We present the design, construction, and performance of SpeX, a medium‐resolution 0.8–5.5 μm cryogenic spectrograph and imager, now in operation at the 3.0 m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea. The design uses prism cross‐dispersers and gratings to provide resolving powers up to R∼2000 simultaneously across 0.8–2.4, 1.9–4.2, or 2.4–5.5 μm, with a 15″ long slit. A high‐throughput low‐resolution R∼200 prism mode is also provided for faint‐object and occultation spectroscopy. Single‐order 60″ long‐slit modes with resolving powers up to R∼2000 are available for extended objects. The spectrograph employs an Aladdin 3 1024 × 1024 InSb array and uses narrow slits and a spatial scale of 0.″15 pixel -1 for optimum sensitivity on point sources. An autonomous infrared slit viewer is used for object acquisition, infrared guiding, and scientific imaging in the wavelength range 0.8–5.5 μm. The imager employs an Aladdin 2 512 × 512 InSb array that covers a 60′′ × 60′′ field of view at 0.″12 pixel -1. SpeX was successfully commissioned on IRTF during 2000 May, June, and July. Astronomical observations are presented to illustrate performance.


Objective:To study the bioequivalence of arbidol in 20 healthy male volunteers.Methods:A single oral dose of 200 mg arbidol hydrochloride dispersible tablets or capsules of arbidol was given according to cross over de- sign.After adding diazepam,the internal standard,and 0.4 mL of 0.04 mol·L~(-1)Na_2CO_3 solution,the plasma samples were extracted with diethyl ether,separated on a Shiseido C_(18)column(3 μm,100 mm×2.0 mm)and determined by LC-ESI/MS in the selected ion monitoring(SIM)mode.The mobile phase was methanol-5% methanoic acid (72 :28)at flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1).Results:The main pharmacokinetic parameters T_(1/2),T_(max)and C_(max)were(6.0± 4.3)h,(0.8±0.3)h and (419.6±110.4)ng·mL~(-1)for the test tablets;(7.0±5.0)h,(0.7±0.3)h and (481.5±85.1)ng·mL~(-1)for the reference capsules,respectively.The relative bioavailability of the test tablets was (105.6±27.2)%.The results of variance analysis and two one-sided t test showed that there was no significant difference between the two formulations in the AUC and C_(max).Conclusion:The two formulations are bioequivalent.


The implementation of the TQM (Total Quality Management) strategy as well as the correlation analysis as a mathematic method of quality projection of the manufacturing processes regarding the environment, the technological process of steel hardening becomes optimised by the use of the MATLAB program, simultaneously having in mind the costs of the working.
The steel hardening is executed within a temperature interval ranging from (820 – 860) °C in a (5 – 7) % solution of NaOH, and the normalization of the steel is accomplished on a (600 – 610) °C temperature.
By the help of these methods, the optimal values of the parameters concerning the steel hardening process are determined, i.e. a temperature of 820 °C as well as a concentration of sodium hydroxide of 2.38 %, upon which the defined quality of steel solidity of 195 by Brinel is achieved. Thus, both the losses in electricity and the consumption of NaOH are calculated on a yearly level, according to the hardening conditions that have been practiced until now with a help of the projected standard operative procedures in the factory.
According to this basis the total saving amount per year for steel hardening of 100 000 pieces is 18 033 euros. By the application of this methodology the defined quality can be achieved by the lowest possible costs during the process of work.


This paper presents a fuzzy-based approach to robot perception based on feature maps generated using a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) stereovision system, intended for the guidance of autonomous vehicles in urban and outdoor environments. Feature maps integrate colour with geometrical information onto an occupancy grid, for representing useful features extracted from the perceived environment. These include obstacles, traversable regions, and objects-of-interest detected from disparity images. A likelihood measure of the presence of obstacles within the perceived environment is introduced by comparing the displacement of each grid cell relative to a dynamically-estimated virtual ground plane. With a priori knowledge of the colour compositions of traversable (and non-traversable) regions, a fuzzy colour segmentation algorithm is used to extract such regions, thereby enhancing the autonomous vehicle's knowledge of the environment. This method is used for computing the degree of safety in traversing through the local environment. The advantages of this approach in computational speed, ease of implementation and obstacle detection robustness based on multiple features are supported by promising experimental results obtained on both live and recorded images.


Circumferential MFL is a new implementation of a widely used technology that has potential to provide improved detection and quantification of axially oriented defects such as cracks, seam weld defects, mechanical damage, and groove corrosion. This implementation works by orienting the magnetic field around the pipe rather that along the axis. By orienting the magnetic field around the pipe (the circumferential direction), the axial defects that were magnetically transparent can disrupt more of the magnetic field and can be more easily detected. Initial implementations of circumferential MFL have found that flux leakage from cracks at the interior of the pipe is small, and the signals from cracks are difficult to detect. The objective of this project is to improve detection of cracks by changing the implementation along with using data from overlapping and complementary inspection techniques. Two technology enhancements were investigated: Combining high- and low-magnetization technology for stress detection; and Combining axial and circumferential MFL methods. Although a method combining high- and low-magnetization technology showed promise for characterizing gouges cause by third party excavation equipment, its commercial development was not successful for two reasons. First, the stress diminishes the crack signal, while the opening of the crack increases the signal. The stress-induced changes in flux leakage around cracks were small and any critical information on the severity of cracks and crack-like defects is difficult to distinguish from changes caused by the crack opening and other inspection variables. Second, it is difficult to magnetize pipe material in the circumferential direction. A relatively low, non-uniform magnetization level produced by the circumferential magnetizer makes detection of changes due to stress extremely difficult. This project also examined combining axial and circumferential MFL to improve crack detection and distinguish cracks for axially oriented volumetric defects. While successful results are presented in this report, circumferential MFL can only detect larger cracks. Even with the field aligned properly, circumferential MFL technology has difficulty detecting cracks on the outside surface that have the potential to grow to failure. Circumferential MFL can be used to detect many corrosion, mechanical damage, and crack defects. However, the detection capabilities and sizing accuracies may not be sufficient for all pipeline threats. Inspection tools that use more sophisticated technologies for detecting and sizing defects may have better performance capabilities, but will likely be expensive to operate. Circumferential MFL will be useful in identifying locations for detailed testing. While performance enhancements may be limited, circumferential MFL inspections will be part of the inspection process for many decades.


E-government initiatives provide enormous volume of information via online content. As public information changes over time due to changes in laws and regulations, maintaining the currency and consistency of the web content becomes acutely important. Government agencies have to regularly evaluate the web content (WC) to ensure high quality of information available to the citizens, businesses and public administrators. Currently there exists no standardized approach for monitoring and maintaining WC. By analyzing the guidelines of three government organizations, the authors develop WC ontology for the systematic and formal representation of the concepts and functions in evaluating web content. An ontology-based evaluation tool is proposed that can be used to improve the quality of web content and efficiency of the evaluation process. The ontological approach holds promising features and benefits including information sharing, reducing time and paper work during evaluation, assuring more accurate results, and communicating evaluation results to knowledge engineers, public administrators, evaluators and decision makers associated with e-government initiatives.


The invention provides a built-in touch control assembly. The built-in touch control assembly comprises a color filter substrate (1) and a color photoresist layer (3) arranged on the surface of the inner side of the color filter substrate (1), wherein the color photoresist layer (3) comprises red photoresist, green photoresist and blue photoresist (R, G and B) which are sequentially and repeatedly arranged, one or two of the red photoresist, green photoresist and blue photoresist (R, G and B) are mixed with organic conductive compounds to form conductive photoresist which has a conductive function, and a simplex touch control drive electrode (Tx) or a simplex touch control sensing electrode (Rx) or a touch control driving electrode (Tx) and a touch control sensing electrode (Rx) are formed. The built-in touch control assembly can reduce the product process, share the same product process with an existing liquid crystal panel, reduce the production cost and improve market competitiveness, and meanwhile is more environmentally friendly compared with an existing touch control electrode made by a metal black matrix.


Introduction. The professional culture and competence of future military doctor encompasses professional, general-cultural, ethical values and is of great practical importance. Purpose. To analyze the scientific sources and publications of NATO and Western European scientists on the formation of the professional culture and competencies of future military doctors at NATO medical universities. The article reveals which areas of the professional culture of NATO military doctors are common and what are the differences. Research methods. Methods of theoretical, empirical analysis scientific literature, publications, comparison, classification, generalization and systematization of the material were used to solve the problems of the research. Results. The article covers aspects of the training of future military doctors at NATO and Northern European institutions of higher education. The example of the USA, Great Britain, Germany and Nordic countries shows the scientific experience and experience of forming the professional culture and competence of doctors. The pedagogical features of the process of educational and training of future military doctors are highlighted, with emphasis on the criteria of improving their professional competence and culture. The results of recent scientific studies of the North Atlantic countries in the field of the study of the professional culture and ethics of physicians in the course of their education and medical practice have been shown quite deeply. Scientific novelty and practical significance of research results. An attempt was made to show and analyze the amount of scientific work in NATO Western Europe on the formation of professional culture and ethics of the military doctor, his professional competence in the face of today`s global challenges related to the increasing military threats, increasing migration processes. The novelty of the study is the display analytical material based on the results and conclusions of studies on professional culture and competence, especially in countries such as United States and North European countries. It summarizes the similarity of experience, methodologies and approaches acquired in NATO`s medical universities in ethical education, professional competence, and highlights the existing differences. The author emphasizes the need to constantly study the experience of the countries the North Atlantic Alliance in matters of competence formation and professional culture of military doctors, taking into account the course of Ukraine on joining NATO. What is also important is that the process of reforming the military-medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is continuing, and the work on achieving the goals of NATO partnerships and standards is increasing, which requires comprehensive scientific justification and recommendations in solving the set tasks. Conclusions and prospects for future research. Scientific research at NATO and Western Europe show that the growth of the professional culture and competence of future military doctors greatly improves the quality of provided medical care in the countries where doctors are trained, and enables them to perform peacefully peacekeeping missions. The experience of NATO countries in the training of military doctors is of practical importance for Ukraine, in view of the continuation of Russian – Ukrainian war in the eastern Ukraine, which required not only a sufficient number of highly qualified military doctors, but also the acquisition of appropriate professional competence and professional culture. Continuation of research on the enhancement of the professional culture and competence of military physicians is time consuming. Conclusions on the results of future research on the formation of professional culture in the processes of training future military doctors for the Armed Forces of Ukraine are of practical importance for the optimization of the educational process, the use in the daily work of doctors in part and medical institution of the Armed Forces and other security forces of Ukraine.


