Forensic Odontologists may be called upon to help identify deceased individuals in situations such as: criminal cases, where victim identification is needed before official investigations can take place; marriages, where confirmation of the death of a spouse is required before the partner can remarry; for monetary purposes, such as paying out of pensions and life insurance policies; for completion of death certificates prior to burial; for social reasons such as closure for family members; for unclaimed bodies; for unidentified bodies in mass disasters; and in cases of fires, drowning, violent crimes, and motor vehicle accidents where the bodies may be so badly disfigured, decomposed or physically altered, that identification by family members would be psychologically traumatic. Although many regions of the body have been used for identification purposes, the teeth remain one of the most ideal sources as they have a number of distinctive features and are able to withstand many chemical and physical insults that would destroy other body tissues. Radiographs taken at the time of autopsy should replicate the type and angles of the any existing records as closely as possible. It is routine that a thorough, systematic, clinical and radiological examination is carried out on each tooth as well as the surrounding oral tissues. The list of features examined is extensive, especially in cases with little or no restorative work, as these are much more difficult to positively identify.


This paper presents a method for estimating peak strain using EFPI fiber-optic sensors. The method involves directly synthesizing the optical phase difference from the measured interference signal. Empirical results are presented which demonstrate that this method can measure peak strain to within about ±5 % of the strain measured with respect to a resistive strain gauge sensor.


In this paper, a new joint channel estimation and detection algorithm for frequency selective fading multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels is proposed. In the channel estimation section, using a generalized form of least square (LS) algorithm, a very accurate estimate of channel parameters is obtained. The procedure of detection is done in two stages. In the first stage the inter-symbol-interference (ISI) of previous stages is subtracted and then in the second stage, using a joint detection algorithm, the transmitted symbols are estimated. Parallel-interference-cancellator (PIC) and minimum-mean-square-estimator (MMSE) are used as MIMO detectors. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm, in time-varying MIMO channels is confirmed through various simulations.


OBJECTIVES/GOALS: A UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) science team partnered with the second largest US school district, with over 500,000 K-12 students, to design and implement a statistical process control dashboard to guide COVID-19 response, including mitigation and vaccination outreach. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: District data for students, teachers, and staff are updated daily and include COVID-19 test results, counts of quarantine after positive tests, and COVID-19 vaccination rates. Displays used a new hybrid Shewhart control chart to detect changes in test positivity rates and distinguish meaningful signals from noise (random day-to-day variation). The dashboard uses the Shiny and plotly packages in R to display interactive graphs of each data stream (cases, tests, and vaccinations) charted at multiple levels (districtwide, subdistricts, schools). Displays of variation over time show policy impacts and inequities. Selected displays use municipal COVID-19 data to complement district data. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The district has used the displays to assess the impact of their COVID-19 response and to identify variation in close to real-time to suggest areas with need for additional resources for mitigation or vaccination. The CTSI team has continued to edit and add displays in response to the district's changing operational needs and questions. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The UCLA CTSI team developed and implemented a robust data visualization dashboard to monitor COVID-19 case rates and plan vaccination outreach efforts. Control charts enabled the district to distinguish noise from signal, thereby rapidly identifying when specific parts of the district needed targeted support to achieve equity goals.


A composite matching layer composed of periodically arranged scatters with anti-reflection (AR) characteristics is proposed for broadband scattering reduction. The anti-reflection structure is composed of periodically arranged metal foam scatters, and it is the first attempt to be applied in the field of suppressing acoustic reflection. A complete theoretical model is developed to reveal the mechanism of scattering reduction and acoustic absorption based on effective medium theory and the transfer matrix method. The correctness and effectiveness of the theoretical model are verified by the finite element method (FEM), showing acoustic reflectance of less than 13.5% at broadband frequencies. The variation trends of reflectance are deeply investigated. The superior acoustic scattering reduction performance suggests that the matching layer possesses potential for acoustic imaging equipment and acoustic stealth.


x Chapter One Introduction Introduction 1 Definition of FLNM 2 Research Question 2 Purpose of study 2 Background 3 Over view of study setting 5 Methodology 6 Significance of the study 7 Structure of thesis 7 Summary 8 Chapter two Literature review Introduction 9 Role of first line nurse manager 9 The changing context and role of FLNM 11 Health Reform 11 Organizational restructuring 12


This application note describes a simple solution by averaging the samples with Sequencer or Burst Sequencer mode on the ADS8686S. This method can significantly reduce the phase delay caused by the channel switching. Also, this technique is integrated in the ADS8686SEVM Graphical User Interface (GUI) software with a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm which is used to calculate the phase angle and phase difference between the signals applied on the input channels of the ADC. The Phase Analysis page in the GUI is specifically developed for showing the phase difference between channels with and without averaging technique.


The past decade has witnessed an increasing emphasis on community implementation of early interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in ways that are both effective and sustainable. The construct of sustainability in the public health context refers to the community viability and long-term impact of interventions, including issues of adoption and sustained use by community agencies, durability of activities and resources after initial funding, and long-term return on initial investment (Altman, 2009; Steckler and Goodman, 1989). In the ASD early intervention field, the concept of sustainability is frequently—and mistakenly—equated with affordability, which refers to the initial costs of training providers and ongoing costs of implementing an evidencebased intervention. Accordingly, while factors promoting sustainment of interventions are under-researched, there is an increasing trend toward reducing intervention costs to make interventions more feasible for use in the community. In ASD, this is often accomplished by decreasing the intensity of an intervention or by lowering specialization standards or training requirements for those delivering the intervention. Three phenomena illustrate this trend: (1) the growing emphasis on low-intensity, parent-mediated early interventions (both in terms of publicly funded programs and new interventions being developed and tested; Nevill et al., 2018); (2) the increased reliance on paraprofessionals with minimal training or supervision to deliver interventions (e.g. behavior technicians who receive 1 week of training overall; Leaf et al., 2017); and, perhaps as a result of (1) and (2), (3) poor adherence to evidence-based practice protocol as providers adapt methods for their own context (Stahmer et al., 2005). There are positive aspects related to these phenomena. Making interventions more affordable by reducing training requirements may facilitate initial acceptability and feasibility, especially in chronically under-resourced communities (Divan, 2017). Empowering parents with effective strategies to support learning and development in their own children is a key component of effective interventions, with benefits ranging from increased generalization of intervention goals to improvements in parental wellbeing (Casagrande and Ingersoll, 2017; National Research Council, 2001). Some adaptation may be necessary for efficacious interventions to meet the needs of providers and families across multiple settings and children with diverse characteristics (Lau and Brookman-Frazee, 2016). Finally, reducing training expenses and requirements may facilitate uptake and scalability of interventions, thus addressing the ethical imperative of providing intervention to the large number of children with ASD who live in underserved contexts. However, concerns arise when reliance on caregivers or paraprofessionals is exclusive or excessive, in particular when there is little input from expert clinicians around complex decision-making (e.g. selecting intervention goals or strategies based on ongoing monitoring of child progress). For example, early intervention agencies often prioritize low-intensity parent-mediated programs that are accompanied by limited expert supervision and little or no direct child intervention; many low-cost interventions designed in the past few years follow the same trend (McWilliam, 2016; Wise et al., 2010). The dilemma of these low-cost packages is that interventions may become more feasible but ultimately less impactful. Diminished effectiveness, in turn, will result in an increased need for assistance and services later in life, thus producing a lower, rather than higher, return on investment. Literature from other fields suggests that a disproportionate focus on affordability can compromise both effectiveness and sustainment of interventions. For example, several studies have documented lower adherence to protocol and poorer intervention outcomes when medical procedures (e.g. management of infectious diseases) are delegated to non-specialized workers (Brentlinger et al., 2010; Fulton et al., 2011; Zachariah et al., 2009). In contrast, delegating tasks to non-specialist interventionists was shown to be successful when accompanied by sustained specialist supervision and education (Glenton et al., 2013; Pallas et al., 2013; Philips et al., 2008). Similarly, in studies of prenatal home visiting, nurse home visitors have greater effect on maternal child outcomes than paraprofessional home visitors (Olds et al., 2002, 2004). In ASD early intervention, initial evidence suggests that parent-implemented interventions may be less impactful than clinician-implemented programs (Nevill et al., 2018; Stahmer and Pellecchia, 2015) and that quality and quantity of training and supervision is critical to ensure positive outcomes for therapist-delivered interventions (Eikeseth et al., Early intervention for autism: Are we prioritizing feasibility at the expenses of effectiveness? A cautionary note 803043 AUT0010.1177/1362361318803043AutismEditorial editorial2018


E we really living in a post-Christian era? We would have to think so if we were to believe the reviewers who almost unanimously stabbed Samuel Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot,' for what they called its abstruseness and esoteric symbolism clustered about remotely religious reminiscences. I t is sad, indeed, and quite ironic to realize that if a despiser of Christianity sets out to show how anachronistic Christianity has become, all he has to do is to make use of the more authentic and existential language of Christianity, to weave its images and symbols and legends into the texture of a poem, a play, or a novel. If his work is not understood, he will have proved that Christianity, if it is not quite an atavism, has congealed into a set of symbols and formulas which have become alien to the understanding of the educated secularist, and, worse still, have no currency in this so-called Christian culture of ours. Born in Dublin in 1906, from 1928 to 1932 Samuel Beckett taught English in Paris and French in Dublin. He spent the next five years travelling. During the next few years he translated his novel MuTphy into French, finished his latest one in English, Watt. He then wrote in French a trilogy of novels, Molloy, Malone meurt, and L'Innommable, of which the first two have been translated into English (the second under the title of Malone Dies, published by the Grove Press). En attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot) was first produced in Paris in 1952-53, and on Broadway in early 1956. In 1937 he settled in France.


