rule out infectious disease before intensifying immunosuppression and to characterize the alveolitis in more detail, bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, revealing no signs of infection but an increased percentage of granulocytes (11%) and lymphocytes (32%) with a CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.68. Thereafter, in January 2010, treatment with tocilizumab was started as monotherapy and steroids were tapered to 5 mg/day within only 8 weeks. Joint swelling and pain were no longer present and RF and also antiCCP antibodies became almost undetectable within half a year of observation. Within 16 weeks, lung function tests showed an increase in total lung capacity (TLC) from 4.5 L (85%)


The objective of our work is to make a comparative study of the physico-chemical properties between Li o oil and biodiesel obtained from it (biodiesel synthesis by transesterification of the Lio oil). This compariso n has shown that the density and viscosity of the Lio oil was a bit high, but after the transesterification it has decr ase remarkably. It allowed us to make the conclusion that the biodiese l obtained has very similar properties with the bio diesel used by the engines.


GRAVITY, a second generation instrument for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), will provide an astrometric precision of order 10 micro-arcseconds, an imaging resolution of 4 milli-arcseconds, and low/medium resolution spectro-interferometry. These improvements to the VLTI represent a major upgrade to its current infrared interferometric capabilities, allowing detailed study of obscured environments (e.g. the Galactic Center, young dusty planet-forming disks, dense stellar cores, AGN, etc...). Crucial to the final performance of GRAVITY, the Coudé IR Adaptive Optics (CIAO) system will correct for the effects of the atmosphere at each of the VLT Unit Telescopes. CIAO consists of four new infrared Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors (WFS) and associated real-time computers/software which will provide infrared wavefront sensing from 1.45-2.45 microns, allowing AO corrections even in regions where optically bright reference sources are scarce. We present here the latest progress on the GRAVITY wavefront sensors. We describe the adaptation and testing of a light-weight version of the ESO Standard Platform for Adaptive optics Real Time Applications (SPARTA-Light) software architecture to the needs of GRAVITY. We also describe the latest integration and test milestones for construction of the initial wave front sensor.


Reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by retroviral overexpression of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c‐Myc holds great promise for the development of personalized cell replacement therapies. In an attempt to minimize the risk for chromosomal disruption and to simplify reprogramming, several studies demonstrated that a reduced set of reprogramming factors is sufficient to generate iPSC, albeit at lower efficiency. To elucidate the influence of factor reduction on subsequent differentiation, we compared the efficiency of neuronal differentiation in iPSC generated from postnatal murine neural stem cells with either one (Oct4; iPSC1F‐NSC), two (Oct4, Klf4; iPSC2F‐NSC), or all four factors (iPSC4F‐NSC) with those of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and iPSC produced from fibroblasts with all four factors (iPSC4F‐MEF). After 2 weeks of coculture with PA6 stromal cells, neuronal differentiation of iPSC1F‐NSC and iPSC2F‐NSC was less efficient compared with iPSC4F‐NSC and ESC, yielding lower proportions of colonies that stained positive for early and late neuronal markers. Electrophysiological analyses after 4 weeks of differentiation identified functional maturity in neurons differentiated from ESC, iPSC2F‐NSC, iPSC4F‐NSC, and iPSC4F‐MEF but not in those from iPSC1F‐NSC. Similar results were obtained after hematoendothelial differentiation on OP9 bone marrow stromal cells, where factor‐reduced iPSC generated lower proportions of colonies with hematoendothelial progenitors than colonies of ESC, iPSC4F‐NSC, and iPSC4F‐MEF. We conclude that a reduction of reprogramming factors does not only reduce reprogramming efficiency but may also worsen subsequent differentiation and hinder future application of iPSC in cell replacement therapies. STEM CELLS 2012;30:570–579


An important goal in the HUMANE project is to set out the
implications for future thinking and policy making in Human‐
Machine Networks (HMN). In this deliverable, we explore
relevant characteristics and implications of HMNs in a number of
innovative domains that have high potential for bringing
fundamental social changes: the sharing economy, eHealth,
citizen participation, telework, workplace robotics, and crowd
management. We also identify potential challenges and
obstacles, as well as possible ways to mitigate these in future ICT
R&I projects.
Our work is positioned relative to the general EU priorities and
relevant strategy plans. We review future opportunities and
recommendations for R&I actions


an in su to ha fo el fi in hi Kenneth W. Costello is a Principal at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI). He previously worked for NRRI as an Associate Director and a Senior Institute Economist, for the Illinois Commerce Commission, for the Argonne National Laboratory, for Commonwealth Edison Company, and as an independent consultant. Mr. Costello has conducted extensive research and written widely on topics related to the energy industries and public utility regulation. His most recent work has focused on the natural gas sector, particularly in relation to issues facing state public utility commissions. The author earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from Marquette University. He also completed some doctoral work in the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago.


