In order to realize Quality Improving and Efficiency Enhancing of the company, and further improve the management efficiency and effectiveness of power transmission and transformation project construction, this article will analyze the distribution impact that the grid enterprise business model transformation brings to the other expense of power transmission and transformation project construction after the transmission and distribution price reform, at the meanwhile, this article will study the impact on the company's permitted income verification whether the cost occurred in the late stage of engineering is included in the engineering cost or production cost, and finally propose specific implementation methods and risk management and control suggestions of post-engineering costs, which can effectively standardize the application of other expense, and further improve the project construction and management level, so that the Power grid projects can be carried out in order.


Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) involves up to 50% of the global population. The present study compared efficacy, tolerability and safety of the novel Respilac artificial tears containing Lipidure and hypromellose (HPMC) to the widely used Nextal artificial tears, HPMC-based, for the treatment of moderate DED in contact lenses (CL) wearers.Methods: In a prospective, single-center, randomized investigation, 30 patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with moderate DED and wearing CL were randomly assigned to Respilac (n=15) or to Nextal group (n=15). Patients self-administrated one drop of Respilac or Nextal in both eyes 3-times daily for 21 days. Changes in endpoints (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for ocular tolerability, Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE) score, Non-Invasive First Break-Up Time (NIF-BUT) results, Tear analysis value, Meibography results, CL tolerability results were investigated, comparing treatment groups and time-points evaluations. Adverse events (AEs) were also recorded and evaluated.Results: VAS scores decreased with time (p<0.001) in both groups showing no statistically significant difference among them (p=0.13). Improvements were also detected, from screening to end-of-treatment, by SANDE scores for severity and frequency (p<0.001) and by Tear analysis results (p<0.001) with no observed difference between Nextal and Respilac arm. NIF-BUT, Meibography and CL tolerability values showed to be non-significantly affected by treatment nor by time. No AEs were detected.Conclusion: According to the study results, Respilac showed to be effective, safe and well-tolerated for the treatment of moderate DED in CL wearers. Lipidure-based ophthalmic solution resulted not inferior to the currently used Nextal.


We address two aspects of the repair problem of Reed-Solomon codes. First, we propose a new repair scheme for the RS codes constructed in [Tamo-Ye-Barg, IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, May 2019] which in addition to optimal repair bandwidth is also robust to erroneous information provided by the helper nodes. Next, we construct a new family of RS codes with optimal access for the repair of any single failed node. We also prove that any scalar MDS code with optimal repair bandwidth can be furnished with a repair scheme with the optimal access property.


Commonly as many people accepted, the stability of reversal slope is preferable. But the Shawozi high slope is an exception. For the atrocious weather, complicated geological conditions and unreasonable engineering activities, there is not only large-scale superficial deformation, but also some deep distortion on the slope. If the slope failed, the highway from Dujiangy-an to Wenchuang should be heavily damaged. Based on the data obtained from field observations and geological exploration, the slope's engineering geology environmental conditions, hydro-geological conditions, structure characteristics of it's rock and soil, and the slope's distortion and destruction signs are analyzed in detail. The research results show the Shawozi high slope' s failure model is compression-inclination-elbow-failure. Then, a set of reasonable remedial measurements is suggested.


This paper presents the experimental results on the flow characteristics of a 15o slanted entry Convergent-Divergent (CD) nozzle with a design Mach number of 2.94 exposed to supersonic streams. The objective is to check whether such a nozzle, kept in a supersonic flow, with a detached shock present at its mouth, can choke and deliver supersonic flow at the exit. The results reveal that the nozzle can choke and deliver supersonic flow. The present study also explores the flow separation inside a slanted entry supersonic nozzle when it is exposed to a supersonic stream.