In many naturally occurring optimization problems one needs to ensure that the definition of the optimization problem lends itself to solutions that are tractable to compute. In cases where exact solutions cannot be computed tractably, it is beneficial to have strong guarantees on the tractable approximate solutions. In order operate under these criterion most optimization problems are cast under the umbrella of convexity or submodularity. In this report we will study design and optimization over a common class of functions called submodular functions. Set functions, and specifically submodular set functions, characterize a wide variety of naturally occurring optimization problems, and the property of submodularity of set functions has deep theoretical consequences with wide ranging applications. Informally, the property of submodularity of set functions concerns the intuitive "principle of diminishing returns. This property states that adding an element to a smaller set has more value than adding it to a larger set. Common examples of submodular monotone functions are entropies, concave functions of cardinality, and matroid rank functions; non-monotone examples include graph cuts, network flows, and mutual information.
In this paper we will review the formal definition of submodularity; the optimization of submodular functions, both maximization and minimization; and finally discuss some applications in relation to learning and reasoning using submodular functions.


Sleep disorders (SD) are a common complaint in women going through menopause transition. It is well known that there is a close relationship between SD and one of the main menopausal symptoms: vasomotor symptoms (VMS). To acknowledge this association is essential when investigating menopausal transition and SD. The Study of Women's Health across the Nation (SWAN), shows that the prevalence of sleep disturbance increases with age. The prevalence in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women varies from 39% to 47% and 35% to 60% respectively. Although both menopausal transition and aging increase sleep disturbances, etiology in menopausal women is probably multifactorial. A decline in the levels of reproductive hormones and melatonin, and the complex interaction among these hormones can significantly contribute to sleep problems, poor concentration, fatigue and decreased quality of life. On the one hand menopause nearly adversely affects all components of metabolic syndrome (MS) and on the other hand the cumulative long-term effects of deprived sleep have been associated with many cardio metabolic consequences including hypertension, obesity, and impaired glucose metabolism. Management strategies should be taken into account to help women ameliorate their night sleep, in order to prevent future complications and to improve their quality of life (QoL).


We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of polymer-filled trench-based 90 degree bends and splitters for silicon rib waveguides. These are used to create compact splitter and bend networks for microcantilever array sensors.


Here we demonstrate the fabrication of non-spherical hydrogel microstructures that are useful as building blocks for tissue engineering, by utilizing non-equilibrium aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) in microchambers. A dextran (Dex) solution containing cells and hydrogel precursor was introduced into microfabricated chambers, which was gradually shrunk and deformed after pouring a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution. By further adding a gelation agent, we successfully obtained non-spherical (toroidal or cup-shaped) cell-laden hydrogel microstructures. We were able to control the hydrogel morphology by using microchambers with different geometries, changing the compositions of the solutions, and modifying the surface property of the microchamber.


Language is an important part of culture,even in English for science and technology(EST).Like literature works,EST discourses carry a large amount of cultural information.The paper analyzes the cultural information through a lot of examples in EST discourses and puts forward some views on its effective transmission.


In the context of growing interest in both Mobile-Internet convergence and Web 2.0 social technologies, this article investigates the business opportunities derived from offering Social Applications in the convergent scenario, particularly regarding Social Network and Content Sharing services. Given the business model structural deficiencies identified in literature for this type of convergent services, the investigation is oriented towards the role of the technology delivery channels (either Internet and/or Mobile) and revenue appropriation strategies. A mixed-methods research strategy was employed consisting of a cross-sectional survey of 124 Social Application services offered in Spanish language and seven case studies with representative Social Network and Content Sharing services. While the aim of the survey was to map and identify the overall main characteristics and business model dimensions of Social Applications, the case studies' objective was to understand the strategic reasoning behind business model design and evolution. The research offered a detailed view on the dynamics of Social Network and Content Sharing services, showing how the revenue strategies are tightly linked to the technological delivery channel. Finally, six critical success factors for business models of Content Sharing and Social Network services were identified.


The invention relates to the use of hybrid copolymers as protective colloids for polymers based on ethylenically unsaturated monomers (base polymers), characterised in that the hybrid copolymers are obtainable by A) radically initiated polymerisation of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers a) selected from the group comprising vinyl esters of carbonic acids having 1 to 15 C atoms, methacrylic acid esters or acrylic acid esters of carbonic acids having unbranched or branched, where applicable substituted alcohols having 1 to 5 C atoms, methacrylic acid amides or acrylic acid amides of amines having unbranched or branched, where applicable substituted amines having 1 to 15 C atoms, olefins and dienes, vinyl aromatics and vinyl halides, and where applicable one or more silanes b); selected from the group of ethylenically unsaturated silanes and mercaptosilanes in the presence of one or more water-soluble polymers, c) and where applicable subsequent B) condensation of one or more silicon compounds of general formula (RO)nSiR1 4-n(1)or of one or more condensationproducts of formula (1), where R is a where applicable substituted alkyl or aryl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, R1 is a where applicable substituted hydrocarbon radical or a hydrogen atom, and n has a value from 1 to 4.


Excerpt To the editor: I have just read the paper by Lyle and associates (Ann Intern Med84:594-601, 1976). I must take issue with the statement on page 598, "Financial incentives to the physician h...


The invention provides a plugging method for a downcomer for the well-point dewatering of a deep foundation pit, and belongs to a falling water plugging method of civil engineering. The plugging method comprises the construction steps as follows: firstly, a filtering layer is disposed; secondly, a sand layer is filled; thirdly, a cotton batting layer is stuffed; fourthly, a soluble glass cement sand bed is poured; fifthly, a leaking stoppage agent layer is smeared; sixthly, a micro-expansive concrete layer is poured; and seventhly, a plugging steel plate is welded, wherein the filtering layer arranged at the lower part of an inner chamber of a conventional downcomer remains the same, and the sand layer is filled until the height of the sand layer reaches 1.5 meters below the top of the downcomer; the height of the cotton batting layer ranges from 0.7 to 1.0 m; the thickness of the soluble glass cement sand bed ranges from 50 to 80 mm, and the soluble glass cement sand bed is curdled when poured; the thickness of the leaking stoppage agent layer ranges from 40 to 60 mm; the micro-expansive concrete layer is poured until the height reaches the upper pipe orifice of the downcomer; and the round steel plate is utilized to plug an upper opening of the downcomer above the micro-expansive concrete layer in a full-length welding manner, wherein the thickness of the round steel plate ranges from 8 to 15 mm. The plugging method effectively solves the difficult problem that leakage is caused when the downcomer is plugged, is simple and convenient to operate, and has the advantages of quick construction progress, high construction quality and low cost.


A research program was initiated for the US Department of Energy (DOE) Sandia National Laboratory Transportation Systems Development Department in 1982 to provide benchmark type experimental criticality data in support of the design and safe operations of nuclear fuel transportation systems. The overall objective of the program is to identify and provide the experimental data needed to form a consistent, firm, and complete data base for verifying calculational models used in the criticality analyses of nuclear transport and related systems. A report, PNL-6205, issued in June 1988 (Bierman 1988) covered measurement results obtained from a series of experimental assemblies (TIC-1, 2, 3 and 4) involving neutron flux traps. The results obtained on a fifth experimental assembly (TIC-5), modeled after a calculational problem of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) Working Group, are covered in this report. 10 refs., 10 figs., 7 tabs.


We introduce a continuous convergence protocol for handling locally committed and possibly conflicting updates to replicated data. The protocol supports local consistency and predictability while allowing replicas to deterministically diverge and converge as updates are committed and replicated. We discuss how applications may exploit the protocol characteristics and describe an implementation where conflicting updates are detected, qualified by a partial update order, and resolved using application-specific forward conflict resolution.


Introduction: Although highly prevalent and painful, night‐time calf muscle cramping is poorly understood, and no treatment has shown consistent efficacy or safety. Methods: One hundred sixty adults were recruited from New South Wales, Australia, including 80 who had night‐time calf cramping at least once per week and 80 age‐ and gender‐matched adults who did not. Participants were assessed using reliable tests of lower limb strength, flexibility, morphometrics, circulation, and sensation, and were questioned about health and lifestyle factors, diet, medications, exercise, symptomatology, sleeping habits, and footwear. Results: Conditional logistic regression identified 3 factors independently associated with night‐time calf muscle cramps: muscle twitching (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.6–15.5, P = 0.01); lower limb tingling (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.6–10.3, P = 0.003); and foot dorsiflexion weakness (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03, P = 0.002), which represented other measures of lower limb weakness in the model. Conclusions: Night‐time calf muscle cramps were associated with markers of neurological dysfunction and potential musculoskeletal therapeutic targets. Muscle Nerve 47:339‐343, 2013


Evaluation of flooded lead-acid, valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA), and advanced batteries is being performed in the power sources testing labs at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). These independent, objective tests using computer-controlled testers capable of simulating application-specific test regimes provide critical data for the assessment of the status of these technologies. Several different charge/discharge cycling regimes are performed. Constant current and constant power discharge tests are conducted to verify capacity and measure degradation. A utility test is imposed on some units which consists of partial depths of discharge (pulsed constant power) cycles simulating a frequency regulation operating mode, with a periodic complete discharge simulating a spinning reserve test. This test profile was developed and scaled based on operating information from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) 20 MW battery energy storage system. Another test conducted at SNL is a photovoltaic battery life cycle test, which is a partial depth of discharge test (constant current) with infrequent complete recharges that simulates the operation of renewable energy systems. This test profile provides renewable system designers battery performance data representative conditions. This paper describes the results of these tests to date, and include analysis and conclusions.