Abstract Antibiotic resistance is rising across the world. For a very long time, bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) has been used as one of the most popular herbal remedies to treat a wide range of common diseases. Ginger has been shown to have antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It has various bioactive chemicals that might be utilized as an alternative treatment option for many infectious diseases. The present study aimed to examine the biochemical profile of ginger, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity against selective endodontic microbes. Antioxidant was measured using DPPH and antibacterial activity was performed using disk diffusion tests. Streptococcus mutants, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus spp., and Lactobacillus spp. were tested for antibacterial activity. Before evaluating the dried extracts, all solvents were eliminated using rotary evaporation. The obtained IC50 value revealed that ethanol extract had the greatest antioxidant activity. Concerning each bacterium, the plant extracts demonstrated considerable antibacterial activity (p = .001). Ethanol extracts showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the studied microorganisms. This study highlights that the Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) is a strong antibacterial herb against multidrug‐resistant (MDR) gram‐positive bacteria. It may also be employed as a possible natural antioxidant source.


In a recent review of Christopher Duggan's latest book, Emilio Gentile notes that in the 1970s an 'intimate history of fascist Italy' would have met the opposition of 'militant anti-fascist historiography' because of its proneness to acknowledge the involvement of Italians in Fascism. Still, after criticising the book, Gentile stresses that the 'question of consent' – a topic on which he himself has provided some crucial contributions – is a 'poorly posed question'.


Migrant workers' families, especially the second generation of migrant workers are going through the heavy economic burden brought by the family education investment. However, the migrant worker group is a vulnerable group due to various reasons with the lowest education investment yield. The policy education cost compensation mechanism dominated by the government is a urgent need to alleviate the prominent social problem.


The invention discloses an enhanced denitrification device and a processing method for medium-term landfill leachate, belonging to the technical field of sewage treatment. The device mainly comprises an anoxic part, a buffer part and an aerobiotic part, suspended filler is added into the anoxic part and the aerobiotic part, and under the driving of aeration boosting, an internal circulation can be formed among the anoxic part, the buffer part and the aerobiotic part; deep medium-term landfill leachate with a C/N ratio being 3-6 is instantaneously added in the anoxic area, and most of carbon sources are absorbed by using the filler in the anoxic area; and under a circular promotion force, after liquid passes through the buffer area and then enters the aerobiotic area to complete the oxidation and ammoxidation of organic matters, nitrification liquid flows into the anoxic area again, then is denitrified by using the adsorbed carbon sources, and the process is carried out again and again in the same way until the reaction is ended and water is discharged. According to the device and processing method disclosed by the invention, growth environments suitable for denitrifying bacteria and ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) can be built, so that the denitrification efficiency per unit volume is higher, the utilization rate of raw water organic carbon sources is higher, the energy consumption is reduced, the reaction time is shortened, no external carbon source is added, and the removal rate of TN is high.


The general objective of this project is focused on determining the
feasibility for the creation of a microenterprise selling frog meat vacuum
packed, in Canton Zamora, Province of Zamora Chinchipe, to meet the
existing needs in Canton Zamora.
In order to develop the specific objectives proposed, it was necessary to
use the inductive, descriptive deductive method; as well as the use of
techniques such as the survey, observation and bibliography, necessary
elements applied for the correct execution of this project.
According to the INEC - 2010, there is a total of economically active
population in the canton Zamora of 10,757 inhabitants and according to
the National Agency for Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance there
are 133 establishments that sell products of basic necessity, with this
background we proceed to take the sample object of study giving us as a
result a sample of 340 and then proceeded to make the respective
tabulation of the surveys of both the bidders and applicants to issue the
respective analyzes of each of the questions posed.
Then the respective market study was carried out to determine the existing
demand and supply obtaining that for year one the potential demand is
2,948 family's, the real demand is 2,746 family's, the effective demand of
2,691 family's with a per capita consumption of 62 , 77 giving an effective
annual demand of 168,890 pounds and the unsatisfied demand is 150,634
pounds, as also the technical study was considered helping to determine
that the maximum capacity for the processing of frog meat in the
microenterprise is 140,000 pounds per year, which would reach to cover
93% of the unmet demand for year one in the consumption of frog meat
vacuum packed.
Continuing with the project, it was strategically determined that for the
implementation of the microenterprise its location is in the city of Zamora,
Barrio Central, between Diego de Vaca and Pio Jaramillo Alvarado streets,
which is a strategic sector and suitable for its implementation.
The commercialization process is established within the engineering of the
project, where each phase is described from the acquisition of the raw
material to its commercialization.
The financial study was essential for the development of this project,
where it was determined that the total investment required is $ 91,768.71,
as well as the income, costs and expenses incurred by the microenterprise
for its operation.
The financial indicators of the NPV which was 177,601.00, the IRR of
42.32, Benefit Cost of 1.10 and the Capital Recovery of 2,55, that is to say
of 2 years, 6 months and 18 days, allowed to determine in a clear manner
the feasibility of the project, providing reasonable assurance for decisionmaking,
as well as the application of the sensitivity analysis with an
increase in costs of 6% or the decrease in revenues of 6%, a positive
result of 0,99 was obtained.
It concludes by issuing the respective conclusions and recommendations
of the project, reaching the conclusion that the project is feasible according
to the study applied, and according to the financial indicators that the
project gives us.