As one of the many nano-device fabrication techniques employed in the semiconductor industry, neutral beams are being examined using various methods to solve possible charge-related problems that occur during device processing. This review introduces a neutral beam generated by surface neutralization of an ion beam using a low angle forward reflection technique and explains its application to various areas such as surface treatments and etching. The neutralization efficiency of an ion beam using a low angle forward reflection technique was approximately 99.7%. When a metal-oxide-semiconductor device was etched using a reactive neutral beam, it was confirmed that charge-related problems such as aspect-ratio-dependent etching and gate oxide charging could be removed using reactive neutral beam etching instead of conventional reactive ion etching. Neutral beams can be beneficial to other devices such as the III-V device and field emission device.


In this paper I analyze the way in which a group of Catholic women led by Concepcion Aguayo in Aguascalientes (Mexico) became a team of improvised nurses during the Mexican Revolution. I observe how in the long term their improvised practice turned into a professional activity, allowing these women a modern participation –recognized and paid- in the local society.


This paper has introduced automatical control system at continuous cooking stagethrough SIMATIC PCS7. It emphasized on some difficulties in applications of PCS7, such as control of anti-spurt valve, automatic complex alkali and sequential function chart (SFC) to realize automatic circular rejecting. It also solved the idea, based on ethernet network and Profibus-DP network, of how to construct a proper and stable communicational network.


Summary.  Background: Platelets are reported to possess a protein kinase C (PKC)‐dependent non‐capacitative Ca2+entry (NCCE) pathway. The phorbol ester, phorbol, 12‐myristate, 13‐acetate (PMA) has been suggested to stimulate platelet NCCE. Recently we demonstrated important roles in store‐operated Ca2+entry in human platelets for Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCXs) and autocrine signaling between platelets after dense granule secretion. As PMA evokes dense granule secretion, we have investigated the role of NCXs and autocrine signaling in PMA‐evoked Ca2+entry. Objectives: To investigate the roles of NCXs and dense granule secretion in PMA‐evoked Ca2+signaling in human platelets. Methods: Fura‐2‐ or sodium‐binding benzofuran isophthalate (SBFI)‐loaded platelets were used to monitor cytosolic Ca2+or Na+ concentrations. Dense granule secretion was monitored as ATP release using luciferin–luciferase. Results: The NCX inhibitors KB‐R7943 or SN‐6, and removal of extracellular Na+, significantly reduced PMA‐evoked Ca2+entry. PMA‐evoked dense granule secretion was almost abolished by pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Ro‐31‐8220 and significantly slowed by KB‐R7943. The P2X1 antagonists Ro‐0437626 or MRS‐2159, or desensitization of P2X1 receptors by prior treatment with α,β‐Methylene‐ATP or omitting apyrase from the medium, reduced PMA‐evoked Ca2+entry. Ro‐0437626 or chelation of extracellular Ca2+ slowed but did not abolish PMA‐evoked ATP release, indicating that PMA‐evoked dense granule secretion does not require P2X1 receptor activation but is accelerated by P2X1‐mediated Ca2+entry. The presence of NCX3 in human platelets was demonstrated by Western blotting. Conclusion: PMA‐evoked Ca2+entry results from an NCX3‐dependent dense granule secretion and subsequent P2X1 receptor activation by secreted ATP, rather than activation of a novel NCCE pathway.


Patients with malignancy have an increased tendency for venous and arterial embolism, and for increased risk for bleeding. Clinical decisions regarding anticoagulation in this population has been challenging and complicated by the availability of various anticoagulants. Currently, there is no evidence-based guideline available for the prevention of arterial embolism and thrombosis, such as stroke, in cancer patients. The aim of the study is to assess the use of anticoagulant medications in cancer patients who suffer a stroke. ICD-9/-10 codes were used to identify patients with cancer who were admitted between September 1, 2017 and November 30, 2017 to the Buffalo General Hospital with the diagnosis of stroke. Chart review was used to verify the history of cancer and stroke and to collect additional information. The diagnosis of acute stroke and cancer were verified in 87 patients. Among them, 31 patients had active malignancy. Of the 31 patients, 9 were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage and 22 with ischemic strokes. Of the 9 patients with intracranial hemorrhage,3 were anticoagulated and 1 patient was off anticoagulation. Of the 22 patients with ischemic stroke, 4 patients were anticoagulated, although 1 patient was underdosed based on INR. Seven of the 22 patients were taken off of anticoagulation; 3 had side effects and 4 were awaiting a surgical procedure. Five of the 9 patients with intracranial hemorrhage and 10 of the 22 patients with ischemic stroke were made comfort care and passed away shortly after the diagnosis of stroke.