In this paper, we introduce a method for unsupervised discovery of landmark objects in urban scenes. Unlike existing methods that deal with pre-defined and typically popular landmarks whose models or training data are available on the internet (e.g. Nortre Dame de Paris, Leaning tower of Pisa, etc.), we develop a new unified framework, common landmark discovery (CLD), which discovers even a priori undefined and general landmarks, which should be defined as commonly recognizable objects, from a given random collection of images acquired in urban scenes. The key idea is to discover landmark objects in a bottom-up manner, as opposed to the conventional top-down supervised approaches. More formally, our approach begins by sampling subimages (or visual phrases) from images, mines common phrases from image pairs, matches regions between phrase pairs, clusters similar region segments, and as a final result, automatically defines the largest cluster as a landmark object. There are four key properties about the proposed techniques: 1) The CLD process is unsupervised, without requiring a priori knowledge on pre-defined landmarks; 2) The CLD method is robust, without depending on good image segmentation, and is able to handle scale variations of the object; 3) An image is semantically characterized as object patterns discovered in it; 4) An image is compactly and discriminatively described in a form of bagof-bounding-boxes (BoBB), employing bounding box based object annotation and knowledge transfer. We validate the presented techniques using challenging real images.


Purpose:
 We investigated the effects of chronic exposure to electronic cigarettes (e-cig) on myocardial infarct size and the size of the no-reflow zone in a rat model of both sexes.

 Methods and Results:
 Sprague Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were randomized to 4 exposure groups: (1) Purified air (n=16 male/16 female); (2) e-cig vapor with 15mg/mL nicotine (n=13 male/15 female); (3) e-cig vapor without nicotine (n=16 male/12 female); and (4) Standard nicotine-containing combustion cigarette smoke (n=16 male/16 female). All rats were exposed to inhalation exposure for 8 weeks, prior to being subjected to 30 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. Two-way analysis of variance (that factors sex and treatment) demonstrated that chronic exposure to e-cig vapor (with or without nicotine) or to standard cigarettes did not alter myocardial infarct or no-reflow size compared to air. However, as shown in the figure, infarct size was significantly smaller (40.7 ± 2.7% vs 54.5 ± 2.6%; p=0.0004) and no-reflow size was smaller (18.1 ± 2.0% vs 26.8 ± 2.2%; p=0.0042) in female rats compared to male rats.

 Conclusions:
 Long-term e-cig exposure did not affect the cardiac sensitivity to ischemia/reperfusion injury in young rats. Female rats are more tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion injury than males. This sex difference phenomena was not observed in our previous study [Li et al. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 1995;2(3):221-225.] that examined the tolerance between males and females subjected to 90 mins of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 4 hours of reperfusion in 1-year-old SD rats and found the myocardial infarct size to be similar between the sexes. The different findings between the 2 studies may be due to the age difference (which implies possible hormonal effects in the younger rats) or different coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion times.


The focus of this study is to determine breakthrough times of 1-bromopropane (1BP) and 2-bromopropane (2-BP) in industrial glove materials used by industry. At this time, limited toxicological data is available on health effects of dermal exposure to 1-BP and 2-BP. However, adverse health effects have been shown in other studies of animals and humans. Three types of gloves were selected for this study and tested against the two chemicals using the American Society of Testing Methods (ASTM) -739 method. Two detection methods, a real-time monitor and a gas chromatograph were used in the evaluations to detect breakthrough times in the gloves. Physical changes in the gloves after testing were documented. At the conclusion of the study, Silver Shield® was the best barrier against the two chemicals, since no breakthrough occurred. Chemical breakthrough occurred in nitrile glove after a period of 30 44 minutes. In the third glove, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) breakthrough occurred within 3 – 7 minutes against the two chemicals, so it is not recommended for use. The two chemicals had similar chemical characteristics and no significant difference was found in the overall breakthrough detection times. Significant differences in the mean breakthrough time of different gloves of different materials were found. The two detection methods differed in sensitivity but 1-BP and 2-BP did not show significant differences in breakthrough time. I wish to dedicate this thesis to my family, especially my parents, John and Clara Moore, for their love and encouragement. They truly share in this accomplishment. John R. Moore III


The response of interest rates to money announcement surprises is theoretically exam ined in this paper. In the models developed, not only changes in oper ating procedures, but also reserve-requirement systems, are found to potentially affect the response. The response also varies depending o n the desired degree of monetary control. Moreover, under the current two-week contemporaneous reserve requirements adopted in February 19 84, the responses in the first and second weeks of the two-week reser ve maintenance period may differ. Previous empirical results conform to the predictions of the theoretical models. Copyright 1987 by Ohio State University Press.


Hormonal status influences haemostatic factors including fibrinogen, factor VII and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1), and concentrations differ among men, premenopausal and postmenopausal women. This study examines how phases of the menstrual cycle influence variability of fibrinogen, factor VII and PAI‐1.


Although planning has gained importance at universities across the country, insufficient attention to the issues of implementation has caused many well-laid plans to become lost on shelves rather than becoming the bases for either academic or operational decisions. Between 1991and1993, Virginia Commonwealth University developed a comprehensive and detailed strategic plan designed to direct the university through the decade. Following the adoption of the plan, the provost and the director of academic planning created a process and strategies for guiding and insuring implementation of the plan, including its 15 broad strategic directions and 162 more specific objectives.


Active appearance models (AAMs) are generative parametric models commonly used to track faces in video sequences. A limitation of AAMs is they are not robust to occlusion. A recent extension reformulated the search as an iteratively re-weighted least-squares problem. In this paper we focus on the choice of error function for use in a robust AAM search. We evaluate eight error functions using two performance metrics: accuracy of occlusion detection and fitting robustness. We show for any reasonable error function the performance in terms of occlusion detection is the same. However, this does not mean that fitting performance is the same. We describe experiments for measuring fitting robustness for images containing real occlusion. The best approach assumes the residuals at each pixel are Gaussianally distributed, then estimates the parameters of the distribution from images that do not contain occlusion. In each iteration of the search, the error image is used to sample these distributions to obtain the pixel weights


Pesantren has a long history, since before independence and still exist today. Zamakhsary Dhofier in his book "Tradisi Pesantren" indicates that the boarding school kept changing his way, reinforced by the statement of HAR Gibb and Snouck Hurgronjo about such changes. Actually what is happening in the development indicated boarding school, both pesantren in Java and outside Java, such as in Aceh. This change has long occurred in Java, even since the Dutch era, but in Aceh, the change has just occurred in recent years. Pesantren has transformed himself from the agency / institution that had shaped Meunasah (musalla), balee (hall) which traditionally becomes a nuanced Madrasah education by adopting modern, up to recent developments in Higher Education has been established in the


In order to ensure the safety of long distance pipeline and prevent the occurrence of pipeline failure accidents, the minimum deviation Kent method is used to establish the risk analysis model of long-distance pipeline,and the three pipelines of central Sichuan oil and gas mine are used as examples for application. Firstly, the IAHP model is established by FTA- AHP for qualitative identification and quantitative calculation of pipeline risk factors. The entropy weight method is introduced to calculate the weight of each factor, and the minimum deviation model based on Structural Importance-EW is constructed to calculate the combined weight. Finally, based on the weight calculation results, the improved Kent method is used for risk assessment,the risk levels are all in the medium risk area.The research results show that the evaluation results are basically consistent with the actual situation, and can be applied to the risk assessment of other long-distance pipelines, which can lay the foundation for the implementation of daily safety management of long-distance pipelines.


The structure of DXF file is introduced firstly,then the data structure for GML,especially the organizations of feature layers,are presented.Finally,a general scheme of transformation between GML and DXF is put forward.At the same time,study of semantic mapping mechanism is made.The establishment of semantic mapping mechanism is vital to transformation scheme.


A control design method for impact machines is proposed using fuzzy inference and genetic algorithms. The proposed fuzzy PID controller with output constraints employs only position measurements with no use of velocity measurements, and has the characteristics of optimal selection of fuzzification and defuzzification scaling factors, automatic selection of fuzzy rules, acquisition of smooth control input, high-speed, high-accuracy and robustness with respect to plant perturbations. By computer simulation, it is demonstrated that the proposed method is effective.


This paper analyzes the relationship between the traditional fixed-line, mobile and Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony in the EU. In doing so, it aims at filling the gap in the empirical literature on the substitution patterns between these technologies in a comprehensive way. It relies on demand estimation for fixed-line telephony using a unique data set comprising 25 EU member states for the 2006:Q2 - 2011:Q4 period. Employing instrumental variable approach, demand-side substitution for VoIP as well as mobile telephony services is found to be prevalent. Estimated short-run own- and cross-price elasticities are in the inelastic range, however, in the long run demand is clearly elastic. Hence, our results underpin the Europeans Commission's current decision to lift the ex ante regulation on the fixed-line telephony market.