Seattle has been a leader in addressing climate change for years. Most recently, the City released its ambitious 2013 Climate Action Plan, a package of actions intended to put Seattle on a path to carbon neutrality by 2050, which is defined as zero net emissions. The Plan focuses on a set of core emissions sources where City and local community action can have the greatest impact: road transportation, building energy, and waste. The City's specific emission-reduction targets for these core sources are 58% by 2030, and 87% by 2050 below 2008 levels. Our latest evaluation of emissions data, which tracks the period from 1990 to 2012, allows us to monitor our progress toward our goals, and it will inform Seattle's ongoing climate action planning. The results of the 2012 inventory show that total emissions in the core sectors have declined 4% from 1990 levels. But reductions in total emissions only tell part of the story and it is important to remember that between 1990 and 2012, Seattle's population and jobs grew 23% and 14% respectively, even while our emissions fell. The 2012 GHG inventory demonstrates that cities can grow in population and economic activity while still reducing emissions. Another look at the 2012 emissions inventory on a per person basis underscores the point that on an individual level, core greenhouse gas emissions are shrinking rather significantly. Per person core emissions decreased 22% from 1990 to 2012, and 6% from 2008 to 2012. In fact, Seattle's per person core emissions have been about half the national average and a third lower than the average King County resident outside Seattle. Seattle's climate actions are having an impact. Our buildings are greener thanks to energy efficiency investments and Seattle City Light's commitment to carbon neutrality. We are generating less waste, while recycling and composting a lot more. We're building out our bike, pedestrian, and transit systems to help people travel easily and affordably without a car. And our neighborhood village strategy has created communities where people can live, work, and play. I am pleased that Seattle is making progress in reducing emissions, yet I also know that a bold goal like carbon neutrality pushes us to do even more. A lot of that " more " is mapped out in the 2013 Climate Action Plan, but we also need everyone in Seattle to join in to support the actions, investments, and policies that …


The Li(p, α)He bare nucleus reaction rate plays a crucial role in primordial nucleosynthesis and lithium depletion. But the measurement of the bare nucleus cross section is usually very difficult because of the presence of the Coulomb barrier and the electron screening effect. The Trojan Horse Method (THM) can be applied to extract the energy dependence of Sb(E) at very low energies without any extrapolation, by measuring the cross section of a proper three body process and has been applied to the Li(p, α)He reaction. The value deduced from this experiment is Sb(0)=55 ± 3 keV·b. From the obtained Sb(E) values it is also possible to measure Ue=330±40 eV. The astrophysical implications of these measurements are discussed in the case of solar lithium problem and primordial nucleosynthesis.