An explicit finite difference scheme for one-dimensional Burgers equation is derived from the lattice Boltzmann method. The system of the lattice Boltzmann equations for the distribution of the fictitious particles is rewritten as a three-level finite difference equation. The scheme is monotonic and satisfies maximum value principle; therefore, the stability is proved. Numerical solutions have been compared with the exact solutions reported in previous studies. The L2, L∞ and Root-Mean-Square (RMS) errors in the solutions show that the scheme is accurate and effective.


The Smart Power Station has a big impact on the security of communications, and the backbone fiber networks should not ignore it. An Optical Network with Lightweight Security Signaling for Smart Power Stations is proposed. in this research as a possible solution to the security problem facing optical networks in the context of smart energy networks. The proposed technology makes full use of existing signaling protocols and adds the necessary security enhancements and extensions. In this paper, a light-weighted security signaling strategy is adopted to establish a reliable connection. The evaluation simulation of the signaling interaction is performed in the context of intelligent power plants. The results of the simulation show how the proposed strategy can significantly improve security.


We report a novel form of convection in suspensions of the bioluminiscent marine bacterium $Photobacterium~phosphoreum$. Suspensions of these bacteria placed in a chamber open to the air create persistent luminiscent plumes most easily visible when observed in the dark. These flows are strikingly similar to the classical bioconvection pattern of aerotactic swimming bacteria, which create an unstable stratification by swimming upwards to an air-water interface, but they are a puzzle since the strain of $P.~phosphoreum$ used does not express flagella and therefore cannot swim. Systematic experimentation with suspensions of microspheres reveals that these flow patterns are driven not by the bacteria but by the accumulation of salt at the air-water interface due to evaporation of the culture medium; even at room temperature and humidity, and physiologically relevant salt concentrations, the rate of water evaporation is sufficient to drive convection patterns. A mathematical model is developed to understand the mechanism of plume formation, and linear stability analysis as well as numerical simulations were carried out to support the conclusions. While evaporation-driven convection has not been discussed extensively in the context of biological systems, these results suggest that the phenomenon may be relevant in other systems, particularly those using microorganisms of limited motility.


As federal and state funding sources become increasingly more competitive, other sources of funding for research, education and clinical programs need to be considered. In 1989, over $81 million was given by private sources in support of programs that directly benefited the elderly. This article examines methods for seeking private funding and provides a list of foundations with either specific or possible interest in geriatrics and mental health. We also offer specific suggestions for enhancing the chances of obtaining funding from these foundations.


To investigate the butterflies resources in Mulan Tianchi in June 2009,collected 388 butterflies in Mulan Tianchi in Wuhan City. Through the authentication,the collected species are subordinate to 8 families,29 genera and 40 species. In accordance with the investigation,it is found that the main elements of the fauna in this region are oriental species.


Forgetting, I would even go so far as to say historical error, is a crucial factor in the creation of a nation, which is why progress in historical studies often constitutes a danger for [the principle of ] nationality. Indeed, historical enquiry brings to light deeds of violence which took place at the origin of all political formations, even of those whose consequences have been altogether beneficial. (Ernest Renan, "Qu'est-ce qu'une nation?" [March 11, 1882])


In this paper, based on kinematics and dynamic analysis of multi-degree-of-freedom electro-hydraulic mix-drive motion simulator, by using Matlab Lagrange, the simulation of kinematics and dynamic of the simulator is done, and curves of dynamics simulation are given. The work in the paper could be seen as theory basis to research motion simulator in depth.


Twenty-one natural populations (thirteen tetraploids and eight diploids) of Dactylis glomerata ssp. izcoi (an Iberian endemic) were evaluated in the field for three consecutive years, using two clones per genotype, to separate genetic and environmental factors. Many traits showed significant differences between ploidy levels, but all of them overlapped. Therefore, it is justified to include both cytotypes in a subspecies in which tetraploids could be autopolyploids. In general, however, diploids had shorter stomatal guard cells, lower seed production and were later heading than tetraploids. Within tetraploids, most traits differed significantly between and within populations. There was less inter- and intrapopulation variation in the diploids. The range of plant dimensions exceeded that of former descriptions of the sub-species, bringing it closer to ssp. glomerata. Inland populations were not qualitatively different from one coastal population. Diploid populations showed less risk of hypomagnesemia than tetraploids.


"Introduction: diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases. Spatio-temporal study of DM has a main in the design of disease prevention programs. The present study aimed to describe the spatio-temporal distribution of diabetic patients in the Iranian military community. Methods: In this ecological study, all registered cases of DM in the Iranian military community (military officers and enrolled conscripts) were considered during the period 2015-2019. Getis-Ord Gi statistics was applied to identify the DM hotspots. Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used to perform trend analysis of the disease. Results: The number of DM incident cases in the military officers and enrolled conscripts was 1135 and 85, respectively. Isfahan (n=153) and Tehran (n=67) for the military officers and Zanjan (n=17) and Kurdistan (n=10) for the enrolled conscripts were the provinces with the highest number of identified DM cases. In the study period, no significant hotspots were detected in the military officers; However, an increasing trend of DM was observed (CC= 0.935, p 0.001). The DM hotspots detected in enrolled conscripts were as follows: 2015 – Qom (95% CI); 2016 – Lorestan, Qazvin, and Guilan (90% CI); 2017 – Ilam, Hamadan, and Markazi (90% CI); and 2018 – Ilam (95% CI), Alborz, Qom, Markazi, Lorestan, Kermanshah (90% CI), and no significant trend was noticed nonetheless (CC=-0.160, p=0.555). Conclusion: It appeared that Northern and North-Western Iran were high-risk areas for DM in the military population and should be considered in designing the diabetes prevention and control program. Moreover, the determination of DM risk factors in the aforementioned areas could play a crucial role in the prevention of the disease. "


This paper describes new tracing and debugging facilities for logic prograramming (Prolog in particular), based on a selective retrospective analysis of an exhaustive run-time trace. The tracer uses an enriched repertoire of program success/failure 'symptoms' to improve the clarity of the trace, and identifies characteristic 'symptom clusters' in order to work out the true cause of a bug.


Firstly, it reviews long-range dependence (LRD), self-similarity and scaling in network traffic traces. Several hierarchical MMPP models are remarked and focus at a promising model. By means of tcpdump, Tstat and AV estimator using in the measured traffic traces, the proposed three essential laws are employed, and then model network traffics as MMPP through interactive self-study approach. A more exact fitting method for model parameters is presented, which exploits two-level matches and shows its good efficiency. Some conclusions are given.


Notice: There are 6 questions in this exam. Page 3 contains some useful formulas. 1. (15pts) Given two vectors X and Y , in a d-dimensional space, determine whether the following distance measure funtions D(X, Y) are metrics and give the reason.


Globalization and European integration could be advantages for the development of agriculture in Romania, which still holds a high relative position in the economy and has structures of business organization and employment that do not match the European model. Based on the empirical analysis of available data, the paper presents changes of the Romanian agriculture in the last two decades and their influence on the whole economy, by pointing out three important fields of macroeconomic fluctuations: gross domestic product, prices and employment. The extended size of the subsistence component in the agricultural sector keeps the dependence of production variations on the natural conditions, strongly influenced by climate changes, while inducing significant variations in the GDP, but is also a solution to soften the social effects of the economic crisis.


The aim of the present paper is to analyse the mechanical behaviour of a steep slope reinforced with nails, using continuum mechanics approach. First, a short description of the nailed structure and a method of nailing are presented. Then, a continuum elastic theory of reinforced soil is applied to predict stresses in the reinforcement. The soil is assumed to be uniformly reinforced in the nails direction. The soil and the reinforcement are assumed to work together, i.e. Slippage on the interfaces between both constituents is neglected. It is also assumed that both constituents coexist at every point of the material, so the reinforced soil can be treated as a macroscopically homogeneous material which is transversally isotropic. The macroscopic behaviour of reinforced soil is described by the mechanical properties of constituents, their partial fractions and geometrical arrangement. Respective formulas are presented and then the boundary value problem formulated and solved with the help of finite element method, for the data corresponding to the real field problem. The theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data obtained from the field measurements on a full scale slope reinforced with nails. A brief description of the limit plasticity approach to the problem of bearing capacity of reinforced soil structures is presented and its application to the analysis of field measurements described. Again, the theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data. It seems, that in both cases, a reasonably good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained. (Author/TRRL)


Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGF) play overlapping and complementary roles in pancreatic β-cell function and peripheral metabolism. In this study, we have analyzed mice bearing loss-of-function mutations of the insulin/IGF signaling systems. Combined inactivation of insulin receptor (Insr) and Igf1 receptor (Igf1r), but not of either receptor alone, resulted in a 90% decrease in the size of the exocrine pancreas, because of decreased cellular proliferation. In contrast to the findings in the exocrine compartment, endocrine α- and β-cell development was unperturbed. Combined ablation of Igf1 and Igf2, the ligands for these two receptors, resulted in an identical phenotype. We also examined the effect of heterozygous null Igf1r mutations on glucose homeostasis in adult mice. Igf1r haploinsufficiency did not affect insulin action and compensatory β-cell growth in insulin-resistant mice with combined Insr andIgf1r heterozygous null mutations, resulting in a considerably milder phenotype than combined haploinsufficiency forInsr and its main signaling substrates, Irs1and Irs2. We conclude that Igf1r andInsr are required for embryonic development of the exocrine but not of the endocrine pancreas and that defects of Igf1rdo not alter glucose homeostasis as long as the insulin receptor system remains intact.