Invitational theory was firstly introduced by William Purkey in 1978 and describes an educational framework of learning/teaching relationships based on human value, responsibility and capabilities. The word inviting was chosen because it comes from a Latin word invitare. Translated, it means "to offer something beneficial for consideration", but its definition implicitly involves "an ethical process involving continuous interactions among and between human beings".


Conception of the autogenetic evolution of a natural forest ecosystem is given. The motivating force of this evolution type is an instability of system's landscape-soil base.


Let ${\cal F}_\lambda$ be the space of tensor densities on ${\bf R}^n$ of degree $\lambda$ (or, equivalently, of conformal densities of degree $-\lambda{}n$) considered as a module over the Lie algebra $so(p+1,q+1)$. We classify $so(p+1,q+1)$-invariant bilinear differential operators from ${\cal F}_\lambda\otimes{\cal F}_\mu$ to~${\cal F}_\nu$. The classification of linear $so(p+1,q+1)$-invariant differential operators from ${\cal F}_\lambda$ to ${\cal F}_\mu$ already known in the literature is obtained in a different manner.


Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess iron oxidation and prospects of bioleaching at low temperatures relevant in arctic and boreal environments. Iron-oxidizing acidophiles were enriched at 5°C from samples from a Ni-Cu mine site (northern Siberia) and the kinetics of iron oxidation by one of the isolates (strain SS3) was evaluated at low temperatures. Additionally, low temperature bioleaching was tested with either a pure (strain SS3) or mixed (T7 mix) culture in stirred tank reactors and column reactors, respectively. Results The oxidation kinetics at 5°C could be described with the first order rate expression. The rate of iron oxidation at 5°C by SS3 was nearly as fast as that at 30°C by a mesophilic reference strain. Iron precipitates in cultures grown at 5°C were mixtures of schwertmannite and jarosite, whereas jarosite was the exclusive solid phase at 30°C. The bioleaching potential of isolate SS3 was tested in stirred tank reactors containing pyrite, pyrite-arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite concentrates. With SS3, the leaching rates in stirred tank reactors were much lower at 5°C than at 30°C due to slow chemical oxidation rates of sulfide minerals by Fe


© Our Dermatol Online e.2019 e8.1 How to cite this article: Brzezinski P, Martini L. Epidermal absorption in male scrotum of topical application of psychedelic drugs: times and effects. Our Dermatol Online. 2019;10(e):e8.1-e8.3. Submission: 16.02.2019; Acceptance: 22.03.2019 DOI:10.7241/ourd.2019e.8 Epidermal absorption in male scrotum of topical application of psychedelic drugs: times and eff ects


The distribution and behavior of hydrogen in a SiO2/SiN/SiO2 (ONO) film stack structure with thermal treatment were investigated by high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis. Hydrogen atoms were present in the poly-Si/top-SiO2 interface, SiN layer, and bottom-SiO2/Si-substrate interface. These hydrogen atoms decreased in number with annealing (1000 °C, 60 s) and spike annealing (1000 °C, about 1 s). However, when a SiN cap layer with hydrogen atoms was formed on a poly-Si/ONO film structure, hydrogen atoms in the ONO film did not decrease in number with spike annealing. It was considered that the SiN cap layer mainly performed a supply source of hydrogen into the ONO film during spike annealing, and that hydrogen atoms interdiffused between the SiN cap layer and the SiN layer of the ONO film. These results indicate that the amount of hydrogen in the ONO film can be controlled by annealing and the formation of a SiN cap layer.


Objective To investigate the serum level of High-sensitive C-reactive Protein (hsCRP),P- selection (CD62p) and carotid atherosclerosis in the patients with cerebral infarction and the effect on the cerebral infarction.Methods 112 patients within 72 h after they were attacked by cerebral infarction and 80 healthy per- sons as control were enrolled in this study.The serum level of hsCRP、CD62p and carotid atherosclerosis were de- tected.Results In the patients,the percentage of people with Carotid atherosclerotic plaques,the serum level of hsCRP and the abnormal rate of CD62p were found higher than that in normal controls(P0.05).In both the patients and the normal controls,the Serum level of hsCRP and CD62p in unstable athemsclerotic plaques group were higher than stable atherosclemtic plaques group and non-atherosclerotic plaques group.Conclusion There is a negative correlation between the Serum level of hsCRP,CD62p and the incidence of carotid atheroscle- rosis and cerebral infarction.


Absorption, emission and excitation spectra, polarization and decay kinetics of luminescence and their temperature dependences have been studied at 4.2-300 K for several CsBr:Pb samples with various lead concentrations. The origin and structure of the relaxed excited states responsible for the 3.33, 2.8 and 2.43 eV emission bands have been discussed. It has been concluded that the relaxed excited state model proposed for Tl + -doped caesium halides and CsCl:Pb is not valid in case of CsBr:Pb. To establish the origin of the relaxed excited states in a CsBr:Pb crystal, the luminescence characteristics of CsBr:Pb have been compared with those reported for Cs 4 PbBr 6 , PbBr 2 and CsPbBr 3 bulk crystals. It has been assumed that owing to a strong interaction between Pb 2+ and Br- ions, the molecular-like states, which are similar to the excited levels of some stable lead-related compounds, are responsible for the luminescence of CsBr: Pb crystals.


A preface, which is included in the front matter of a book, is your chance to speak directly to your readers about why you wrote the book, what it's about, and why it's important. Many books don't require one, especially works of fiction, but if you're wondering how to write a preface, here's an overview.


The record of large-scale cratering on Earth is scant, and the only currently 'proven' 100-km-class impact structure known to have formed within the Cenozoic is Popigai, located in the Siberian Arctic at 71.5 deg N, 111 deg E. Popigai is clearly a multiringed impact basin formed within the crystalline shield rocks (Anabar) and platform sediments of the Siberian taiga, and estimates of the volume of preserved impact melt typically exceed 1700 cu km, which is within a factor of 2-3 of what would be predicted using scaling relationships. We present the preliminary results of an analysis of the present-day topography of the Popigai structure, together with refined absolute age estimates, in order to reconstruct the pre-erosional morphology of the basin, as well as to quantify the erosion or sediment infill rates in the Popigai region.


The Bronte sisters occupy an important position in the history of English literature,and British Marxist literary critic and theorist Terry Eagleton interprets the Brontes' fiction from a historical and ideological perspective,stressing on the relationship among history,ideology and text,which gives a more profound answer to "myths of power".


An innovative constitutive model for the rheological behavior of the polymer/carbon nanotubes composites is proposed in this paper. Based on experimental investigations, this consistent law gives the evolution of the composite shear viscosity versus the shear rate, over a large range, and the temperature with various carbon nanotubes mass fractions. Hence, this consistent could be implemented in a finite element code in order to lead many polymer/carbon nanotubes manufacturing process like injection molding or hot embossing.


The paper introduces the communication system of vending machine based on Dex/Ucs and how to realize communication and data acquisition between terminal and vending machines on Platform Vb6+Borland according to feature and communication theory of Dex.The core of the system is communication between terminal and vending machine which is realized via three-way handshake of Dex session layer.The format of data during transmitting is also based on Dex session layer Protocol.Implementation platform of the system is Vb6+C module which is a perfect combination of advantages of the two.


This article argues that the "game" of Prisoner's Dilemma is posited in Richard Powers's novel as a moral response to what Amy Elias calls the "historical sublime," an "unknowable" and "unrepresentable" conception. The rational quandary of the Prisoner's Dilemma is analogous to deconstruction in the way it remains insolvable in its deferral of fixity or stabilization. In this way, the game, as insolvable paradox, is deconstruction, and it enacts Derrida's idea of "infinite" moral responsibility.


Two different structure of dampers based on the principle of second-order buoyancy were designed in this paper. In order to verify the reduction of the vibration, a test rig was set up. On the test rig, the reduction effect of two different dampers was studied by adjusting the amount of the magnetic fluid. The experiment results indicate the relationship between the damping effect of magnetic fluid damper and the amount of magnetic fluid and this analysis result is benefit to the design of the dampers.


Abstract : The purpose of habitability programs is, in general, to increase the efficiency of the personnel. Specifically: (1) To increase the general physical and mental well-being of the personnel by providing physical arrangements which enable them to sleep restfully, eat with satisfaction, work with confidence and relax with ease. (2) To promote a state of mind which causes the personnel to anticipate a return to cruise duty with agreeableness or with pleasure. (3) To minimize, as far as consistent with operational efficiency, decided differences between the habits and customs established by fifteen to twenty years of American home life and the living conditions aboard a ship. (4) To increase the satisfaction of each individual with his own work and stimulate pride in his particular ship. (Author)


Background: Staff development for hospital nurses is a critical issue in the provision of quality patient care. Staffdevelopment nurses should have expertise in education in order to ensure its effectiveness. However, these nurses in Japan often do not have specialized training in this role. This study aimed to investigate the current status of work and educational needs of staff-development nurses in Japan with the purpose of designing a staff-development nurse educational program. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 281 randomly selected, certified nurse administrators. The questionnaire design was based on the standards of continuing education and group interviews, and was concerned with the roles of staff-development nurses and accepted competencies for staff-development nurses. Results: Responses were obtained from 101 nurse administrators, 60% of whom worked in a hospital with a fulltime staff-development nurse. Eighty percent of the participants responded that their staff-development nurses were actively engaged in assessing nurses' needs and in planning, operating, and evaluating educational programs. Data on the perceptions of unit managers and nurses were frequently used in educational needs assessment and the evaluation of the educational program's effectiveness. Objective data, such as quality indicators, were not used often. Participants perceived that staff-development nurses should strengthen the roles of the educational needs assessment of the learner and the evaluation of programs. The most frequently mentioned competencies gained through specialized education were analytical thinking, data analysis, and planning. Conclusion: The educational goal of staff-development nurses is systematic management of nurse-educational programs based on analysis and consideration of both subjective and objective data. 1Faculty of Health Care and Nursing, Juntendo University, Japan. 2Department of Nursing, Aino University, Japan. *Corresponding author Mami Onishi, Faculty of Health Care and Nursing, Juntendo University, Japan, Tel +81-47-350-3056; E-mail: email@example.com. Submitted: 21 Nov 2016; Accepted: 11 Dec 2016; Published: 13 Dec 2016


A power transformation with an exponent of 2/3 for Poisson-distributed data achieves symmetry for improved statistical process control (SPC) applications whether it is for: an individuals chart, an exponentially weighted moving average chart, or a cumulative sum chart. The usual square-root transformation, used to stabilize the variance for analysis of variance problems, produces a negatively skewed distribution and tends to give false SPC signals. Two simple equations are proposed for calculating the lower control limit (LCL) and the upper control limit (UCL) for Poisson type data. Agreement between the exact LCL and UCL, as determined by the lower and upper tail area, is excellent. A set of published data will be used to illustrate the procedure for an individuals chart of the data.