The current total fertility rate in France has been rising over the last ten years and reached 1.98 in 2006, the highest level since the early 1980s. By European standards, this high level of fertility makes France an outlier, despite having similar trends in the transition to adulthood, partnerships, attitudes to birth control, or economic situations (low growth, increase in poverty levels). Thus, the French case challenges some of the hypotheses suggested to explain the current low fertility observed in European countries. France's fertility level can be explained by its long-standing family policy, which has evolved considerably since the 1980s to accommodate the growing participation of women in the labour force. This policy encompasses a wide range of instruments, geared to different actors and motivations and aiming to serve different objectives. Despite some ambiguities, family policy seems to have generated very positive attitudes towards twoor three-child families in France, and to have reduced the propensity to remain childless. We argue that a key aspect is the favourable context created for reconciling work and family life by means of fairly comprehensive and continuous support to families throughout the family life-course. The entire set of complementary instruments (financial support to large families, parental leave schemes and the provision of childcare) creates a secure climate for child-bearing decisions. This also explains why the decision to have children or to be in employment is less based on socioeconomic status than in other countries. ♣ I would like to thank Didier Breton, France Prioux, Laurent Toulemon, Pierre Courtioux, Nadine Laïb, Sylvie Le Minez and Benoît Mirouse for their kind help in providing data and figures. Original sources can be found in the references at the end of the paper. The usual disclaimer applies.


Vascular access and closure device conveys the suture along a helical path through the vessel wall, using a rotating helical suture needle, place the continuous suture in the wall of the vessel, then the sutures to release the suture anchor attached to the distal end, reversing the rotation. As the helical suture needle is withdrawn, loose helical coil of suture remains. Device is withdrawn, opening the larger access opening into the vessel, the interventional device to be introduced into the vessel, to create a path that passes through the suture of the helical coil, vascular dilators and It is replaced with the introducer sheath. After the interventional procedure is completed, interventional devices and introducer sheath is withdrawn, so as to close the access opening into the vessel, continuous suture is tightened and secured with sutures lock.


In the last years prognosis of cancer patients (pts) has been improved, but the develop of cardiotoxicity (CTX) in pts with low CV risk treated with cumulative doses of Anthracycline (ANT) considered safe, led to investigate the possible role of the genetic profile in the onset of CTX.

 To study the role of some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as predictive genetic markers of individual susceptibility to CTX induced by anticancer treatment.

 We have enrolled women with non-metastatic breast cancer who had to start a therapy with ANT. The presence of a known heart disease, a previous mediastinal irradiation and a previous treatment with ANT, were the main exclusion criteria. All pts underwent complete cardiological evaluation (ECG, echo) before the beginning of the therapy (T0), after each ANT cycle and every 3 months up to 1 year of follow-up after the end of treatment. During each visit, we performed the determination of troponin I (TnI) and NT-proBNP. The genetic profile of each pts was also investigated, analyzing 6 SNPs belonging to 3 different genes (two for each genes) coding for enzymes or enzyme systems involved in the metabolism of ANT. DNA extraction from blood samples was performed using the QIAamp DNA Mini kit (QIAGEN). The DNA extracted was genotyped (by performing TaqMan SNP Genotyping assays) identifying 3 possible variants for each SNPs: homozygosity for the protective and "at risk" variant and heterozygosity.