Our purpose in this article is to identify and suggest resolution for two core problematics of grounded theory. First, while grounded theory provides transparency to one part of the conceptualization process, where codes emerge directly from the data, it provides no such systematic or transparent way for gaining insight into the conceptual relationships between discovered codes. Producing a grounded theory depends not only on the definition of conceptual pieces, but the delineation of a relationship between at least two of those pieces. Second, the conceptualization process of grounded theory is done in hierarchical fashion, where individual codes emerge from the data but then are used to generate insight into more general concepts and thematic statements. But various works on grounded theory have failed to provide any systematic way of using data specific levels of scale (the codes) to gain insight into more macro levels of scale (concepts and themes). We offer fractal concept analysis as a means of resolving both of these issues. By using a logic structure generator, fractal concept analysis delineates self-similar conceptual frameworks at various levels of abstraction, yielding a method for linking concepts together within and between levels of scale encountered in the grounded theory coding and categorization process. We conclude that this fractal analytic technique can bolster the aims of grounded theory as a formalized and systematic process for generating theory from empirical data.


Due to the environmental features and characteristics of disaster of the mountainous highway tunnel group, it is difficult to provide rescue when traffic accidents occur in such areas. Therefore, how to improve the efficiency of the rescue work has become the focus of authorities' attention. In this paper, rescue vechicle dispatching of tunnel group accident emergency rescue was researched. The concept of opportunity cost in Economics is borrowed and the potential of traffic accidents is taken into consideration. And analyzes the characteristics and the probability of potential accidents,in light of the fact of multiple rescue point and multiple accidents points, according to the actual situation that reserved aid in each rescue point and needed aid in each accident,for the target of minimum cost of rescue,pointopportunity cost approach is used to create the model of rescue vehicle dispatching,the model is solved based on the idea that rescue vehicles dispatched one by one,and draw the optimal solution,which not only makes full use of supplies,but also improves the efficiency of the rescue,so it is possible to provide a reference for the actual rescue work.


Abstract Silver nanoprisms exhibit fascinating optical properties, but they are thermodynamically unstable due to structural characteristics. Here, the intrinsic instability of Ag nanoprisms was utilized as a basis for developing a new sensing platform. When exposed to sodium bromide, the sharp tips of Ag nanoprisms were selectively damaged and Ag nanoprisms transformed into ellipsoid-shaped nanostructures. Due to these changes in shape, the localized surface plasmon resonance peaks of Ag nanoprism were tuned. Interestingly, the color change rate by NaBr introduction showed a strong correlation with the external temperature, which enabled us to develop a new type of colorimetric temperature indicator.


An important analysis component of schools and universities cooperation is the development of cooperation quality assessment. Grounds for the quality assessment are the assessment parameters, which can be classified as preliminary profession-oriented training and professionoriented training; specialization-focused schools operating on the university premises; implementation of joint projects and programs; students pre-university training; distance network cooperation, etc. The article describes the experience of the expert map developed by education representatives as an instrument for cooperation quality assessment of schools and universities. The map includes parameters with the assessment scale, which reflect the main point of each parameter. For cooperation quality assessment the parameter "Distance Network Cooperation" is presented. It consists in the availability of distance education programs, scientific conferences organization, training courses for teachers, uploading text and course books on the web, scientific supervision of innovation activity, application of university scientific and education resources for individual education programs realization. The following factors have been focused in the parameter "Scientific Supervision": coaching, scientific supervision of departments/schools; development and implementation of joint innovative educational programs-projects, joint researches organization, and educational effects. To determine the assessment rate the following criteria have been used: scientific supervision of all directions of innovative and experimental activities; organization of innovation zones on university bases, organization of innovation enterprises (incubators), probationary/experimental springboards, development of different kinds of programs and projects, cross-disciplined researches, improvement of professional competence of teachers and heads of educational institutions, enhancement of education quality and educational environment changes. In the course of the analysis one can infer more than 20 parameters but their number can grow. The main idea is that they all must reflect the essence and way of cooperation development. Hence, for effective cooperation potential management of schools and universities in order to increase the quality of education and develop open educational environment of the region it is important to elaborate a system of cooperation quality assessment of schools and universities.


One hundred sixteen hips of 78 babies were treated with the Pavlik harness between 1990 to 1997. There were 67 girls and 11 boys. The average time of the first diagnosis and the beginning of wearing the harness was 8.1 weeks of age (3 weeks to 7 months). Seventy-two hip pathologies of 49 babies were diagnosed in the first three months of life, and there were 33 Barlow (+), 27 Ortolani (+), and 12 intermediate hips. Fourty-four hips of 29 babies were diagnosed between 3 to 7 months of age, and in this group there were 11 dysplastic, 19 subluxated and 14 dislocated hips. The aim of this study is to present our results which we have obtained from different hip pathologies at different ages.Total wearing time of the harness were estimated as 6 weeks for Barlow (+) hips, and twice the age in weeks for all other types. The criteriae of improvement were radiographic concentric reduction, the development of the acetabular angle (less than 28 degrees); and clinical stability of the hip joint. Complete clinical and radiographical improvements were obtained from 95 hips (81.8 %) at the end of the previously estimated treatment period. Insufficient acetabular angle development have been improved in 12 hips (10.3 %) in an additional period of 6 weeks; and at the end of this additional period successful results were 92.2 %. Successful results which were obtained from different hip pathologies are as follows; 100 % from Barlow (+) and dysplastic, 94.7 % from subluxated, 92.5 from Ortolani(+), 91.6 % from intermediate, and 64.2 from dislocated hips. And the average of successful results was 95.8 % in children 0 to 3 months of age; 86.3 % in children between 3 to 7 months of age at the onset of the treatment. Two anterior dislocations were seen in 2 Ortolani (+) hips due to iatrogenic misuse of the harness (1.7 %). Four dislocated hips couldn't be reduced in the first 4 weeks of treatment (3.4 %). Clinical stability of the hip joint couldn't be obtained in 3 hips (2.5 %) in spite of the radiographical concentric reduction. And then open reduction via medial approach were performed for 7 hips (6 %). No avascular necrosis of the femoral head was seen in successfully treated hips with the Pavlik harness, but it was appeared on 3 hips (2.5 %) which were operated via medial approach.According to our results, Pavlik harness can be safely used for the treatment of DDH in the early period of life. But three major outcomes of this study were; 1- Failure of the spontaneous reduction and failure of the clinical stability were two main problems during the treatment of dislocated hips; 2- Pre-estimated time of the treatment was inadequate in a high rate (10.2 %) for the expected development of the acetabular angle; 3- Acetabular angle equal or less than 28 degrees was sufficient to wean the harness


A Working Paper is the author's intellectual property. It is intended as a means to promote research to interested readers. Its content should not be copied or hosted on any server without written permission from email@example.com Find more INSEAD papers at https://www.insead.edu/faculty-research/research Women's Disempowerment and Preference for Risky Skin Whitening Products: Experimental Evidence from India


A high-altitude, two-stage rocket was designed, built, and entered in the advanced category of the 7 th Annual Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) Intercollegiate Rocketry Engineering Competition (IREC). The rocket, called AJAKS, featured an internal skeleton made of carbon fiber rods, and a combination of plywood, carbon, and aluminum bulkheads. Loads were driven through the internal structure, with an outer skin tube providing an aerodynamic surface. A unique separation device was developed to ensure proper stage separation. The competition required the rocket to carry a 10-lb payload, which was chosen by the team to consist of an IMU and data logging computer for recording the descent profile, a CubeSat test unit, and a digital video recorder. Prior to the competition launch, AJAKS was test launched on May 5 th in the Mojave at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) launch facility. During the test launch AJAKS suffered a PIRM malfunction and the main parachute did not deploy. Following the test launch, the second stage of the rocket was rebuilt with a stronger payload configuration. The ESRA IREC was held on June 21 st to the 24 th . AJAKS was launched on the 23 rd and during ascent the second stage became unstable and reached an altitude of only 6,000 ft. Both stages suffered damage upon landing.


Studying the reversible aggregation of red blood cells (RBC), which is one of the main factors determining the blood microcirculation is of importance for modern cardiology because the widespread application of different antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants in clinical practice may affect the blood rheology also via the alteration of RBC aggregation. Administration of the antiplatelet and anticoagulants agents into blood is based on general assumptions about the average doses of the drug, which often do not fully comply with the requirements of the personalized medicine. In this work, we compare the blood aggregation properties measured by laser aggegometry techniques in-vitro in blood samples with the properties of blood rheology measured with digital capillaroscopy in-vivo in the nail beds capillaries of patients suffering from the coronary heart disease (CHD). We demonstrate the impairment of these properties and high correlation of their alterations for patients suffering from the CHD with different stages of rheology disorders. Good agreement between the results obtained with the used diagnostic techniques, laser aggregometry, laser tweezers and digital capillaroscopy, and their applicability for the diagnostics of abnormalities of rheological properties of blood are demonstrated.