A sign usually considered to be pathognomonic of coronary thrombosis is the high branching of the "T" wave of the electrocardiogram. It appears soon after the accident of coronary occlusion and reaches its maximum intensity within a few hours; and disappears after a few days. Although the mechanism of the change is unknown, it has been attributed to a number of factors, among which may be mentioned the influence of the current of injury on the normal change of electric potential of the heart, 1 anoxemia of the heart muscle 2 and asphyxia. The following experiments enable us to draw certain conclusions concerning the mechanism of the change. Dogs were anesthetized with amytal and were placed under conditions of anoxemia. To accomplish this, they were connected by means of a tracheal cannula to a large dead space into which the animal rebreathed and from which the carbon dioxide was absorbed with soda lime. They, therefore, breathing air from which the oxygen was gradually reduced, passed into a state of anoxemia, and carried to a point of complete asphyxia at which time the oxygen content of the arterial blood was as low as 20%. When the oxygen saturation of the arterial blood fell below 50% of the normal, the animals showed in their electrocardiogram changes similar to those observed clinically in coronary occlusion. The release of the animal from the anoxemia state caused the electrocardiogram to return to normal. As was pointed out by Gruber and Kountz, 3 a picture similar to anoxemia was produced by the injection of pitressin in normal unanesthetized animals. They have also shown that one of the primary actions of the drug on the heart was that of coronary constriction. The change in the electrocardiogram produced by the drug could be caused to disappear by vasodilator substances such as sodium nitrite.


The robot in project is from a research project in Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at UIUC. They use the robot to collect data from the fields by controlling it to move automatically. The objective of this project is to design a trajectory tracking controller for this mobile robot. Since this robot is widely used in research as a platform to implement some top layer designs, such as navigation, path planning and bug algorithms, we can rarely reach the bottom layer to directly design the DC motor controller. However, it is a good platform we can use what we learn to know better of adaptive control. In this report, I will first introduce the system and problem. Then, according to kinematic model, I will design a kinematic model controller. After that, I will estimate some parameters by using Extended Kalman Filter. Finally, I will introduce a controller design for the dynamic model. There must be some places not proper or precise, I hope you can point out and give some advice. Introduction The robot is Pioneer 3-AT produced by Adept Mobilerobots Inc. The parameters and brief introduction can be found in Appendix. The image of this robot is shown in Figure 1. We notice that the four wheels cannot rotate, so the system is a nonholonomic system, which makes the control problem more complicated. Figure 1 A system is nonholonomic means the state of the system depends on the path taken to achieve it. In mathematics, a general system can be expressed in form of (x,u, t), H(x, x, t) 0 x F   , where n x R  is system state; n u R  is control input of system; H(x,x, t) 0  is constraint of the system. If there exists a function G(x,t) (not constant) such that (x, t) (x, x, t) dG H dt  , then the system is holonomic system. The corresponding constraints are called holonomic constraints. Conversely, the system is nonholonomic. In robotics, a system is nonholonomic if the controllable degrees of freedom are less than the total degrees of freedom. In this particular system, it simply means, the robot cannot move towards the direction perpendicular to the wheels, which is shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 The difficulties on Non-holonomic system are that, the Nonholonomic system does not satisfy the Brockett condition, so there does not exist smooth time invariant state feedback control such that can make system asymptotically stable. So this project comes up with a controller design for this nonholonomic (nonlinear) system. Kinematic Model and Controller Design A simple graph of robot is shown in Figure 3. There are some parameters we will use in the following discuss. Figure 3 where r is the radius of the wheels; R is the distance between the centroid of the robot and the geometric center of the robot; d is the distance between the wheels and the central line. Pc is the centroid, and P is the geometric center. Moreover, before we move forward, we need to make some assumptions, 1. Velocities of both wheels on each side to be equal 2. Robot runs stable on a horizontal surface 3. No deformation on ground and tires 4. Mass distribution is uniform The position of the robot can be expressed in Figure 4. The robot possesses three degrees of freedom in its positioning which are represented by a posture. x p y             where the heading direction θ is taken counterclockwise from the x-axis. In Figure 4, Pr is the reference position; Pc is the real or control position. We can define the error position Pe=Pr-Pc. Figure 4 If the derivatives of x and y exist, θis not an independent variable anymore, because the constraint, cos sin 0 r r x y     In kinematic model, we choose the input as


The advancement of nanotechnology provides opportunities for fabrication of nanoscale materials and higher performance devices using nanomaterials with high precision. Currently, various nanomaterials and nanostructures in the range of 1 to 100 nm have been produced by chemical and physical methods. Among various nanostructured materials, one-dimensional (1D) materials, such as nanowires, nanotubes, nanorods, and nanobelts, have potential applications in nanoscale electronics (Cui & Lieber, 2001), optoelectronics (Duan et al., 2001), photonics (Gudiksen et al., 2002; Huang et al., 2001), sensors (Cui et al., 2001), and solar cells (Law et al., 2005) due to their unique electrical, chemical, and optical properties (Li et al., 2006; Thelander et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2008). Nanowires are useful in chemical or biological sensors for detecting single molecules because they have a high surfaceto-volume ratio and a highly sensitive 1D nanostructure that gives rise to large conductivity change associated with binding molecules (Cui et al., 2001; Ramanathan et al., 2005). Conducting polymers, such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene, and their derivatives, are promising materials for synthesis of nanostructured materials and devices (Langea et al., 2008; Malinauskas et al., 2005). Compared with other materials, conducting polymers have some unique electrical, chemical, and optical properties because of their conjugated structures, and they are easily synthesized using chemical or electrochemical synthetic methods at room temperatures with low cost (Aleshin, 2006; Briseno et al., 2008; Guimard et al., 2007; Xia et al., 2010). Conducting polymers have electrical and optical properties similar to those of metals and semiconductors, while maintaining the flexibility and properties commonly associated with conventional polymer substances (Dai et al., 2002; Heeger, 2002; Shirakawa, 2002). For example, the electrical conductivity of these polymers can be adjusted from an insulator to traditional metals by varying the species and concentrations of doping ions. Undoped conducting polymers with conductivities of 10-10 to 10-5 S cm-1 can be changed into semiconducting or metallic materials with conductivities of 1 to 104 S cm-1 through a chemical or electrochemical doping process (MacDiarmid, 2002). Also, optical absorption bands and mechanical volume of conducting polymers can be changed by entrapped doping ions. Therefore, they have been used for various applications such as electronic devices (Hashizume, 2006), optoelectronic devices (Noy et al., 2002), actuators (Berdichevsky & Lo, 2006), transistors (Alam et al., 2005), and chemical sensors (Bangar et al., 2009; Garcia-Aljaro et al., 2010). In recent years, 1D conducting polymer nanostructures have been demonstrated to have improved performance with low dimensionality. Many different fabrication methods have


COVID-19 is an unexpected and unprecedented disaster that is significantly affecting the daily life of South Koreans. Although the memory of SARS, H1N1, and MERS is painful for South Koreas, the high infection rate, the high fatality rate, the shortage of medical facilities to cope with it, border closings on a global scale, a plunging economy, and the need for massive emergency relief make COVID-19 different. Despite these hardships and challenges, South Korea has been praised as an exemplar for its effective responses. As of early December, South Korea has 732 infection cases per million and 11 deaths per million, which is almost 80 times lower than that of the US. And as figure 1 shows, the largest daily increase in new cases in late Februarywas below 1,000, and the second and third waves of infections had lower peaks, which implies effective control of COVID19.


This article offers an E-voting (Electronic Voting) approach that ensures security, privacy, and transparency. We have decided to use the blockchain system. Blockchain technology lowers the cost of centralized Clouds, Datacenters, and Networking Equipment, decreases the need for middlemen, and provides data privacy and transparency; all of which are critical for a fair election.An Architecture and Algorithm are suggested for the blockchain-based voting system. An internet of things (IoT) based system is designed to exchange data from the electronic voting machine and the nodes. Furthermore, we introduced its features, and we concluded with some future investigations.


. . .when God created man, he set the mark of his image upon man's brow and embedded it in man's nature, and that however faint God's mark may become, it can never be entirely wiped out. According to Hasidic legend, when the Baal-Shem conjured up the demon Sammael, he showed him this mark on the forehead of his disciples, and when the master bade the conquered demon begone, the latter prayed, 'Sons of the living God, permit me to remain a little while to look at the mark of the image of God on your faces.' God's real commandment to man is to realize this image.