 179 pts finished the follow-up and from the analysis of the trend of biomarkers we found that 53 pts (30%) showed a significant increase in TnI (>0.04ng/mL) or less than this cut-off but persistently >0.015ng/mL in at least 2 measurements ("TnI+ group"), in the remaining 126 pts the TnI remained non-measurable ("TnI− group"); 76 pts (43%) showed NT-proBNP values ≥125 ng/L in at least two consecutive determinations ("NT-proBNP + group"),in the remaining 57% of pts this increase was not detected ("NT-proBNP - group"). Comparing "TnI+ group" to "TnI− group" we observed that only the genotyping of the SNPs rs1149222 (G/T) belonging to the ABCB4 gene is distributed differently in the two groups, in particular the homozygosity for the "at risk" variant (G/G) was present in 13% of the pts of the "TnI+ group" vs 5% in the "TnI− group" (p 0.06). The results of the comparison of "NT-proBNP+ group" vs "NT-proBNP− group", showed that the genotyping of the SNPs rs6759892 (G/T) belonging to the UGT1A6 gene was distributed differently, the homozygosity for the "at risk" variant (G/G) was present in 28% of the "NT-proBNP+ group" vs 17% in the "NT-proBNP− group" (p 0.07).

 Together with the baseline clinical evaluation, genetic markers could contribute to the early identification of pts at high risk of developing CTX especially following treatment with ANT and they could support future therapeutic decisions and the planning of taylored strategies for the prevention of the CTX development.

 Type of funding source: None


Magnesium alloy Mg-3%Al-1%Zn (AZ31) billets prepared from equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) were utilized in low-cycle fatigue tests in order to investigate their fatigue life. Fully reversed strain-controlled tension-compression fatigue tests were conducted at the frequency of 1 Hz in ambient air. The microstructures were examined by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hysteresis loops of the ECAP processed and conventionally extruded samples display obviously different shapes in the total strain amplitude range from 0.2% to 0.6%. Accordingly, the low cycle fatigue lives of ECAP processed samples are found to be longer than those of extruded samples, which can be attributed to the different in the hysteresis energy incorporating tensile strain energy.


Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and high-temperature (300–775K) thermoluminescence of neutron-irradiated MgO single crystals were studied. Spin-hamiltonian parameters of the observed anion interstitial centres (O2 molecular ion in an oxygen site by a cation vacancy—H centre) were determined. The thermal stability of anion interstitials (H centres) and other EPR-active centres was investigated. It is shown that the thermal decay of H centres is attended by a TL peak due to hole recombination luminescence at 700K. A possible mechanism for the thermal destruction of anion Frenkel defects in MgO is discussed. c © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


The concepts of structure and mechanic bionics are clarified in the paper.Some engineering examples are introduced,which includes not only the National Stadium and the National Swimming Center in our country,but also Tokyo International Forum(Japan),Eden Project(UK),Lyon-Saint Express Airport Station(France) and Stuttgart Airport(Germany).In the end,an outlook for mechanic bionics and the relationship between architecture and structure is given.


Through three oil bidding rounds, Iraqi Ministry of oil contracted with a number of international oil companies to develop the production of a number of oil and natural gas fields, with a total proven reserves of 62.7 billion barrels, or approximately half of the crude oil proven reserves, as well as contracting to invest in three giant natural gas fields. This working Paper shed light on the three oil bidding rounds, challenges that are likely to face Iraqi oil production in the future, and finally the economic impact of that future oil production on the Iraqi economy.


Nd3+ doped lead zinc phosphate glasses with the chemical composition 30PbO-30ZnO-(40−x)P2O5−xNd2O3 (where x = 0.5,1,1.5 and 2 mol%) have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. Spectroscopic properties of these glasses have been studied by recording the optical absorption in the UV-Visible range 300-900nm. The Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis have been carried out to determine JO intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, and 6). It is observed that Ω2>Ω6>Ω4. A large value of Ω2 indicates the presence of covalent bonding between the Nd3+ ions and the surrounding ligands. The values of oscillator strength calculated experimentally and theoretically agree well.Nd3+ doped lead zinc phosphate glasses with the chemical composition 30PbO-30ZnO-(40−x)P2O5−xNd2O3 (where x = 0.5,1,1.5 and 2 mol%) have been prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. Spectroscopic properties of these glasses have been studied by recording the optical absorption in the UV-Visible range 300-900nm. The Judd-Ofelt (JO) analysis have been carried out to determine JO intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4, and 6). It is observed that Ω2>Ω6>Ω4. A large value of Ω2 indicates the presence of covalent bonding between the Nd3+ ions and the surrounding ligands. The values of oscillator strength calculated experimentally and theoretically agree well.