In order to investigate source material and sedimentary environment of Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation source rock in northern Guizhou,the authors studied the biomarkers.The results show that they have the following characteristics:(1) OEP values of the n-alkanes are close to 1.0,showing no odd-even carbon dominance;N-alkanes mostly have bimodal performance(C18/C25),and the ratios of(nC21+nC22)/(nC28+nC29)are 0.54-1.01,indicating a dominant role of heavy hydrocarbon components;the average ratios of Pr/Ph vary from 0.51 to 0.82,showing phytane dominance.(2) According to the relative abundance,tricyclic terpanepentacyclic triterpanequartcyclic terpane.The tricyclic terpane contents of C21,C23 and C24 show inverted V-shaped distribution,and the ratios of Ts/(Tm+Ts) are between 0.45 and 0.50.(3) The average ratio of C27 and C29 of the sterane is slightly smaller than or close to 1.Aromatic compounds DBT/P are between 0.05 and 0.09.Based on these features combined with the isotope of kerogen and the isotope of the monomer hydrocarbon composition and variation,the authors believe that the black rock of Niutitang Formation was formed in a reduction environment in shallow water in the Early Cambrian,with high degree of thermal evolution of organic matter,and the main sources were the bacteria,algae and other aquatic organisms.The constant index of MnO/TiO2,the trace indicators of Ba,Sr/Ba,U/Th,V/(V+Ni),and the combination of organic geochemical indicators depict the aquatic environment from Upper Sinian Dengying Formation to Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation and Mingxinsi Formation,and the source rocks of Niutitang Formation hydrocarbon are divided into three stages,the first stage being the initial rapid transgression stage in Early Cambrian,the second stage being a stage of deep-water reducing environment with high organic matter productivity,and the third stage being a stage of shallow waters with high organic matter productivity.The deposition period of Mingxinsi Formation nonhydrocarbon source rocks was a shallow water oxidation stage.


A multi-scale porous composite adsorbent with a micropore copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate coating on macropore copper foam (Cu-BTC/CF) is synthesized in this study through electrochemical deposition. Cu-BTC/CF compensates for the limitations of common metal organic frameworks in terms of low thermal conductivity, high pressure drop, and poor selectivity. The thermal conductivity and adsorption isotherms (N2, CH4, and CO2) in Cu-BTC/CF are experimentally investigated at 20, 40, 60, and 80 pores per linear inch (PPI). The pressure drop, temperature response, and selectivity of CO2/N2 and CH4/N2 in the Cu-BTC/CF adsorption bed are simulated and predicted accordingly. The pressure drop of Cu-BTC/CF is 3.0–33.8% of pure Cu-BTC powder with a velocity range of 0.1–0.8 m s−1. The effective thermal conductivity of Cu-BTC/CF is 1.59–27.52 times higher than that of pure Cu-BTC powder. The time for Cu-BTC/CF to satisfy the desorption condition (above 373.15 K) is much shorter than that of pure Cu-BTC. The temperature uniformity for the Cu-BTC/CF adsorption bed is correspondingly improved compared with that for a pure Cu-BTC adsorption bed. Moreover, the selectivity of CO2/N2 in 60 PPI Cu-BTC/CF is 1.36–7.44 times higher than that in pure Cu-BTC, and the selectivity of CH4/N2 in 80 PPI Cu-BTC/CF is 1.41–2.95 times higher than that in pure Cu-BTC at 0–100 kPa and 273.15 K.


For many years now the military have made use of a technique called "gaming' to assist them in their forward planning. To initiate some advanced planning on the part of those engaged in the field of communications, I intend to borrow from the military and invite you to join me in a little "gaming' of our own. The technique works like this: you create a "scenario" just as if you were writing a play which describes a hypothetical situation in some detail; then you have the "players" or "actors" adopt their various roles and attempt to behave as they would in the situation depicted. Even though this "let's pretend" may strike you as something more likely to be practiced in the nursery school than the inner reaches of the Pentagon, the power and prestige currently enjoyed by the armed forces in our society suggest such techniques are not to be dismissed too lightly. In any event, our scenario will go like this.


The utility model discloses a medium voltage optical fiber composite cable comprising leads and an optical unit. The leads and the optical unit are intertwisted together, and are fixed by a wrapping tape. The surface of the wrapping tape is provided with an outer sheath in a sleeved manner, and gaps among the leads and the optical unit are provided with a filling layer. A tearing rope is disposed between the outer sheath and the wrapping tape, and each of the leads is, from inside to outside, constituted by a conductor, a conductor shielding layer, an insulation layer, an insulation shielding layer, and a metal shielding layer, which are fixedly connected together. Compared to the conventional cables, the composite cable provided by the utility model is advantageous in that the aluminum alloy conductors are adopted, and when the performance of the aluminum alloy conductors reaches the same performance of the copper conductors, the weight of the aluminum alloy conductors is one third of the weight of the copper conductors; and the construction costs can be further reduced, and the performance of the aluminum alloy conductors is better than the performance of the aluminum conductors, and the performance can completely satisfy the technical requirement of the optical fiber composite power cable according to the detection; during the transmission process, the optical fiber is advantageous in that the attenuation is small, the frequency band is wide, the anti-interference performance is strong, and the safety performance is high; the materials are recyclable and environmental-friendly, and the environmental pollution is small.