As the accelerated progress of electronic technology pushes the integration of more and more complex systems on a single chip, and promotes the combination of sophisticated hardware and software components to achieve very high levels of performance at decreasing costs, system designers are permanently committed to devising new ways of merging automation and abstraction techniques to deal with this complexity, and obtain competitive designs in shorter times. In this challenging scenario the International Symposium on System Synthesis has been serving, during the last fifteen years, as a forum of reference for discussion of the latest developments in system level design methodologies and tools.Having begun as the High-Level Synthesis Workshop in 1984, ISSS has reached maturity by continually promoting the interaction between academic and industrial agents, and widening its scope to include emerging topics in system design. ISSS 2000, the 13th edition of this successful series of symposia, includes the following topics:
System-level synthesis
Hardware-software co-design
Programmable (multi-) processor-based design and synthesis
System design experience and methodologies
Embedded and real-time system software
High-level and architectural synthesis
Synthesis for low power, testability and verifiability in the above areas

This year we have received 61 paper submissions coming from 19 different countries, which consolidates the tradition of ISSS as a truly international event. All the submission and review processes were fully electronic. Based on the result of the first round of the review process, where each paper was sent to at least five independent reviewers, a first selection of "clearly accepted" and "clearly rejected" papers was made. All the remaining papers were further debated in two subsequent rounds until a consensus on the selection of 18 high quality papers was finally reached. Also based on quality criteria the Program Committee decided to include six additional papers as short presentations.ISSS 2000 also features three special sessions with invited talks that have been organized by leading experts from academia (Giovanni De Micheli, Donatella Sciuto) and industry (Don MacMillen). In addition, two embedded tutorials organized by Peter Marwedel and Mateo Valero, and a panel session on the trends and achievements in system level design, have been programmed.


The special-shaped lightweight SI (skeleton and infill) floor structure studied in this paper is a kind of space reserved in the structure of the structure, and there is no need to erect a cavity in the later decoration process to realize the structure and the A new type of fabricated floor with separation of pipelines. In order to study the force mechanism and influencing factors of this new structure, this paper uses Midas FEA finite element software to analyze the deformation and stress of the structural element, and studies the influence of the number of slots and the size of the slots on the static performance of the structure. The analysis results show that the new floor slab performs well in static performance and can achieve a larger space span; under the premise of ensuring the same capacity, increasing the number of wire ducts and reducing the size of the wire ducts can effectively solve the stress concentration in the middle of the floor slab. Phenomenon, and improve the rigidity of the structure. The result of the parametric analysis is: the best structural layout is based on the transverse central axis, with 2 wire slots reserved on the upper board, 3 wire slots reserved on the lower board, and the specification of the wire slot is 70mm×50mm×20mm.


This study was conducted between May and September 2013 in the Gulf of Vlora, an important area of ecological, economic and tourism in south west Albania. The study aims at determining: (a) the quality of marine waters in the Gulf of Vlora analyzing physical chemical parameters, (b) the status of the area in support of economic development and tourism. The employed method was the monitoring data for the specified period. The data for temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, were obtained using multiparameter portable instrument. Also transparency measurement is performed using disk Sechin. Results of measuring the temperature of the water showed that they differ, depending on seasons and sampling areas. The lower and higher temperature measured in February were around 13.1 C on Aug. 25 to 26.1 C . Seawater pH is fundamental to living creatures, and they had measured values ranging from 7.86 to 8.14. Values of salinity in the Bay of Vlora consider various comparisons between monitored stations. In physico-chemical indicators of marine waters of the Bay of Vlora, as very influential factors in particular seasons or months of the year, affect the solid Izvori river, Dukati and Vjosaas well as marine currents that determine the displacement of marine sediments, which cannot be excluded Vlora Bay.


Extrusion deformation of MgGdYMn and MgGdYMnSc alloys was carried out firstly,and then the room temperature and high temperature tensile testings of the extruded alloys after heat treatment were performed.Effect of Mn and Sc on microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys was investigated using optical microscope,scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The results show that the ability of grain refining by deformation and that of increasing integrative properties by T6 treatment of the Mg-9Gd-4Y alloy at high temperature are improved by alloying with element Mn.Plasticity of Mg-9Gd-4Y-0.65Mn alloy at room temperature can be improved by addition of Sc with decreasing strength of the alloy slightly.The ultimate tensile strength of GY94Mn alloy reaches 200MPa at 300℃ and super-plasticity behavior of the GY94MnSc alloy is observed for tensile testing at 400℃.The new alloy of GY94MnSc exhibits super-plasticity behavior for tensile testing at 300℃.GY94MnSc alloy shows decreasing of the strength at room and high temperatures.


Objective To obtain the optimal parameters during the electrodepositing of Ni-Cr foam alloy. Methods The main factors including the thickness,deposition rate and chrome content of the coating layer were explored by orthogonal design experiment. The coating indices for cross-section microstructure and surface morphologies were investigated by the test methods. Results A 24. 09 μm thick layer of uniform and bright coating was obtained with 14. 76 wt% of Cr at the deposition rate of 0. 4198 mg /( cm2·min) in the solution of 125 g/L CrCl3·6H2O with a pH of 2. 0 and current density of 28 A / dm2at 25 ℃ for sixty minutes. Conclusion Temperature was the most important factor affecting the Ni-Cr alloy layer thickness and deposition rate in the range of 25 ~ 40 ℃,and the concentration of CrCl3·6H2O and complexant in plating solution were the most important factors affecting the chrome content of the coating layer.


Guillain-Baree syndrome also called guillain–Barré–Strohl syndrome, Landry's paralysis, post - infectious polyneuritis whichis a rare, at one or two cases per 100, 000 people every year, where auto-immune disorder in which a persons own immune system damaged the nerves, causing muscule weakness and sometimes paralysis. GBS can cause symptoms that last for a few weeks to several years. Most people recover fully, but some have permanent nerve damage. some people have died of GBS. Several things are known to tigger GBS. About two-thirds of people with GBS had diarrhea or a respiratory illness several weeks before developing symptoms. Infection with campylobacter jejuni, which causes diarrhea, is one of the most common risk factors for GBS. People can develop GBS after some other infections, such as flu, cytomegalovirus, Epstein barr virus, and zika virus. Very rarely, people have developed GBS in the days or weeks after receiving certain vaccines. It can be caused by campylobacter infection that is diagnosed when a laboratory tests detect campylobacter bacteria in stool, body tissue, or fluids. The test could be a culture that isolates the bacteria or a rapid diagnostic test that detects genetic material of the bacteria. The major aim of this case report is to present a classic case of this condition, to highlight an awareness of differing treatment options, and to advocate referral to a given its physician potential severity. Treatment for GBS including antibiotics, drink extra fluids as long as diarrhea lasts, plasma exchange, immunoglobulin therapy2.


The paper investigates the deformation behaviour of partially saturated clay beams under flexural stress. Beams were prepared from two clays and then loaded until failure. Three degrees of saturation and two loading rates were examined for each clay. The load, the matric suction at different beam points, and deflection in the middle of the beam were measured during the tests. The loading device ensures an even distribution of stresses on the top surface of the beam, which was confirmed by employing tactile pressure matrix sensors placed between the loading device and the beam. In addition to the tests at room temperature, tests at 55 °C were carried out in a walk-in climate chamber to assess the effects of temperature. The papersummarises the testing procedure and presents selected experimental results.


We compute the hydrodynamic torque on a dumbbell (two spheres linked by a massless rigid rod) settling in a quiescent fluid at small but finite Reynolds number. The spheres have the same mass densities but different sizes. When the sizes are quite different, the dumbbell settles vertically, aligned with the direction of gravity, the largest sphere first. But when the size difference is sufficiently small, then its steady-state angle is determined by a competition between the size difference and the Reynolds number. When the sizes of the spheres are exactly equal, then fluid inertia causes the dumbbell to settle in a horizontal orientation.


Anderson's 1972 United States Geological Survey classification in modified form was applied to the barrier-island coastline within the CARETS region. High-altitude, color-infrared photography of December, 1972, and January, 1973, served as the primary data base in this study. The CARETS shore zone studied was divided into six distinct geographical regions; area percentages for each class in the modified Anderson classification are presented. Similarities and differences between regions are discussed within the framework of man's modification of these landscapes. The results of this study are presented as a series of 19 maps of land-use categories. Recommendations are made for a remote-sensing system for monitoring the CARETS shore zone within the context of the dynamics of the landscapes studied.


When network has been invented, there has been a predestined relationship between it and Olympic movement culture. Under the situation of different culture, two different postures have been produced: the confliction of network culture and cooperation of network culture. On the basis of the same essence of the humanistic Olympics and the Olympism, this essay puts forward some reflections on the development of traditional culture of Chinese sport in 21st century.