The mechanism by which polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediates cell fusion has been studied by examining the movements of membrane lipids and proteins, as well as cytoplasmic markers, from erythrocytes to monolayers of cultured cells to which they have been fused. Fluorescence and freeze-fracture electron microscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching have yielded the following results: (a) In the presence of both fusogenic and nonfusogenic PEG 1 membranes are brought together at closely apposed contact regions. (b) Fluorescent lipid probes quickly spread from the membranes of erythrocytes to cultured cells in the presence of both fusogenic and nonfusogenic PEG. (c) Proteins of the erythrocyte membranes were never observed to diffuse into the cultured cell membrane. (d) Water-soluble proteins did not diffuse from the erythrocyte interior into the target cell cytoplasm until the PEG was removed. These data suggest that the coordinate action of two distinct components is necessary for fusion as mediated by PEG. Presumably, the polymer itself promotes close apposition of the adjacent cell membranes but the fusion stimulus is provided by the additives contained in commercial PEG. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) of high molecular weight is widely used to mediate ceU-ceU fusion in the production of somatic cell hybrids, including hybridomas, and more recently in the fusion injection of macromolecules from erythrocytes (1, 2) or liposomes into cultured cells (3). PEG offers advantages over other fusogens in that it permits fusion of a variety of cell types which may differ in species or even in kingdom and under the proper conditions produces high fusion efficiencies with minimal toxicity. Yet little is known of the mechanism by which PEG operates. PEG causes the redistribution of intramembrane particles (IMPs) of cellular membranes, this ability being attributed to the ordering of water by high concentrations of the polymer (4). When aqueous solutions of PEG exceed 35%, cell aggreDr. J. Lucy has pointed out that the term "nonfusogenic PEG" does not apply to all cell fusion protocols. He and his co-workers (29) have shown that extracted PEG (6) will fuse hen erythrocytes in a protocol requiring a 15-rain incubation in PEG. gation and fusion are observed, although maximum fusion efficiency occurs at concentrations between 40 and 50%. Since all water is bound to PEG in solutions having concentrations of 35% by weight or greater, dehydration appears to play a role in PEG-mediated fusion (5, 25). However, pure PEG does not appear to be a complete fusogen. Recently, Honda et al. (6) have demonstrated that antioxidants and/or polymerization agents added to commercial PEG are responsible for the fusion ~ctivity since removal of these agents through organic solvent extraction renders the PEG nonfusogenic) Earlier work had shown that membrane active chemicals such as glyceryl monooleate (GMO) are only capable of inducing cell-cell fusion when administered in conjunction with high molecular weight polymers such as dextrans (5). Our interest in the mechanisms of PEG-induced fusion was prompted by our use of the erythrocyte-mediated microinjection method to introduce fluorescent macromolecules into the cytoplasm of cultured cells (7) and subsequently to measure their diffusion rates by the fluorescence recovery after photoTHE JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY • VOLUME 96 JANUARY 1983 151-159 © The Rockefeller University Press 0021-9525/83/01/0151/09 $1.00 1 51 on O cber 9, 2017 jcb.rress.org D ow nladed fom bleaching (FRAP) technique. Experimentally, this method offers both relative biological simplicity and a high fusion efficiency. To approach the question of the molecular mechanisms occurring during fusion, we planned to examine both the movement of membrane lipids and proteins from one cell to another and the cytoplasmic communication between cells which follows the fusion event. MATERIALS AND METHODS


Asynchronous multi-HVDC interconnections are increasingly widespread. This demands of strongly strengthen sending end to withstand huge reactive load by outfeed HVDC. A data-driven method is therewith proposed to discover critical influences in planning a strong sending-end. Instead of utilizing "rule-of-thumb" basis to assist planning, machine learning can disclose in-depth features that decide strength of a specified sending-end from historical operations and aided simulations. Towards this end, MIV method is applied to identify decisive factors, and a multilayer neural network-based version of the method is proposed. Group lasso is additionally advanced to learn a computational rules of sending-end strength. Benefited from data-driven method, interactions between HVDC and optimal power flow on AC system can be analyzed. Tests on typical multi outfeed HVDC sending-end grid reveal that the proposed method enables precise identification of critical influences and interpretation of strength inference rules, which can further guide accurate sending-end planning.