Summary— Contractile responses evoked by the 5‐HT1B/D receptor agonists, dihydroergotamine, naratriptan and sumatriptan, were compared in canine isolated coronary artery rings before and after endothelial dysfunction as obtained by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME; 10 μM). The three agonists contracted rings in the potency order of dihydroergotamine (geometric mean pD2 value with 95% confidence limits in parentheses: 6.9 [5.3–7.9] and 7.0 [5.4–7.3] in the absence and presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition [I], respectively) ≥ naratriptan (6.8 [5.7–7.3] and 6.4 [5.7–6.6]) > sumatriptan (4.8 [3.6–5.6] and 5.0 [3.6–5.6]) independently of the presence or absence of L‐NAME. In absence of L‐NAME, efficacy, as assessed by the mean maximal contractile response (Emax), tended to be greater, although not significantly, for sumatriptan and naratriptan compared to dihydroergotamine. L‐NAME per se markedly increased developed tension (43.0 ± 4.6 mN; n = 50) and potentiated maximal responses (0.6 ± 0.2 and 10.7 ± 2.4 mN for dihydroergotamine in the absence and presence of L‐NAME respectively; 1.7 ± 0.6 and 18.7 ± 3.7 mN for naratriptan; 2.5 ± 0.6 and 21.3 ± 3.8 mN for sumatriptan; P < 0.01 in each case). Emax values of sumatriptan and naratriptan were greater than those produced by dihydroergotamine in the presence of L‐NAME but remained lower than the sub‐maximal contractile responses evoked by the thromboxane A2 analogue, U‐46619 (ie, 32.4 ± 5.2 mN in the absence of L‐NAME; n = 50), or L‐NAME per se. In conclusion, 5‐HT1B/D receptor agonist efficacies in contracting coronary arteries are relatively low under basal conditions and are potentiated in the presence of a dysfunctional endothelium, whereas agonist potencies remain unaffected.


Agriculture, forest management, conservation planning and other related disciplines have specific land use demands, and thus different perspectives on how land should be used in an "optimal way". One way to solve arising land use conflicts is employing the ecosystem services concept together with methods from the field of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Especially optimization techniques provide the possibility to include socio-economic and ecological aspects as well as the protection of biodiversity. In this study, we give an overview of these methods, focusing especially on their application in agricultural areas. We explore their abilities for the identification of ecosystem service trade-offs since land use planners are particularly interested in minimizing these. The aim of the research is to provide a guideline on which optimization methods can be used given different types of land use problems. For example, the problem's size and structure determine whether a direct (e.g. Simplex, Branch & Bound) or heuristic algorithm (e.g. Simulated Annealing, Evolutionary Algorithm) should be applied. Furthermore, stakeholder opinions can be included either a priori (before), interactively (during) or a posteriori (after) the optimization process. Interactive approaches are seen as promising because the algorithm steers towards a solution close to the stakeholder's aspirations which can be adjusted during the optimization process. However, a posteriori approaches are often recommended for trade-off analyses since their solutions provide the whole Pareto frontier – often referred to as "trade-off curve". All methods are discussed and illustrated with examples of existing applications and case studies. Finally, we provide recommendations for their use in the different facets and perspectives of land and biodiversity management.


Frictional Stir Burnishing (FSB) is a surface enhancement method after machining without using additional device. The FSB process can be utilized on the machine tool which uses the rotation tools such as a machining center and a multi-tasking machine. Therefore, the FSB process can be applied just after the cutting process on the same machine tool. FSB was applied to the shaft materials of 0.45%C steel by using a multi-tasking machine in this paper. FSB is a process where the burnishing tool rotates at high revolution speed. Then the thin surface layer is rubbed and stirred with a temperature elevation and reduction. However it is difficult to achieve both high hardness and high compressive residual stress by FSB on 0.45%C steel shaft with helical path. In order to overcome this problem, FSB process with double helical path was proposed in this paper. As a result, both high hardness (600 HV) and compressive residual stress (-400 MPa) could be achieved.


Objective: To explore the effect of different application methods of cisatracurium on extubation time in cardiac surgery.Methods: Thirty-six patients who were undergoing "mitral valve replacement sugery" were randomly divided into two groups(group A and group B).In group A,patients received cisatracurium at the dose of 0.15 mg·kg-1 for intubation and intraoperative intermittent bolus of cisatracurium at the dose of 0.03 mg·kg-1,while in group B,patients received cisatracurium at the dose of 0.15 mg·kg-1 for intubation and intraoperative continuous infusion of cisatracurium at the dose of 1~1.5 μg·kg-1·min-1.Total intraoperative dose of cisatracurium and post-operative extubation time were compared between the two groups.Results: Compared with continuous infusion,intermittent bolus significantly decreased the consumption of cisatracurium(P0.05) and significantly shortened post-operative extubation time(P0.05).Conclusion: Intermittent bolus administration of cisatracurium provides adequate muscle relaxation in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary,which is an ideal choice for "fast tract" anesthesia in cardiac surgery.