. Detection of damages in fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composite structures is important from the safety and serviceability point of view. Usually, damage is realized as a local reduction of stiffness and if dynamic responses of the structure are sensitive enough to such changes in stiffness, then a well posed inverse problem can provide an efficient solution to the damage detection problem. Usually, such inverse problems are solved within the framework of pattern recognition. Support Vector Machine (SVM) Algorithm is one such methodology, which minimizes the weighted differences between the experimentally observed dynamic responses and those computed using the finite element model- by optimizing appropriately chosen parameters, such as stiffness. A damage detection strategy is hereby proposed using SVM which perform stepwise by first locating and then determining the severity of the damage. The SVM algorithm uses simulations of only a limited number of damage scenarios and trains the algorithm in such a way so as to detect damages at unknown locations by recognizing the pattern of changes in dynamic responses. A rectangular fiber reinforced plastic composite plate has been investigated both numerically and experimentally to observe the efficiency of the SVM algorithm for damage detection. Experimentally determined modal responses, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are used as observable parameters. The results are encouraging since a high percentage of damage cases have been successfully determined using the proposed algorithm.


This paper proposes a new solution for an e-health system architecture related to personal assistance at home for aged people. This architecture takes into account the results of two ongoing projects on which the authors are involved: Sweet-Home and AmiHomeCare and the possibility of combining different parts of these projects in order to obtain a more versatile system. Each project has a distinctive way of gathering the required information: Sweet-Home uses sound processing, AmiHomeCare - video processing. The paper analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of both approaches in order to propose an integrative new architecture.


Construction waste (CW) accounts for approximately 36 percent of the total solid waste received at landfill
sites around the world and, therefore, presents a significant challenge to the sustainability of the construction industry,
the country's economy at large, and environmental sustainability worldwide. For Jordan, this issue is pertinent since
the construction industry is still suffering from insufficient sustainability practices characterized by poor production,
sub-standard performance, and a wasteful culture. Increasing attention has been placed on addressing the role of
human factors in construction waste minimization (CWM), as the majority of the causes underlying CW are directly or
indirectly affected by the behavior of those working in the construction industry. However, understanding CWM
behavior is most challenging and complex, as adopting positive CWM behavior depends on many factors that
contribute to its success or failure. This paper describes the development of a behavioral framework (BF) that aims to
address this research gap. The Delphi technique, incorporating a series of semi-structured interviews, was chosen as
the primary research investigative method, for the discovery and building of the BF. Twelve respondents (the experts'
panel), with extensive knowledge of and experience in the Jordanian construction industry, participated in two rounds
of the Delphi study. They were able to offer a well-informed look at the current and potential status of the adoption of
CWM behavior among Jordanian contractors. The resulting BF advances a more holistic understanding of the factors
influencing the behavior of contractors toward CWM, which will support the adoption of waste minimization in
Jordanian construction projects.


The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of eight weeks of training by two protocols, entitled Training Force(TF) and Resistive Functional Training(FFT), in relation to functional capacity and quality of life of elderly physically independent. For the research in question was used as a criterion for sampling the simple random probabilistic manner. The sample consisted of 30 elderly male and female, minimum age of 60 years, divided into three groups: Group Strength Training(GTF=10), group of Functional Training Resistive (GTFR=10) and a control group(GC=10). For the assessment of functional capacity was applied to the Protocol Development Group for Latin American Maturity(GDLAM). To measure the benefits related to quality of life we used the Quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36.The data were treated statistically by the SPSS 16.0, which was adopted frequency distribution for qualitative data, descriptive statistics for quantitative data, the Student t test to compare differences before and after training in each group and analysis variance of a criterion for comparison between groups. The study acknowledged a p The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of eight weeks of training by two protocols, entitled Training Force(TF) and Resistive Functional Training(FFT), in relation to functional capacity and quality of life of elderly physically independent. For the research in question was used as a criterion for sampling the simple random probabilistic manner. The sample consisted of 30 elderly male and female, minimum age of 60 years, divided into three groups: Group Strength Training(GTF=10), group of Functional Training Resistive (GTFR=10) and a control group(GC=10). For the assessment of functional capacity was applied to the Protocol Development Group for Latin American Maturity(GDLAM). To measure the benefits related to quality of life we used the Quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36.The data were treated statistically by the SPSS 16.0, which was adopted frequency distribution for qualitative data, descriptive statistics for quantitative data, the Student t test to compare differences before and after training in each group and analysis variance of a criterion for comparison between groups. The study acknowledged a p≤0.05 for statistical significance. Overall, the results indicated improvement in functional capacity of the experimental groups(GTFandGTFR). The control group showed deterioration in functional capacity compared to the experimental groups. Qualitative analysis showed that the experimental groups showed improvement in the control group.


This paper presents a small urban plug-in hybrid electric vehicle whose propulsion architecture includes a conventional internal combustion engine connected with a continuously variable transmission in the front wheels and two in-wheel electric machines in the rear wheels. Various operation modes, including zero emission vehicle mode, boost mode, and regenerative braking mode, are possible with this solution. In this paper, the authors describe the different components used in the vehicle and the different operating modes. First experimental results, in particular the ones concerning the regenerative braking, are shortly presented at the end of the digest.


A 19-year-old woman with homozygous sickle cell disease presents to her family physician's office with acute generalized bone pain. She reports stress from school deadlines. She prefers to manage her pain at home if possible and not go to the emergency department. She has no comorbidities.

She


The invention belongs to the technical field of medicines and specifically discloses a dabigatran-containing solid dispersion and a preparation method as well as application thereof. The solid dispersion comprises a dabigatran-containing active substance and a carrier material, wherein the hydrophilic high-molecular polymer accounts for 20%-98% of mass of the solid dispersion and the carrier material is a hydrophilic high-molecular polymer. The preparation of the solid dispersion is low in cost and excellent in technical reproducibility.


The high zinc content found in pancreatic islet cells and in the hippocampus suggestsa functional relationship. Two cross‐over experiments using rats were conducted in whichalternating lesions on the endocrine pancreas and in the ammon's horn were created.


Darwin's belief in branching evolution was based upon his familiarity with the taxonomy of his day. Facts from biogeography, embryology, and paleontology acquired deep significance because biologists had come to believe that natural classification expressed real relationships. Although Charles Darwin's presentation of his theory in the Origin of Species, as well as descriptions of Darwinism after the Modern Synthesis of the 1940s, imply that establishing the causal role of natural selection was essential to proving that evolution has occurred, this is contradicted by Darwin's personal experience and by his own words. It is helpful to compare the history and logical structure of Darwin's revolutionary theory to the Copernican Revolution, for the moving Earth was recognized long before Newton identified causes to explain its motion. Copernicus saw that fixing the Sun as the center of planetary motion explained the appearance of the heavens better than the Ptolemaic system did, and Darwin saw that branching evolution explains the "truly wonderful fact" that a hierarchy of nested groups appears natural.


1. Gale R. Burstein, MD, MPH*
2. Pamela J. Murray, MD, MPH†

1. *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

2. †Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

After completing this article, readers should be able to:

1. List the possible clinical presentations and sequelae of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in males and females.

2. Describe the various types of licensed N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis laboratory tests as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

3. List the Amsel criteria and available laboratory tests for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

4. Describe the various treatments for vulvovaginal candidiasis.

5. Describe patient, partner, and practitioner barriers to implementing effective partner notification.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have been labeled a "hidden epidemic" among adolescents, with adolescent females experiencing some of the highest rates of most STDs. Most adolescent STDs, regardless of pathogen, are asymptomatic. A primary care visit presents the perfect window of opportunity to screen for STDs. Clinical preventive care guidelines, such as the Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services (GAPS), Bright Futures, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care, recommend screening adolescents for sexual risk behaviors and offering STD diagnostic tests to all sexually active adolescents. The National Committee for Quality Assurance adopted chlamydia screening of sexually active females ages 15 to 25 years as a new Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) performance measure for managed care organizations in 2000. New nucleic acid amplification diagnostic technology allows for a widening scope of STD screening without performing an invasive genital examination.

This article reviews the epidemiology and clinical presentation of common curable STDs acquired by adolescents and provides information on new diagnostic technologies and treatments for these STDs. Screening and treating STDs can be offered readily as part of routine adolescent health services.

### Epidemiology

 Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the sexually transmitted genital pathogens reported most commonly among adolescents. Both infections frequently are asymptomatic in males and females. A large multisite, randomized, controlled trial found …


This design is based on the residential building of boarding school as the research object. The STC89C52RC single-chip microcomputer is used as the main control chip, and the clock chip, temperature chip, smoke collection module, A/D conversion, LED digital tube display circuit, matrix keyboard, infrared wireless remote control and other controllers are used to control the power system and adjust the access control system. This system is applicable to all kinds of colleges and universities that have strict management on students' electricity consumption. It can automatically control the electricity consumption of students' dormitories according to the school management regulations, and can automatically make emergency response to emergencies such as fire.


Purpose
The study aims to identify the issues that restrict students to show their real performance in the design due to lacking of self-advocacy skills and suggesting a new concept to overcome these difficulties.

Design/methodology/approach
The current literature was surveyed to form a comprehensive understanding of the issue. A case study has been taken for three years and two groups of students were taken. Results achieved and discussed.

Findings
The result of the study showed that those students who undergo an environment equipped with knowledge about self-advocacy can perform better and the success level is relatively higher amongst these students.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the current literature an original knowledge that has not been previously written about (empowering self-advocacy amongst students of interior architecture). The profession of interior architecture is a relatively new profession and faces challenges in fixing its feet on the ground that is why the subject can add a real value to it to alleviate the challenge.