A policy setting decision in 1967 on the pricing of Canadian natural gas exports to the Pacific Northwest offers a good case history about successful integration of management science in national policy formulation and decision making. The opportunity cost of exported gas was determined using dynamic programming and showed that the minimum cost alternative to supply the U.S. Pacific Northwest was markedly higher than the "in line price" of Canadian gas exports imposed by the U.S. Federal Power Commission. System simulations confirmed this finding and led to rejection of gas exports on FPC's terms and substitution of opportunity cost pricing to "in line" pricing. The abandoned policy decreed that U.S. imports of Canadian gas be priced no higher than the price at the point of export in Canada, in this case 31.6¢/Mcf in the Vancouver region. The gas exporting company accepted the FPC ruling because it had no other choice, having already invested about fifty million dollars in facilities, in anticipation of t...


For efficient, and knowledge based navigation, it is essential to blend mobile robot navigation details with information and details from navigation paths-localities. In this respect, the presented scheme was focused towards building intelligence for mobile robot navigation. Intelligence was achieved by considering the navigation capabilities while the mobile robot was in motion. The adopted learning paradigm was a five layers Neuro-Fuzzy learning architecture, with to ability to create an FIS inference for enhanced navigation. To capture the enormous visual and non-visual sensory data, the mobile robot platform has fully computerinterfaced stereo vision, and reliable 3D perception system onboard the mobile platform. A Neuro-Fuzzy intelligence paradigm was used to learn navigation maps (SLAM) main visual features, distances, nature of localities as it travels within spaces. Blinding intelligence with visual maps and non-visual sensory data, has indeed resulted in improved navigation capabilities.


Contracture of the quadriceps femoris in children leads to limited knee flexion.1 Fairbank and Barret2 and Hnevkovsky3 believed the contracture was congenital or secondary to progressive idiopathic fibrosis of the vastus intermedius. Lloyd-Roberts and Thomas4 stipulated that multiple injections into the thigh might cause the contracture. Proximal release in the early stage and distal release in the late stage are the recommended treatments.5 Concomitant proximal and distal release in the early stage has not been reported previously. This article presents a case of quadriceps contracture due to multiple thigh injections in a young patient.


All across the US, facility managers and environmental staff are trying to keep up with proliferating regulations and associated filing and reporting requirements. Added to the already full plate of regulations is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program for storm water management. The NPDES program requires a permit for the discharge of runoff from facilities based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. Some businesses do not yet need to comply with NPDES, as not all types of facilities were included in the Phase 1 list of regulated activities (September 1992). However, most businesses will be included as part of Phase 2 by 2002. Furthermore, states adopting administration of the NPDES program have the option of accelerating the process. In addition to filing for a permit, the NPDES storm water program requires the preparation and implementation of a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). A properly prepared SWPPP can help facilities more easily comply with regulatory requirements and serve as an overall facility management tool.


An instability of field-induced ferromagnetic spin-wave states in a dilute Heisenberg antiferromagnetic is studied. From this instability, the critical field at low temperatures at which a phase transition to the spin-flop phase occurs is evaluated as a function of the concentration of the magnetic atoms.


A simple configuration, by the knock of the knock body provides a knock type closed container that can be added to medium such as, for, modified for writing, medical (Dental), the cosmetic industry. Receiving a medium, and that the distal opening (12a) Media In possibly the body 12 to from a main body 12 capable piston slides within the front-rear direction to push the media, a distal opening direction 22, and it is connected to the piston (22) for each front and rear spaced locking part piston rod (24d) is formed (24), and a knock installed to reciprocate with respect to the body 12, body 20, knocking body 20 in addition to also move forward by the knock of the front-rear direction in the driving cylinder 28 and a main body 12 which is relatively engaged with possible slipping rearwardly against and is biased to normally ever backward, engagement portions (24d) it is provided with a fixed locking part (24d) relative to slide rearward with respect to equip the stop cylinder 26, which can be fastened as shown in FIG.


The effect of the addition method of an inducer (o-phthalate) for the enhancement of 4,5-dihydroxyphthalate (DHP) production was examined using Pseudomonas testosteroni. The reduction of the lag phase seen when inducer was added in the first 10 h of growth culture did not affect the maximum production rate of DHP. The optimal inducer concentration was about 2 g dm−3 and the rate of DHP production was about four times higher that achieved in the absence of inducer. The fed-batch production of DHP was also carried out and 8 g dm−3 of DHP was obtained.

© 2000 Society of Chemical Industry


The objective of this study was to analyze the prevailing aspects of the resilience in a sample of 54 children and adolescents with cancer, and to determinate if there are differences according to the gender and age, through a clinical interview and the inventory of personal factors of resilience. The results showed that the sense of humor was the most prevalent factor in the sample. Moreover, differences between men and female were observed: men had higher levels of sense of humor, autonomy, empathy and self-esteem; and women had higher levels of creativity. In relation to the age, resilience was higher in older children in self-esteem, empathy and autonomy. However, there were not differences in sense of humor and creativity.


The city of Mangalore is well known to the state for a wide array of contributions it has made, be it be nationalized banks, educational institutions, hospitality and polite people. Apart, the city is a major contributor in terms of the number of cases of malaria reported from the state. Today, Mangalore is on the verge of becoming synonymous with malaria. It has been estimated for the year 2012‐13, that Mangalore has reported 5327 cases of Malaria, 234 cases of Dengue, 7 cases of Filaria and 2 cases of Japanese encephalitis. (Data courtesy: IDSP, Mangalore).


ABSTRACT Development of physical characteristics of iceberg lettuce and occurrence of pesticide application events during typical 60- to 80-day growing periods were quantified. The vertically projected area, plant leaf area available for spray deposition, and plant mass (wet and dry basis) were closely described by a three-parameter logistic growth function. The majority of ground-based pesticide applications occurred when less than 50% of the land area was covered by target crop foliage. Most insecticide and fungicide spray applications were made during the interval of 30 to 45 days post planting. During the 15-day period, plant projected area, accessible leaf area, and plant mass increased seven- to ten-fold. Such variation in spray targets implied that development of target-sensing sprayer control systems could potentially achieve significant reduction of pesticide application rates and non-target deposition. KEYWORDS. Spray deposition. Lettuce, Pesticides.


Obesity is a risk factor for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and is associated with higher disease activity [1].We aimed to evaluate whether obese patients with PsA were less likely to achieve remission/low disease in a real-life multi-centre cohort.We used data from the ReFlap study (NCT03119805)[2], which recruited consecutive adult patient with definite PsA for more than 2 years of disease duration from 14 countries. We collected demographic characteristics, self-reported weight and height, clinical data and patient reported outcomes. Remission/low disease was defined as Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) ≤ 4, or Minimal disease activity (MDA). Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30kg/m2. We compared patient characteristics, disease activity parameters and impact scores between patients with obesity versus non-obese. A multivariable regression model was performed for demographic variables associated with reaching each definition of remission/low disease, adjusted on age, sex, level of education, disease duration, current use of conventional (c-) and biological (b-) disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).Among 414 patients (49.3% women, mean disease duration 11.0 ±8.2 years), 119 (28.7%) had BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 (obese). Obese patients were more likely to be female, had higher swollen joint and enthesitis counts, higher self-reported pain, poorer physical function, more fatigue and poorer mental health (Table 1). Obese patients were half as likely to achieve MDA or DAPSA remission in multivariable analysis with odd ratios of 0.6 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.3, 0.8, p=0.049) and 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2, 0.8, p=0.012), respectively for obese compared to non-obese patients (Figure 1).Table 1.Patient characteristics and remission achievement between obese and non-obese patients with psoriatic arthritisNon-obese (n=295)BMI ≥30 (n=119)pFemale, %44.361.50.002Number of comorbidities1.61 (0.93)2.83 (2.01)<0.001Tender joints, 0-683.56 (7.81)5.75 (10.0)0.018Swollen joints, 0-662.19 (7.29)1.46 (2.39)0.285Leeds enthesitis index, 0-60.48 (1.23)0.86 (1.70)0.012PGA disease activity, 0-103.90 (2.73)4.76 (2.67)0.004DAPSA14.9 (15.5)18.3 (16.1)0.045HAQ-DI, 0-30.56 (0.65)0.89 (0.70)<0.001PsAID-12, 0-103.11 (2.36)3.96 (2.50)0.001pain, 0-103.80 (2.81)4.54 (2.83)0.017fatigue, 0-103.93 (3.01)4.68 (3.17)0.025work or leisure activities, 0-103.39 (3.01)4.75 (3.11)<0.001functional capacity, 0-103.36 (2.97)4.40 (3.16)0.002depression, 0-101.88 (2.70)2.75 (3.26)0.006Mean (SD) shown unless specified otherwise. HAQ-DI: Health Assessment Questionnaire – Disability Index; PsA: psoriatic arthritis; PGA: patient global assessment of disease activity; DAPSA: Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis; PsAID: Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease.In this real-life data from 14 countries, obesity was frequent and PsA patients with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 were more likely to be female, and had higher subjectively reported disease activity and illness impact compared to those with lower BMI. Obese patients had a two-fold lower likelihood of achieving remission/low disease defined by both MDA and DAPSA compared to non-obese patients. PsA patients with comorbid obesity may have different disease profiles from non-obese patients, and require specific management.[1]Eder, L., et al., Obesity is associated with a lower probability of achieving sustained minimal disease activity state among patients with psoriatic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis, 2015. 74(5): p. 813-7.[2]Gorlier, C., et al., Comparing patient-perceived and physician-perceived remission and low disease activity in psoriatic arthritis: an analysis of 410 patients from 14 countries. Ann Rheum Dis, 2019. 78(2): p. 201-208.This study was funded by Pfizer.None declared


The article presents the analysis of concept "home" and explores its denotative, associative and valorative constituents. The author researches the process of formation of its meaning's semantic structure, defines its constituent characteristics, and finds new facets of the concept by means of onomaseologic analysis of dictionaries of synonyms. Figurative and perceptive characteristics of the concept under research are revealed through the associations, evolving its basic names' collocations. The valorative facet of the object described is analyzed on the material of English idioms.