Jennifer L. Gehrig By inserting mandatory arbi? tration clauses into franchise agreements, franchisors have successfully bound franchisees to resolve their disputes through arbi? tration.2 An arbitration clause is, in essence, the franchisor's sacred cow.3 Arbitration clauses have, at times, allowed franchisors to shield themselves from class action suits by franchisees, limit available damages, select a forum favorable to the franchisor, and eliminate franchisees' right to a jury trial.4 Given this, one might be tempted to conclude that franchisees are entirely opposed to having their disputes with their franchisors resolved by way of arbitration, especially when a franchisee's participation in arbitration requires the relinquishment of one of a franchisee's most valuable settlement tools?the threat of


This study is conducted in order to describe the development model ofconstructivistic teaching in Indonesian language for the sake of maximizing thestudents' attitude in critical thinking. Operationally this study is done inorder to describe the concept and strategy model and the materials of constructivisticIndonesian language teaching developed by the teachers in SMP Negeri 1 Rembokenfor the sake of maximizing the students' attitude in critical thinking. TheIndonesian language teachers' concept on the planning and the conduction ofconstructivistic teaching related to what Indonesian language teaching is, howthe textbook and the materials are used, the purpose of Indonesian languageteaching is, the role of the teacher, the role of the students in the teachingand learning process, the use of teaching methods and media, and the procedureof the conduction of constructivistic Indonesian language teaching and learningprocess in the classroom, was not done by the teachers when they were observed.Their constructivistic teaching attitude is very minimal.


The article studied how to control the viscosity and reaction activity during the synthesis of polyester resin for the new type weatherable powder coatings which curing with β-HAA.The influence of the new monomers to the Tg and viscosity and reactivity of the resin are discussed.Mechanical and weatherable properties of the powder coatings are also discussed.


Post-dispersal predation can be a major source of seed loss in temperate forests. Little is known, however, about how predator-mediated indirect interactions such as apparent competition alter survival patterns of canopy tree seeds. Understorey plants may enhance tree seed predation by providing sheltered habitat to granivores (non-trophic pathway). In addition, occurrence of different tree seeds in mixed patches may lead to short-term apparent competition between seed types, because of the granivores' foraging response to changes in food patch quality (trophic pathway). We hypothesised that understorey bamboo cover and mixing of seed species in food patches would both increase tree seed predation in a Nothofagus dombeyi -Austrocedrus chilensis forest in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Seed removal experiments were conducted for three consecutive years (2000-2002) differing in overall granivory rates. Seed patch encounter and seed removal rates were consistently higher for the larger and more nutritious Austrocedrus seeds than for the smaller Nothofagus seeds. Seed removal was greater beneath bamboo than in open areas. This apparent competition pathway was stronger in a low-predation year (2000) than in high-predation years (2001-2002), suggesting a shift in microhabitat use by rodents. Patch composition had a significant, though weaker, impact on seed survival across study years, whereas seed density per patch enhanced encounter rates but did not influence seed removal. Removal of the less-preferred Nothofagus seeds increased in the presence of Austrocedrus seeds, but the reciprocal indirect effect was not observed. However, this non-reciprocal apparent competition between seed species was only significant in the high-predation years. Our study shows that granivore-mediated indirect effects can arise through different interaction pathways, affecting seed survival patterns according to the predator's preference for alternative seed types. Moreover, results indicate that the occurrence and relative strength of trophic vs non-trophic pathways of apparent competition may change under contrasting predation scenarios.


In this article the problem of forming humans moral being. In the article do sinergetik analizing spiritual world of humans. Because, in this days sinergetik is general seintifik paradigm.