In three cases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occurred in association with the administration of ethosuximide. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SLE as a complication of ethosuximide therapy.


Carlos Pellicer is the grand poet pioneer of Vanguardism in Mexico —along with Tablada— and, as Octavio Paz once said, the fi rst truly modern poet in such country. This article presents a hermeneutical analysis of the poem "Recinto," which actually opens the homoerotic discourse in twentieth-century Mexican poetry.


The object of the research is market competition between the shopping centres in the settlement of Zadar. The research is based on the spatial data collected by using various methods and techniques, which were analysed by applying the tools of geographic information system (GIS) with respect to specific laws of market economy. A categorization of shopping centres was made in order to define a broad trade area where the competition between the centres was analysed. A demographic raster was used to define the density of potential consumers within a broad market area. The competition analysis included the determination of the centres' market zones, the occurrence of potential market cannibalism and the definition of the dominant shopping centre according to a variable of choice probability. The market zones were determined based on the attribute of duration of drive (min). On-site research, calculation of non-linear distance and the analysis of shopping centres' density, led to a conclusion that market cannibalism occurs between the centres. For the purpose of predicting market dominance, Huff model was used to calculate average values of preference of centres within the zones of overlapping and the broad trade area. The results of Huff model confirm the market reality that a larger number of consumers within the zones of overlapping and the broad trade area prefer a more attractive shopping centre. The difference in number of people that visit a more attractive shopping centre was quantified by overlapping the demographic raster and the Huff model.


The interaction between conformation changes and electron-transfer rates is considered for systems containing two redox centers. The effect of conformation changes on the free-energy barrier to intramolecular electron transfer is examined. Unstable conformers R* of the reactant (or P* of the product) that are either more (low-{lambda} intermediates) or less (high-{lambda} intermediates) redox-active than the stable reactant R (or product P) are considered. The relative energies of the conformers determine whether the observed electron-transfer reaction proceeds by a two-step mechanism involving the intermediate formation of an unstable conformer or by a direct (concerted) reaction involving only the stable reactant and product. The present analysis generates a set of equations that indicate when the two-step or the direct mechanism is energetically favored. Only when the two-step mechanisms are favored is gating or conformational control possible.


According to the granulometric composition of all soil types (typical, light gray, gray-meadow and meadow-alluvial) located on terraces I - II - III of the Zarafshan oasis, it is mainly medium and heavy sand, physical clay (<0.01 mm) and large dust (0.05 – 0.01 mm), medium dust (0.01 – 0.005 mm), fine dust (0.005 – 0.001 mm) and silt particles due to irrigation for many years reduced sand particles and increased the amount of dust and silt particles in all layers of the soil . It is explained by the erosion of feldspar, mica-like substances in the sand particles, the increase of dust and silt particles in the upper layers of the soil as a result of irrigation, and the fact that certain parts are washed to the lower layers of the soil.


Facing the demand for 5G and beyond, a massive phased-array-based multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) becomes one of the most critical techniques in order to support the beamforming configurations with high-data-rate transmissions. Therefore, for MIMO-based 5G and beyond, phased arrays with 64, 256, and even 1024 elements could be employed together with complex modulated waveforms, such as 16-, 64-, and 256-QAM in single-carrier and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modes. The key challenge now is how to reduce the entire MIMO systems' sizes and weights, particularly the costs.


This paper consists of two parts. The first part provides a short account of the New Zealand labour market in the period 1986 to 2001, roughly contemporaneous with a prolonged period of economic restructuring that began with the election of the Lange Labour government in 1984. This narrative is largely inspired by various neo- and post-Marxian schools of political economy, particularly the works of the Parisian Regulation school and writers such as Broomhill and Low that have drawn attention to the existence of sub-national modes of regulation. The second, using the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) techniques pioneered by Anselin, seeks to explore the spatial structure of unemployment in the 1986-2001 period. This paper should be seen then as the first step in geographically locating the local modes of regulation that our theoretical perspective suggest exist.


We state additional facts about Rényi divergences that are needed in our proofs. Fact 17 (Monotonicity [van Erven and Harremos, 2014, Theorem 3]). For any distributions P,Q and 0 ≤ α1 ≤ α2 we have Dα1(P ||Q) ≤ Dα2(P ||Q). Fact 18 (Post-Processing [van Erven and Harremos, 2014, Theorem 9]). For any sample spaces X ,Y , distributions X1, X2 over X , and any function f : X → Y we have Dα(f(X1)||f(X2)) ≤ Dα(X1||X2). Fact 19 (Gaussian Divergence [van Erven and Harremos, 2014, Example 3]).


Abstract Background Interventions promoting physical activity and improved wellbeing delivered through professional football clubs have previously produced favourable changes in health in adult males (Hunt et al., 2014). Walking football has proven a popular variant suitable for older adults and studies have reported positive changes in health outcomes (Arnold et al., 2015; Reddy et al., 2017; McEwan et al., 2019). However, studies exploring outcomes following walking football interventions when compared to a control group in an older adult population are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the effects of a 12-week walking football intervention on cardiovascular disease risk factors and quality of life in an older adult population. Methods Following ethical approval, participants (n = 23, one female; 68 ± 8 years old), were recruited through the Drink Wise, Age Well scheme; a local Lottery funded organisation and were invited to take part in a 12-week walking football intervention or control group. Intervention group participants (n = 17), were invited to one 60-minute walking football session per week consisting of a warm-up and small-scale competitive games, whereas control group participants (n = 6), continued with their normal habitual lifestyle. Outcomes measured were weight, resting blood pressure, non-fasting blood lipids, six-minute walk distance, and quality of life. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (week-0), midpoint (week-7) and post-intervention (week-13). Sessional RPE was recorded after each session. Preliminary data were analysed using a repeated-measures ANOVA. Results Adherence to the 12-week intervention was 83%. Mean (± SD) attendance for sessions was 68 ± 26% (range; 0-92%). Mean rating of perceived exertion was 6.3 ± 1 (range; 2-8). Analysis revealed a significant reduction in total cholesterol (p = 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.19) in the intervention group. However, despite favourable changes in both groups for each variable, no significant difference between groups occurred between baseline, week-7 and post-intervention. Conclusion The study outlines the potential for individuals enrolled in a walking football scheme to engage in weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA as well as maintaining and improving a myriad of health outcomes. Engagement in other pre-existing health promotion schemes, such as walking football at other local organisations may have influenced outcome measures.


With the increasing awareness in the public mind regarding environmental issues comes a need of improving systems in our society, towards more sustainable solutions. Heating is a major energy consu ...


Nowadays, most of the numerical product behavior analyses are carried out following four steps: Computer Aided Design (CAD) modeling, mesh definition, Finite Element (FE) simulation and results analysis. This process can be completed by optimization loops. In the context of current maintenance and lifecycle problems, the product is already designed, and its behavior has to be studied and improved during its exploitation. For the maintenance of the EDF power plants, it is critical to identify the problem source and to provide the adopted solution in a short time. In this paper, we propose a method to enable the direct modification of 2D FE models for fast and accurate FE simulation. This approach enables to avoid both multiple iterative updatings of the CAD model and the remeshing problems of complex shapes while reusing the exiting meshes together with the semantic data useful for FE simulation. Starting from existing triangle meshes to be merged, the algorithm removes the intersected faces and fills in the created holes while ensuring that the semantics initially associated to the meshes is preserved. The holes filling algorithm is driven by an aspect ratio factor which ensures that the produced triangulation fits well the FE requirements.


Lineage commitment and differentiation is driven by the concerted action of master transcriptional regulators at their target chromatin sites. Multiple efforts have characterized the key transcription factors (TFs) that determine the various hematopoietic lineages. However, the temporal interactions between individual TFs and their chromatin targets during differentiation and how these interactions dictate lineage commitment remains poorly understood. We performed dense, daily, temporal profiling of chromatin accessibility (DNase I-seq) and gene expression changes (total RNA-seq) along ex vivo human erythropoiesis to comprehensively define developmentally regulated DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) and transcripts. We link both distal DHSs to their target gene promoters and individual TFs to their target DHSs, revealing that the regulatory landscape is organized in distinct sequential regulatory modules that regulate lineage restriction and maturation. Finally, direct comparison of transcriptional dynamics (bulk and single-cell) and lineage potential between erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis uncovers differential fate commitment dynamics between the two lineages as they exit pluripotency. Collectively, these data provide novel insights into the global regulatory landscape during hematopoiesis.


ABSTRACT Silicate ions were incorporated into a pre-treatment to mitigate corrosion in reinforcing steel bars. The efficiency of these pre-treatments was compared by testing steel samples in concrete pore simulating solutions contaminated with chloride ions. The study involved cyclic voltammetry, anodic polarisation curves and weight-loss tests following a 60-day immersion period. Surface analysis included micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrical properties of the film were analyzed by impedance spectroscopy and Mott–Schottky plots. Polarisation curves show higher pitting potentials and lower corrosion current densities when pre-treating with silicate ions. Localised attack appears after 60 days of immersion in solutions containing chloride ions, but weight loss is reduced by 75% for coupons pre-treated in silicate solutions. XPS and Raman spectra indicate that the presence of silicate ions affects the composition of the passive film and the corrosion products. The results show that pre-treatments in silicate solutions are effective to minimise steel corrosion in aggressive environments.