Based on H1(curl) tetrahedral interpolatory vector elements,explicit forms of the elemental matrices for the higher order vector elements are presented completely by using the classified bases and block matrix technique,the explicit results of integration matrices are also given.The results of a numerical experiment that investigates the resonant problem of a rectangular cavity,compare the performance of different vector elements systematically(such as calculated accuracy,condition numbers,selectivity of the facet related basis functions),which are also applied to the eigen-solution of inhomogeneously-filled cavities.The methods can be extended to the analysis of ultra higher order,hierarchical vector elements with any type effectively.


This study in prophetic ethos reads the Book of Jeremiah as generative rhetoric—an inventive, multivocal response to the catastrophic disruption of a community and its integrated political and spiritual life. The disruption is expressed and redressed over time through an inventional agon that transforms the textual ethos of prophetic speech into an internally dialogic language of justification. Dramatis‐tic ratios are invoked to define key configurations in the text where shifts in the symbolic relations between agent, act, and audience reshape the ethos of the prophet and the destiny of the community. Bakhtin's apprehension of polyphony in the novel provides a model for the multivocal development and generative capacity of prophetic ethos in Jeremiah.


Sensor element comprising: a dielectric substrate; a substrate attached to the conductor structure having an influence from the substrate inductive component and capacitive component, characterized, in that the substrate having a first temperature-dependent portion which is adapted to change the value of the inductive and / or capacitive component with changing temperature of the first region, and a second temperature-dependent portion which is formed at in the same way changing temperature of the to change the value of the second region inductive and / or capacitive component compensating with respect to the change by the first region.


Objective To make three dimensional(3D) reconstruction of corticospinal tracts in rat,using serial sections of rat's spinal cord and tool software for three dimensional reconstruction. Methods The serial transversal sections of rat's spinal cord were made and mounted directly,then stained with Luxol fast blue(LFB) and their images were taken.The section images were registered,segmented and changed into gray-scale images under the Photoshop circumstance.3D-DOCTOR software was used to make threshold segmentation and to reconstruct the spinal cord,grey matter and bilateral corticospinal tracts of rat.The reconstructed structures were observed at random angles,dissected and measured on a common desktop. Results The reconstructed spinal cord,grey matter,bilateral corticospinal tracts of rat were solid.In C1 to S4 segments of rat's spinal cord,the corticospinal tracts lay in the posterior funiculus and were close to the back of intermediate zone,appearing as gradually narrowing columns.Conclusion The corticospinal tracts in rat's spinal cord can be reconstructed and offer survey data by using serial LFB stained spinal cord sections and computerized three dimensional reconstruction technique.


Objective To understand the status of knowledge and behaviors of infectious diseases and public health security of college students,so as to improving health education interventions. Methods A total of 388 freshmen with different majors but taking the health education as an elective course were chosen as research objects and investigated with questionnaires before and after health education intervention. Results The awareness of infectious diseases like AIDS improved significantly after the health education( P 0. 05); the cognition,attitudes and behaviors related to public health security also improved significantly after the intervention( P 0. 01); the knowledge of TB infection source and hepatitis prevention and control measures did not improve significantly after the education( P 0. 05). Conclusions The occurrence and popularity of infectious diseases on campus are highly related to students' knowledge and behaviors about the disease prevention. The effect of health education on students' knowledge and behaviors of public health security is good and the students show a high interest in knowledge about emergency treatment in sudden events in the elective course.


Georgios Nicolau Papanicolaou was a "pioneer' in the study of the cytological features of the female reproductive system. He became known worldwide due to creation of PAP-test, commonly known as Pap-smear that revolutionized the early detection of cervical cancer. Several hundred million women pass the PAP-test every year, and tens of thousands owe their lives to this outstanding scientist.


A necessary and sufficient condit ion for a given cellular automat on (CA) rule to admit a staggered invariant is derived. This condition is written in th e form of the equation of continuity. By utilizing the condition, a number of invariant s are obtained in Wolfram's elementary CA and their reversible variants.


Tissue trauma often causes hematoma formation. Recently, we proposed to use the optoacoustic technique for hematoma detection and performed studies on hematoma monitoring and imaging in the brain and skin. It is well known that methemoglobin is produced during hematoma aging. In this work we propose to use the optoacoustic technique for staging, monitoring, and imaging of hematomas during their formation and aging. We measured optoacoustic spectra of methemoglobin in the 800-950 nm spectral range in which it has strong absorption and demonstrated that this spectral range can be used for of hematoma staging, monitoring, and imaging.


Geometry representations in production Monte Carlo radiation transport codes used for linear-transport simulations are traditionally limited to combinatorial geometry (CG) topologies. While CG representations of input geometries are efficient to query, they are difficult to construct. In the Integrated-TIGER-Series (ITS) Monte Carlo code suite, a new approach for radiation transport geometry engines has been implemented that allows for Computer Aided Design (CAD), facetted approximations, and other geometry types to simultaneously define an input geometry. These techniques effectively allow the user to trade off problem setup time and computational time. For instance, radiation transport on CAD geometries can be 100 times slower than transport on comparable CG geometries. However, since linear-transport Monte Carlo can be solved with high parallel efficiency on massively-parallel computers, CAD representations of complex systems can be analyzed.


Crack sealing and filling is the most widely used maintenance activity for in-service pavements. If an appropriate sealant material is selected and properly installed at the appropriate time of the pavement life, it retards pavement deterioration and increases its service life at a relatively low cost. However, in some cases it is reported that sealants failed prematurely, mainly due to environmental factors and water exposure. While there have been several studies on environmental factors, water related factors has not received appropriate attention. Nevertheless, various sealants have different water resistance property; hence, they perform differently when exposed to large amount of rain and humidity. Currently, there is no standard test method to evaluate sealant water resistance. Therefore, there is a need for a standard test method to precisely predict sealant performance when exposed to water. Such a test method can help examine various sealants in terms of their water resistance. This paper introduces a water conditioning procedure and a test method to measure bond strength of sealant under dry and wet condition.


Ferroelectric perovskite solid solutions with morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been studied extensively as best candidates for electromechanical transduction due to their exceptionally high piezoelectric coefficients. However, despite the high number of publications about these oxides, there is still ambiguity about the actual symmetry of the phases at the MPBs. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the crystalline structure of $0.39{\text{BiScO}}_{3}\text{\ensuremath{-}}0.61{\text{PbTiO}}_{3}$ twin free nanocrystals, using the combination of aberration-corrected high-resolution electron microscopy and multislice simulations. Our study indicates the presence of a monoclinic symmetry for crystals with an average size of 15 nm. This is strong evidence in favor of the actual existence of this polymorph at the MPB, which has been recently questioned. It also shows that perovskite distortion is still present in nanocrystals, which is important from the point of view of the size limit of ferroelectricity and consistent with previous electrical measurements in nanostructured ceramics.


The problem in this study is how the shape and decoration of gravestones with the aim to know and explain the shape of gravestones, as well as describing the various kinds of ornamentation that exist on the graves on the Benteng Lipu Site. The research method used is descriptive analytical which consists of several stages, namely the study of literature in the form of books, journals, theses, theses, articles and supplemented with observational data, interviews and documentation. The results showed the form of headstone consists of several types / shapes. The gravestone forms found at the Lipu Benteng Site were rectangular shapes, hexagon shapes, pyramid shapes, round shapes, flat shapes and irregular shapes. Aside from the gravestone forms, there were also decorative art identified in the grave graves at the Lipu Benteng Site, namely, geometric types and fauna types. Geometric type resembles were carving of a tumpal shape, the shape of horizontal lines medallion shape of an irregular circle, the shape of the mosque dome and the shape of the crown upside down. This type of fauna has a shape like sea shells.


While natural processes, mainly wind and water erosion, define desert landscapes, human manipulation and use of water play important roles in defining the landscape within desert oases. The role of water in the oases of the Western Desert of Egypt is described, and it is considered how the scarcity of water affects its use. The challenge to the protection of these archetypal landscapes presented by new forms of development is identified.


The text of this paper, together with the abstract of the discussion held by the Faculty of Actuaries on 17 February 2003, are printed in British Actuarial Journal, 9, IV, 725-786.


How to stimulate employee innovative behavior from the perspective of human resource management practice has always been a hot issue of concern for organizational human resource managers. Based on Mplus 8.0 and SPSS 21.0, and through regression analysis on 342 employee-leader matching questionnaire data, this paper explores the mechanism of developmental human resource practice on employee innovative behaviors, examines the mediating role of career adaptability. Results showed that developmental human resource practices have a significant positive impact on innovation behavior, and career adaptability plays a part of the mediating role in the relationship between them. These findings suggest that organizations and managers promote employee innovation by implementing development-oriented HR policies and practices that focus on employee personal career growth needs, improve employee career adaptability.