The regiospecific reaction of 5-vinyl-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (2) with HOX (X = Cl, Br, I) yielded the corresponding 5-(1-hydroxy-2-haloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines 3a-c. Alternatively, reaction of 2 with iodine monochloride in aqueous acetonitrile also afforded 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (3c). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- (3a) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (3b) with DAST (Et2NSF3) in methylene chloride at -40° gave the respective 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)- (6a, 74%) and 5-(1-fluoro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6b, 65%). In contrast, 5-(1-fluoro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6e) could not be isolated due to its facile reaction with methanol, ethanol or water to yield the corresponding 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)- (6c), 5-(1-ethoxy-2-iodoethyl)- (6d) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (3c). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- (3a) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (3b) with thionyl chloride yielded the respective 5-(1,2-dichloroethyl)- (6f, 85%) and 5-(1-chloro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6g, 50%), whereas a similar reaction employing the 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)- compound 3c afforded 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6c), possibly via the unstable 5-(1-chloro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine intermediate 6h. The 5-(1-bromo-2-chloroethyl)- (6i) and 5-(1,2-dibromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6j) could not be isolated due to their facile conversion to the corresponding 5-(1-ethoxy-2-chloroethyl)- (6k) and 5-(1-ethoxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (61). Reaction of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (3b) with methanolic ammonia, to remove the 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl groups, gave 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-furano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6(5H)-one (8). In contrast, a similar reaction of 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine (6a) yielded (E)-5-(2-chlorovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (1b, 23%) and 5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)furano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one (9, 13%). The mechanisms of the substitution and elimination reactions observed for these 5-(1,2-dihaloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines are described.


I BORN ISRAEL PINKU LAZAROVITCH in Targu Neamt, Romania, then raised in Montreal, Quebec, in an immigrant Jewish household amid a Catholic-inflected, European neighbourhood (with First Nations peoples on the margins), the Anglicized Irving Layton (1912-2006) recalled a childhood of fisticuffs versus "hostile" Gentiles (1) as well as his precocious lusts for a presumably Jewish teacher ("Miss Benjamin" (2)) and the assorted shiksas--or damsels--of his locale. (3) He learned early that life is "a Dionysian cock-and-cunt affair" (cp np) and "also battle" (cp np). (4) These 1971 statements serve to underline the received wisdom that Layton iterates the teachings of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) about Dionysian creative chaos versus Apollonian majesty and order, and it is practical to begin to arrange--or arraign--Layton's works just so. Yet, as scholar Brian Trehearne posits in his introduction to Layton's Fornalutx (1992), the result is that "Nietzschean Layton"--"the Layton of the universities"--is rendered a "philosophical poet whose anger is containable and referable to an established intellectual and poetic tradition" (xviii). In a sense, Apollonian sunlight dims the lustre of Dionysian fire. (5) So, Trehearne frets that, circa 1992, the rude Layton, unsuited for bourgeois approbation and assimilation, a poet "far more various and less decorous than the anthologies persuade us--has been disappearing from critical view of late" (xviii). To remedy this perceived freezing out of the volcanic Layton from the frigid, Canadian canon, Trehearne serves readers lyrics that are "passionate, uncontainable, and discomfiting" (xix). Perhaps Fornalutx achieves this recherche aggression. However, much depends on its audience, as well as on the editor's acumen in making the most appealingly appalling selection. This truth puts us face-to-knife with a strategic problem in Layton: How do we select from his mass--even morass--of materials those lyrics nasty and dirty, or disgusting and lecherous, or vile and venereal, enough to break the polite, academic frame encasing Layton? Trehearne's answer is to showcase Layton's "war of expansive metaphor against materialist literalism" (xxxi). There's something to that. It does appear that his sheer volume of publication as well as his full-volume style figure Layton's attempt to blunderbuss mortality, critics, anti-Semites, blue-pencil prudes, and even those bluestocking ladies resistant to his pugnacious tenderness. Strikingly, by the time The Collected Poems of Irving Layton appeared in 1971, Layton had already published, since 1945, about twenty-five books, including Selected Poems (1967), Collected Poems (1965), a set of poems and stories (1961), a tri-authored poetry volume (1952), and two edited anthologies of Canadian poetry (1952 and 1962). In sum, Layton released, on average, a book a year between 1945 and 1971. Such fertility can easily be more fecal than fecund, and when one needs a forklift to move the work, one is less likely to apply to it a judicious scalpel. To arrive at his own gleaning of Layton's most robust poems, Trehearne could have canvassed more than two-score Layton titles. That he chose 150 poems from some thousand-plus publicly available spells out Trehearne's passion for Layton and prudence in his pickings. (6) Given that Fornalutx has now been in print for a generation, the back-cover hope that "These are the poems for which Layton will be remembered" cannot be counted as forlorn. Still, Trehearne's endorsement of the two-time Nobel Prize in Literature nominee as having produced "a great body of poetry" (xxxvi) is significant in not having been worded, more correctly, one prays, as a body of great poetry. (7) Now I come to the point of this essay: we cannot hope to know the extent of Layton's greatness, if the noun is deserved, until we have learned to read him sans censorship. We need to accept, as Trehearne's weighing suggests, that much of Layton's most urgent poetry is caustic and obscene, pungent and noxious. …


The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases is very complex, thus it may be associated with multiple factors operating simultaneously or in cascade scheme. The essence of the disease is multifocal scattered damage to the central nervous system (CNS). The MS incidence varies 50/10 5 –100/10 5 depending on latitude. Neurodegenerative diseases, dependent on the location of pathological focus areas, can produce a number of diverse ophthalmic symptoms. The authors present a contemporary look at the possibilities of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients with selected neurodegenerative diseases, with particular attention to patients with optic neuropathy, in the course of MS, by emphasizing the role of ophthalmologist care and accentuating the importance of multidisciplinary co-operation in making a correct diagnosis.