In order to characterize the Hardy spaces on an n-dimensional Euclidean space, several maximal functions have been introduced and studied until recently. Among them, vertical maximal functions Mφf, non-tangential maximal functions M*φf, tangential modification M*φ*,Nf of M*φf and grand maximal functions MFf will be treated with some other maximal functions. And we will compare the Orlicz norms of these maximal functions.


This paper presents a new nondestructive testing technique based on velocity induced eddy currents. When a time constant magnetic field moves along a conductive material velocity induced eddy currents are generated in the media. The technique developed within this work uses these eddy currents in the same way as any eddy current testing method where the flow pattern disturbed by the existence of defects creates variations of the secondary magnetic field that can be assessed by a magnetic field sensor. This magnetic field provides the information about the defects. Within this paper the magnetic field parameters are measured using "giant" magnetoresistors (GMR). As far as the authors know this is an original method, that has not yet been reported in the literature, and presents undoubted advantages when the material to be tested is in motion relative to the test sensor (like when inspecting a rail track with a bogie) because the sensitivity of the method increases with speed. To validate the results simulations of the actual testing conditions are also presented using a commercial finite element model.


There has been an increasing interest in ontologies over the last years by the computer science. This interest can be attributed to the advent of what has been known as Semantic Web. Consequently, a persistent interest in Onomasiological Lexicography has arisen and several authors have written about the relation between thesaurus and ontologies, determined to build bridges between the two. The aim of this paper is to light up the discussion between the similarities and differences between onomasiological dictionaries and ontologies. It presents some definitions for concepts such as onomasiology, onomasiological dictionaries, ontologies, formal ontologies, linguistic ontologies. It also intends to demonstrate that the differences pointed out by some authors to distinguish onomasiological dictionaries from ontologies are not quite evident.


We introduce a kinematic graph in this article. A kinematic graph results from structuring the data obtained from the sampling method for sampling-based motion planning algorithms in robotics with the motivation to adapt the method to the positioning problem of robotic manipulators. The term kinematic graph emphasises the fact that any path computed by sampling-based motion planning algorithms using a kinematic graph is guaranteed to correspond to a feasible motion for the positioning of the robotic manipulator. We propose methods to combine the information from the configuration and task spaces of the robotic manipulators to cluster the samples. The kinematic graph is the result of this systematic clustering and a tremendous reduction in the size of the problem. Hence, using a kinematic graph, it is possible to effectively employ sampling-based motion planning algorithms for robotic manipulators, where the problem is defined in higher dimensions than those for which these algorithms were developed. Other barriers that hindered adequate utilisation of such algorithms for robotic manipulators with articulated arms, such as the non-injective surjection of the forward kinematic function, are also addressed in the structure of the kinematic graph.


Starting from the macroscopic environment of economic development at home and abroad this paper analyses the necessity of adjusting coal-industry structure and developing briquette industry for Shanxi Province, and probes into the ways of developing briquette industry.


[reaction: see text] Hydroboration of ethoxy acetylene, transmetalation to zinc, and addition to aldehydes in the presence of a chiral amino alcohol ligand (MIB) affords hydroxy enol ethers with high ee. The resultant enantiomerically enriched hydroxy enol ethers were converted to protected hydroxy aldehydes, a useful synthetic building block for the construction of a variety of polyoxygenated natural products. In addition, diastereoselective formation of syn- and anti-1,3-diols was studied.


We use a new, high-frequency panel survey of elderly Singaporeans to study the effect of in-utero exposure to mild nutritional shocks on an individual's later-life outcomes more comprehensively. The causal impact of such shocks is identified by exploiting the plausible randomness of the timing of pregnancies with respect to Ramadan. We find that in-utero exposure to Ramadan leads to poorer evaluative subjective well-being across a broad range of domains, as well as poorer mental well-being. Consistent with these subjective measures and predictions from medical theory, exposed individuals report higher rates of diagnosed cardiovascular conditions and higher body mass index (among women). We find no evidence that these results are driven by selective timing of pregnancies, differing survey participation rates, or seasonal effects. JEL Classification: I1, I12, I3, I31, J1, J14


Comprising an emitting layer (EML) constituting a wide‐energy‐gap host, a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) sensitizer and a conventional fluorescent dopant, TADF‐sensitizing‐fluorescence organic light‐emitting diodes (TSF‐OLEDs) highly depend on component interplay to maximize their performance, which, however, is still under‐researched. Taking the host type (TADF or non‐TADF) and the recombination position (on the host or on the TADF sensitizer) into consideration, the interplay of host and TADF sensitizer is comprehensively studied and manipulated. A wide‐energy‐gap host with TADF and recombination of charges on it are both required to maximize device performances by triggering multiple sensitizing processes to eliminate exciton losses. Based on those findings, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE)/power efficiency (PE) of 23.2%/76.9 lm W−1 is realized with a newly developed TADF host, significantly outperforming the reference devices. Further device optimization leads to unprecedently high EQE/PE of 24.2%/89.5 lm W−1 and a half‐lifetime of over 400 h at an initial luminance of 2000 cd m−2, with the peak PE being the highest value among the reported TSF‐OLEDs. This work reveals the importance of manipulating the component interplay in EMLs, opening a new avenue toward highly efficient TSF‐OLEDs.


A comparison was made of the ultrastructure of two neurohemal organs: the sinus gland and the lateral nervous plexus of the Oniscidea (Crustacea). Reverse-phase chromatography clearly showed that t...


Primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC),a kind of autoimmune liver diseases,takes place in bile duct cells of hepatic lobules.It has a complex clinical manifestation and can be attributed to jaundice or meteorism of traditional Chinese medicine.In recent years,there are a lot of reports that use Chinese medicine to treat PBC and have obtained the certain effect.This text displayed the progress of clinical diagnosis and treatment of TCM of PBC in recent years by summarizing the methods of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of this disease.


The dedication pays the tribute seemingly expected in this matriarchal culture by a nod to the wife and children "who patiently endured the preparation of this book." What a shameful excuse for not washing the dishes and changing diapers!
 After this groveling start the author assumes his full stature and we have the benefit of his calloused self indulgence. Those who know the author away from his home consider him to be intelligent, forthright, confident and penetrating, but not dogmatic. These qualities permeate his book and make it a stimulating and balanced presentation.


A supersymmetric Lorentz invariant mechanism for superspace deformations is proposed. It is based on an extension of superspace by one λ a or several Majorana spinors associated with the Penrose twistor picture. Some examples of Lorentz invariant supersymmetric Poisson and Moyal brackets are constructed and the correspondence: a mapping the brackets depending on the constant background into the Lorentz covariant supersymmetric brackets is established. The correspondence reveals the role of the composite anticommuting vector ψ m = − 12 (¯ θγ m λ ) as a covariant measure of space-time coordinate noncommutativity.


Floor air supply systems have becoming popular.A typical floor air supply system,which is also well known as a displacement ventilation system when used for cooling,supplies air at floor level and extracts air at ceiling level.Available researches reveal that floor displacement ventilation systems can provide better indoor air quality as compared with traditional mixing ventilation systems.In some areas if there are no other heating equipments during winter,floor air supply systems are also used for heating to maintain indoor thermal comfort.However,detailed performance,such as air quality and thermal comfort,on floor air supply systems under heating operation still remains unclear.This investigation has studied an office environment in an environmental chamber served by floor air supply systems simulating summer cooling and winter heating,respectively,with measurement and Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD).Parameters on thermal comfort and indoor air quality in terms of distributions of air velocity,temperature and a tracer gas contaminant concentration has been compared between the two operation modes.Unlike for cooling,floor air supply systems under heating mode create indoor conditions in significant mixing,as both reflected in uniform air temperature and airborne contaminant concentration.Therefore,floor air supply systems under heating mode cannot provide comparably good indoor air quality as for cooling.


As suppliers take on more important roles in manufacturing and designing products, their operational innovativeness becomes an important source of value. We use the relational view theory to hypothesize for a positive association between operational innovativeness of established suppliers and manufacturer performance. Furthermore, we posit that the manufacturer can enhance this value by ensuring that the supplier is performing as expected (i.e., through supplier evaluation programs), and by focusing on learning from the supplier (i.e., through absorptive capacity). We then develop hypotheses as to how the influence of these two approaches differs when working with suppliers assigned to different types of tasks. We test the hypotheses using survey responses from 136 manufacturers evaluating 272 of their suppliers. Results show that supplier evaluation programs and absorptive capacity are both effective means of augmenting the benefits of supplier operational innovativeness. Contrary to theoretical predictions, benefits of operational innovativeness of suppliers with knowledge-intensive tasks are enhanced through increased absorptive capacity and through increased supplier evaluation programs.


Abstract The spectral set conjecture, also known as the Fuglede conjecture, asserts that every bounded spectral set is a tile and vice versa. While this conjecture remains open on ${\mathbb R}^1$, there are many results in the literature that discuss the relations among various forms of the Fuglede conjecture on ${\mathbb Z}_n$, ${\mathbb Z}$ and ${\mathbb R}^1$ and also the seemingly stronger universal tiling (spectrum) conjectures on the respective groups. In this paper, we clarify the equivalences between these statements in dimension one. In addition, we show that if the Fuglede conjecture on ${\mathbb R}^1$ is true, then every spectral set with rational measure must have a rational spectrum. We then investigate the Coven–Meyerowitz property for finite sets of integers, introduced in [1], and we show that if the spectral sets and the tiles in ${\mathbb Z}$ satisfy the Coven–Meyerowitz property, then both sides of the Fuglede conjecture on ${\mathbb R}^1$ are true.