Multiciliated mammalian cells play a crucial role in the propulsion of physiological fluids. Their dysfunction causes severe chronic diseases. In contrast to the strict centriole number control in cycling cells, multiciliated cell differentiation is marked by the production of up to several hundred centrioles, each nucleating a motile cilium. The mechanisms of centriole amplification or centriole number control in these cells were unknown and new centrioles were thought to appear de novo in the cytoplasm. First, videomicroscopy combined with correlative super-resolution and electron microscopy has enabled us to determine that all procentrioles are generated via runs of nucleation from the pre-existing progenitor cell centrosome. We show that the daughter centriole of the centrosome is the primary nucleation site for 95% of the new centrioles in multiciliated cells and thus refute the de novo hypothesis. Then, we provide evidence of an activation of the mitosis regulatory network during the centriole dynamic. With single cell live imaging and pharmacological modulation of mitosis regulators, we show that the mitosis machinery orchestrates the spatiotemporal progression of centriole amplification in terminally differentiating multiciliated cell progenitors. The fine-tuning of Cdk1 activity prevents mitosis while allowing the timely coordination of centriole number, growth, and disengagement through checkpoint-like phase transitions necessary for subsequent functional motile ciliation. This PhD provides a new paradigm for studying multiciliated cell differentiation, cilia-related diseases and pathological centriole amplification associated with cancer and microcephaly.


BLAD, B. L., J. R. STEADMAN, and A. WEISS. 1978. Canopy structure and irrigation influence white mold disease and microclimate of dry edible beans. Phytopathology 68:1431-1437. The severity of white mold of dry edible beans caused by microclimate of the plant canopy, so that at least partial Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was greatly influenced by the control of white mold can be obtained through planting structure of the plant canopy and by the amount and cultivars with open canopy structures, avoiding excessive frequency of irrigation. The more frequently irrigated irrigation, and other practices which modify the cultivar Great Northern Tara developed the most dense microclimate to create less favorable conditions for white canopy and the less frequently irrigated cultivar Aurora had mold development. Severely diseased plants were several the most open canopy. The most dense canopy was the degrees warmer than those with little or no disease. Crop coolest, wettest, and had the highest severity of disease temperature, as obtained through aerial surveillance whereas the most open canopy was the warmest, driest, and techniques, may therefore be useful for detecting and had a very low incidence of white mold. This suggests that the delineating areas of white mold in fields of dry edible beans. severity of white mold was associated with differences in the Additional key words: Jhetzelinia sclerotiorum, Phaseolus vulgaris, disease control, remote sensing, plant stress, crop temperature, microclimate modification. White mold of dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) MATERIALS AND METHODS caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) d By. [= Whetzelinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) Korf and Dumont (9)] Two indeterminate dry bean cultivars Great Northern causes severe losses in the bean crop (8). The semi-arid (GN) Tara (with a dense luxuriant canopy) and Aurora ( a climate in the Great Plains region, where the majority of small white type with an open upright growth habit) were dry edible beans are grown (western Nebraska and planted in Tripp very fine sandy loam near Scottsbluff, eastern Colorado), is unfavorable for white mold Nebraska (400 51' N, 103' 41'W; 1,225 mabovem.s.l.)on development (12). Rotem and Palti (13) suggested that 5 June 1974 and 1975. A between-row spacing of 56 cm irrigation can provide favorable conditions for disease was used in 18 X 18 m plots. Within-row spacings for GN even though the macroclimate is unfavorable. They (10) Tara and Aurora were 10 and 4 cm, respectively. stated that dew, irrigation, and foliage density are Two furrow-irrigation treatments were applied to each primary factors determining the incidence and severity of cultivar. In 1974 about 48 cm of water were applied in five disease in a semi-arid climate. Detailed information applications at 6to 8-day intervals to THI (Tara high associating the microclimate with the incidence and rate of irrigation) and AHI (Aurora high rate of development of white mold is lacking. irrigation) plots. To the other plots (TLI and ALI = low The purposes of this investigation were (i) to establish rate of irrigation of Tar and Aurora, respectively) about whether or not bean canopy structure and irrigation 19 cm of water were applied in three applications at 8to affect the microclim~ate of dry edible beans, (ii) to 15-day intervals in 1974. In 1975 THI and AHI received determine the influence of canopy structure and irrigation 50 cm of water in nine applications at 5-day intervals and on the incidence and severity of white mold, and (iii) to TLI and ALI received 29 cm of water in five applications evaluate the potential for detecting areas of diseased at 10-day intervals. plants with crop temperature measurements. Plant and meterological measurements were made Preliminary results of certain aspects of this study have during August and early September. Air temperature been reported earlier (2). within canopies was measured with 0.051-cm diameter (24-gauge) copper-constantan thermocouples set with 00032-949X/78/000 259$03.00/0 epoxy cement in 2-cm-long pieces of teflon rod (6 mm Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 outside diameter). To obtain a better spatial average of Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved, temperature three thermocouples were wired in parallel


The purpose of this paper was to study the characteristics of debris ∞ow which was transferred from slope failure. Three kinds soil materials that were composed of difierent grain sizes were used to observe the behaviors of slope failure under difierent channel slopes and water content by laboratory experiments. The movement of soil body appeared from sliding or ∞owing to deposition, if the slope gradient of channel was below 32%. And the experimental results were shown as follows. The scale of deposition and the types of soil body movement were relative with channel slope, water content and the composition of soil material. The slope stability was in∞uenced by clay ∞occulation and water cohesion. Sandy loam soil contained more clay content than the sand soil and loamy sand soil, which could keep maintain the slope earth steepness vertically as water content was 10»25%. The shape of deposition area became narrow and long with the channel slope increasing.


Background Current national policy in the UK is to make all psychiatric inpatient areas non-smoking by the end of 2018. Methods A mixed qualitative approach, using a survey with a semi-structured format and a World Café method. Discussion This pilot project explored views and experiences of staff and patients in making an inpatient recovery unit a smoke-free zone. A number of issues that were causing anxiety in patients and staff members were identified. Conclusion The focus group generated a number of possible interventions which may help to achieve a smoke-free environment while supporting inpatients who are giving up smoking.


Introduction Because loudness recruitment has assumed significant clinical and diagnostic importance, many tests have been devised to demonstrate its presence. One such test involves automatic audiometry. In 1947, when Bekesy 1 first described his automatic audiometer, he also suggested that the amplitude of excursions of the audiometric tracing gives a measure of the difference limen (DL) for intensity. It was further reasoned that if recruitment were the result of an abnormally rapid growth of loudness, this rapid growth should be the result of diminished DL's. Therefore, diminished excursions in automatic audiometry have been taken as direct indications of the presence of recruitment. The identity of diminished excursions on the automatic audiogram with DL's and recruitment has been supported by such authors as Reger, 9 Lundborg, 4 and Meurman. 5 On the other hand, Palva, 6 one of the more prolific critics of the measurement of recruitment by automatic audiometry, has


The development of web 2.0 increases the call for agile and simple Business process support. SOA (Service oriented Architecture) provides companies with a new model to build their IT applications around their business processes and combine them dynamically and flexibly with the services of partner companies. In this open and distributed context, it is required to implement an appropriate security at each service. So, during the composition of service, it will be good for user to specify the security preference to associate to each service. In this article we describe in a first step, the difficulty of using analytical risk methods such as EBIOS, Mehari and OCTAVE to specify the constraints of security to associate with services. Then we present the SOA and its security component, therefore start the service bus ESB will act as an intermediary between the client and service provider. In a second step, we develop our method that can lead to the specification of security and describe how it would be possible to specify these security constraints during the service composition.


Virtual AGE (vAGE) is an asynchronous educational environment that utilizes learning objects focused on gerontology and a learning anytime/anywhere philosophy. This paper discusses the benefits of asynchronous instruction and the process of creating learning objects. Learning objects are "small, reusable chunks of instructional media" Wiley (2000). They are stand-alone instructional devices that are limited only by the creativity of the person designing them but are not to be construed with a way to present lecture notes. Using examples of learning objects from the vAGE library, the motivation behind constructing learning objects and the variety of purposes to which they can be put is presented. Creating a learning object is like developing a treasure map for your students to explore.


Objectives To investigate the distributions of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in normal and degenerative facet joints.Methods With immunohistochemical approach, the SP,CGRP-immunoreactive fibers in the normal and degenerative facet joints were observed.Results In the normal facet joint,SP,CGRP immunoreactive nerve fibers distributed in joint capsule and subchondral bone area,most of them were located in facet capsule.The fibers were also foundin plical tissue of the capsule .They were not all associated with large blood vessels, some of them run freely in the stroma.The density of SP-,CGRP- containing fibers decreased in degenerative joint capsule.Conclusion The observation provided morphological basis for back pain,implied that the SP,CGRP-immunoreactive fibers might involve in facet degeneration and might be an important source of the lower back pain.


Dirichlet process is a well-known nonparametric Bayesian model,with the attractive property of a flexible number of components determined by the model and the data.The Dirichlet process is an active area of research both within machine learning and in the natural language processing community.This paper introduces the origin and development of Dirichlet process,and the methods for model calculating.This paper also demonstrates how to use this model to solve natural language processing task.In the end,the future research and development trend of Dirichlet process is discussed.


There is scarce information about the effects of danazol and its derivatives at cardiovascular level. In addition, to date the cellular site and mechanism of action of danazol at the cardiovascular level is very confusing. In order to clarify those phenomena in this study, a danazol derivative was synthesized with the objective of evaluating its activity on perfusion pressure and coronary resistance and comparing this phenomenon with the effect exerted by danazol. The Langendorff technique was used to measure changes on perfusion pressure and coronary resistance in an isolated rat heart model in the absence or presence of danazol and its derivative. Additionally, to characterize the molecular mechanism involved in the inotropic activity induced by danazol derivative was evaluated by measuring left ventricular pressure in the absence or presence of following compounds; flutamide, prazosin, metoprolol, indomethacin and nifedipine. The results showed that danazol derivative significantly increased the perfusion pressure and coronary resistance in comparison with the control conditions and danazol. Additionally, other data indicate that the danazol derivative increases left ventricular pressure in a dose-dependent manner; nevertheless, this phenomenon was significantly inhibited by flutamide. These data suggest that danazol derivative induces positive inotropic activity through of the activation androgen receptor.