This paper will investigate the suitability of existing performance measures under the assumption of a clearly defined benchmark. A range of measures are examined including the Sortino Ratio, the Sharpe Selection ratio (SSR), the Student's t-test and a decay rate measure. A simulation study is used to assess the power and bias of these measures based on variations in sample size and mean performance of two simulated funds. The Sortino Ratio is found to be the superior performance measure exhibiting more power and less bias than the SSR when the distribution of excess returns are skewed.


Abstract Purpose To establish an inventory of the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) among physiotherapists (PT) in France assessing EBP knowledge, perception, and utilisation in practice. Method A cross-sectional survey was performed using a French translation of the EBP2 questionnaire including the 5 EBP domains (Relevance, Terminology, Confidence, Practice and Sympathy). Participants completed the online survey from February 26th to August 31st, 2021. Scores were summarised by EBP domain for each participant. Pairwise Pearson's correlations between domains scores and a hierarchical clustering on principal component analysis were conducted. Results In total, 542 participants were included in the analysis. Majority of participants were male with median age of 30 years (IQR: 26–36 years). Regarding EBP domain scores, PT perceived relevance of EBP but had difficulty to apply it in practice. Furthermore, positive correlations exist between the 5 domains. Participants were divided into three clusters. Those reporting poor scientific analysis skills and high barriers were older, less graduated, less trained in EBP and graduated earlier. Conclusion French PT perceived research to be important in their current practice and had a favourable opinion of EBP. However, they reported a lack of confidence, difficulty to understand terminology and to use it in practice. These findings and their profiles may help to improve PT's EBP education in France.


Animal locomotion is the result of concerted efforts of central pattern generators, sensory feedback, reflexes, the mechanical properties of bones, muscles and tendons and the physical environment. The combination of these components allows animals to adjust their locomotor output to appropriately match their environment. Amphibious animals, for example, have control systems that allow them to locomote effectively in both gravity/friction and viscosity/inertia dominated environments. Neurosensory and mechanical feedback influence motor control and can do so independent of cortical descending command. Bypassing cortical processing allows for rapid integration of environmental conditions into motor control changes and effective movement in novel environments.


The present invention relates to a system 100 on the ablation and ultrasound imaging combined with related organizations 40. This is particularly beneficial for use in ablation process. The system includes a interventional device 20 with an ultrasound transducer and ablation unit. During ablation process, interventional devices 20 can be applied for ablation and imaging tissue 40 to be ablated. Control unit CTRL is further included in the system, based on one or more signals from the ultrasonic transducers, arranged to calculate the predictor values. Here, predictor value relates to the risk of impending tissue damage due to rapid release of the foam energy. According to a particular embodiment, if the predictor value exceeds the threshold value, a first signal is transmitted. As a result, it is possible to appropriate means are taken.


With reference of the zinc oxide lightning arrestor's operational features, analyzes the potential hazard exited during the treatment of degradation and on-line monitoring of zinc oxide arrestor, puts forward a way for on-line monitoring of degradation of zinc oxide arrestor and recommends the mode for installing the disengaging device on zinc oxide arrestor in accordance with performance of various types of disengaging devices.


The photovoltaic module (10) - with an active surface (12), in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements (14) arranged to produce electrical energy from sunlight side by side, - in which the active surface (12) in the mounted state of the photovoltaic module (10) exposed to one of the weather conditions, thereby having inclined upper surface, and - is provided in which at least one strip-shaped element (22) made of copper and such exposed to the weather, that the copper fungicide with water and forms bactericidal substances, characterized in that the strip-shaped element (22) as at the top of the active surface (12) is provided that it is located at the upper edge of at least one of the photovoltaic elements (14) to a uniform distribution of the antifungal and bactericidal substances in the at least one photovoltaic element (14) leads and not or slightly reduced it the active surface (12) with respect to their surface extent only, said strip-like element (22) made of copper along the entire upper edge of the at least one photovoltaic element (14) via the extends full width of the active surface (12).