This data is to illustrate the theory, data analysis, and exemplary results of the data described in the corresponding publication entitled 'Global Lightning Quanta'.


In contrast to other organisms, people relate to environments through a changeable technology, have highly variable resource demands, and can conduct long-distance trade to supplement local resources. Nevertheless, total human demand may exceed, equal, or fall short of "carrying capacity" under particular cultural, economic, political, and environmental constraints. Many northern communities seem to have outgrown local renewable resource limits. They can sustain themselves only by reducing demand, drawing down banked reserves, channeling local natural productivity into items of greater direct utility, accepting subsidies and dole, or agreeing (or selling rights) to development of exhaustible resources mainly with nonlocal capital. Each choice carries costs and benefits. For many communities the loss of identity and self-determination may be the most pernicious problem with the choice to host major nonrenewable resource projects. Key words: carrying capacity, environmental limits, community self-determination


FIELD: information technologies. SUBSTANCE: method of communication is proposed between client and server side applicable in communication system made of client, server side and coupling facility between client and server side; method includes the following stages: establishment of dedicated channel between client and server side through open port of coupling device; establishment (if the main applied subsystem of client interacts with target server on server side) of logical channel between the main applied subsystem and target server based on dedicated channel, and also execution of communication along logical channel. EFFECT: simplified establishment of connection. 22 cl, 2 dwg, 3 tbl


Advancing the concept of populism as a political style, this study compares the debate performances of two British party leaders, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, as they clashed in a pair of televised debates over Britain's European Union (EU) membership leading up to the 2014 European Parliament elections. The argument is tested that if under certain conditions, mainstream politicians will adopt a populist style although retaining a non-populist agenda. A mixed-methods approach combines quantitative text analysis with a qualitative rhetorical analysis to demonstrate how the populist and non-populist style can be distinguished and compared systematically. The results suggest that Clegg, while maintaining a non-populist ideology, adopts a populist style after losing the first debate. Farage's communication style, conversely, remains stable to the point of statistical significance. This suggests that one explanatory factor of populists' success is the consistency of their message and rhetorical delivery, bolstering their perceived authenticity among voters.


‐ Abstract ‐ Multiple extradural arachnoid cysts of the spine are extremely uncommon in children with only a few cases reported. The authors report a case of multiple extradural spinal arachnoid cysts in children with a review of the relevant literature.


This paper illustrates an approach for analyzing case law within the framework of social welfare programs and policies. Drawing on a framework first developed by Burns and later expanded by Gilbert and Specht, selected court decisions related to income maintenance are categorized on the basis of four parameters: basis of social allocation, the nature of social provisions, the structure of the delivery system, and the method of financing. Unlike the legal framework typically used to analyze court decisions, an assessment of court decisions along the parameters of social welfare policies and programs highlights the court's role and its importance in social welfare policy.


As there is sexual dimorphism in the regulation of vascular tone, the aim of this present study was to determine whether there are sex differences in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT)‐mediated regulation of the porcine coronary artery (PCA) tone.


This poster describes a project entitled "E-Governance in Federal Public Sector Websites in Canada and Mexico." The project demonstrates some of the theoretical and practical differences between e-Government and e-Governance as they appear in national websites. Based on a comprehensive review of indicators from the relevant literature, we propose a set of elements of e-Governance and apply this conceptual model to measure their presence in federal public sector websites in Mexico and Canada. The project attempts to show that in both countries some characteristics of e-Governance are already present, but not fully developed, and have low-impact on citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders. Understanding how to measure and assess e-Governance could lead to better evaluation tools and more comprehensive theories by disentangling its multiple aspects and their relationships.


A method and a system for confronting malicious bots are provided to protect a DNS(Domain Name Service) server and prevent malicious bot infection accidents by detecting/registering a domain excessively generating a DNS query of a malicious bot infected computer or system as a management target, and detouring the DNS query for an abnormal management target among the management targets. A detouring system(200) analyzes/registers the domain receiving the excessive DNS queries as the normal or abnormal management target, and detours the abnormal DNS query registered as the abnormal management target to a detouring response system(400). The detouring response system generates a response to the abnormal DNS query. The detouring system detours the abnormal DNS query by changing a destination address of the abnormal DNS query into an address of the detouring response system, and generates the response to the abnormal DNS query by using the same starting IP(Internet Protocol) address as the response generated for the normal DNS query.


During copulation, male butterflies form a package of sperm and accessory gland secretions in the bursa copulatrix of the female. In some species, males also leave material that covers to varying degrees the female's external genitalia, especially the copulatory opening or ostium bursae. This external material is known as the mating plug or sphragis and its size varies between species. In many butterflies the male produces no mating plug while in some members of the genus Parnassius and other papilionids the male produces a quantity of material that covers a large part of the ventral abdominal surface of the female (Ehrlich and Ehrlich, 1978; Drummond, 1984). The most common functional hypothesis for the mating plug is that it impedes attempts by males to couple with mated females. As such an impediment it represents an effort by a female's last mate to protect his genetic and material investment. Last male sperm precedence appears to be the rule in butterflies (Drummond, 1984). This paper is an adjunct to an experimental study (Dickinson and Rutowski, 1989) of the function of the mating plug in the chalcedon checkerspot, Euphydryas chalcedona. Here we provide details of the structure of the mating plug and describe the persistence of the mating plugs of females held in isolation from males.


Welcome Address Delivered By Prof. W. O. Ellis – Vice Chancellor of KNUST at the Media Launch of the "Improved Yam Storage For Food Security And Income" Project At The Faculty of Agriculture KNUST on 4th July, 2013


The definition of composite laminates that accurately fill closed volumes such as aerofoils, while abiding to numerous laminate stacking rules, is a complex task that depends on robust methods to efficiently create a requirement compliant laminate definition. This paper presents an overview of the methods developed to create ply shapes that, once laminated, accurately reflect the closed volume of an aerofoil geometry. Key considerations covered are: The re-stacking of the laminate within the confines of a closed volume, the compliance with laminate design rules, accounting for different material weights, material input form, the architectural requirements of the aerofoil to withstand the required structural duty and manufacturing considerations. Also covered is the checking of the laminate using 'core samples', ply-sections and 'exploded surfaces' during and after the design process. Validation of the design methods against manufactured parts is explained by analysing geometric conformance and the laminate quality is assessed from cut-ups.


Supervision is intrinsic to institutional-based research projects as it acts as a catalyst for the successful execution and completion of said projects. If students are to be independent in research and learning, they need to experience a supervision approach that supports their engagement in learning dialogues alongside their supervisors. This article explored undergraduate research supervision in a Malaysian university. Data were collected using individual, semi-structured interviews with students and supervisors. Findings indicated that undergraduate supervision was perceived and practised as a traditional, supervisor-centric process. The paper argues that a psy-supervision approach which focuses on the academic and pastoral aspects of supervision is catalytic to producing independent and active students in research and learning.


The self is a multifaceted phenomenon that manifests in a complex configuration of character traits, roles, orientations, and other psychological components. The entity that is binding these subcomponents together has mostly eluded systematic enquiry. In an effort to approach this Gestalt-like whole in an empirical manner, we here introduce the concept of the "peripheral self": the moments of growth and expansion where the current self grows beyond the horizon of already successful mastery. Over the course of 1 year, we have pursued an empirical first-person approach to explore this continuously shifting horizon of self-development. Our main result is a collection of signature qualities—"experiential echoes"—that demarcate the peripheral self as it advances from potentiality to conscious insight. We provide a roadmap for other researchers to follow up on this approach and relate our findings to the still sparse literature on what constitutes the overarching character of the self.


The current trend of increasing cost and declining quality in coffee production has prompted concern among producers because of its potential implication for reducing the competitiveness of their products. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that directly affect production cost and quality of coffee cherries. In this study, a systems thinking approach using causal loop diagrams has been applied to increase the quality and reduce the production cost of coffee in order to enhance the competitiveness of coffee production in the international market. A causal loop model of coffee production in Vietnam integrating cost, quality and coffee cultivation has been developed to identify key leverage points where systemic interventions will be most effective to reduce production cost as well as increase the quality of coffee cherries.


COVID-19 has spread over the whole world gradually and has affected life, public health, and financial systems of various countries on a daily basis. Pathogenic laboratory tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which take a long time and provide false-negative results, are considered to be the gold standard for its detection. World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 an epidemic, as it affected more than 50 million people and killed 14 million globally. In this study, we proposed an efficient and novel algorithm for the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease from cough auscultations. We used a self-collected dataset of 1579 cough auscultations (CA) which were collected from different local hospitals. Dataset is processed by removing dc components and amplitude normalization. Then Region of interest (ROI) i.e., the part which contains low-frequency components is extracted by Empirical Mode Decomposition. Hjorth descriptor is applied on pre-processed and segmented signals to get activity, mobility, and complexity features. These extracted features are given as an input to Medium-KNN and Fine Decision Tree classifiers resulting in a cumulative accuracy of 99.8% and 94.9 % respectively. This developed system will help Pakistani doctors in non-invasive detection of COVID-19 and classification of coughs accurately.