Since 2015, the EVM initiative has evolved to become a robust process helping countries build flexible and responsive supply chains for immunization and health programmes. There are four steps to the comprehensive EVM approach: assess, plan, implement and monitor, which repeat in a cycle of continuous learning and innovation. An evidence-based continuous improvement plan (cIP) is a new element of the revised EVM initiative.


During the past, the evaluation of the chances of economic transformation and development of Eastern Europe was largely shaped by the view on the modernization and organizational restructuring of large enterprises/combines. Various scholars were sceptical how far these could contribute to a functioning market economy, due to their heritage from the planned economy. The authors therefore investigated how far small entrepreneurs support the transformation process to a market economy. Quantitative and qualitative research was done in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and the Russian Federation in 2003 and 2004 to provide a comprehensive image about the milieu of small enterprises and their ways of operation.ures from the state still allows some hotels to operate in the shadow and ignore institutional norms.


By comparing two climate change scenarios within the MSCM, different magnitudes of warming, depending on the emission behaviour, can be assessed. Therefore, the MSCM introduces an interface that also includes the difference between two selected scenarios. Comparing the rather extreme scenarios RCP8.5 (high) and RCP2.6 (low) allows to examine the climate change policy's two-degrees target. With a click on 'compare two scenarios' in the left column, the CO2-forcing of the scenarios discussed appear. Other comparisons are possible, too. The maps to the right show the spatial distribution of the change in the surface temperature of both scenarios (at the top) and their difference (at the bottom) between 1951 – 2095 (see Fig. 2). A click on 'Time Series' opens a figure with the time series of the mean global temperature change.


2 Abstract: Anna zoological park of Chennai, India resides a very rich animal diversity, whereas maintenance recorded manually. Since, a research study was conducted to computerize their administration, maintenance and ticketing fields were easy. Therefore, designed a database system named, Zoo Information Management System (ZIMS) to maintain the entire details of the zoological park with an objective, to formulate user-friendly zoo information management system for Anna zoological park. ZIMS was developed as a secured database related to visitors' entry tickets, to keep and maintain the animals' details (birth, death & updates) without manual effort and to store papers. Reducing usage of papers helps to keep green environment.


Directed at improving the performance of the data arm,this paper describes the design of a new type data arm with 7 DOF used in internet teleoperation,depending on the arm joints-facing design idea.The paper introduces construction of a right arm structure model by ADAMS,analysis of the DOF of wrist joints and shoulder joints analysis and development of the mathematical models.The use of data arm to control the virtual robot grabbing the bar in the virtual scene shows that: this data arm allows not only the change of each arm joint to be detected,but also the change of each arm joint angle and wrist position to be obtained.Besides,some joints perform the feedback function.It follows that data arm has found successful application in simulation platform for network to teleoperate the master-slave data arm.


The article introduces the comprehensive treatment for soil and water consevation of the Mogugou small watershed.Since the watershed has been managed,we have considered the land use,the landscape area,the spatial structure,the measures type and the governance and development etc.comprehensively.We have arranged for the various land of the agriculture,forestry,animal husbandry reasonably and have laid out the soil and water conservation measures,promoting the forest and grass measures to combine organically.Finally the multilevel,multi-line soil and water conservation protection system is formed.And the governance resulting preliminarily.For similar small watershed integrated management of soil and water conservation reference is provided.


Gamma astronomy is one of the main physics goals of ARGO-YBJ-a Sino-Italian collaborated experiment.The study on gamma/proton discrimination is of significant interest for this target.In this work,using the Monte Carlo simulated data for gamma and proton,by help of the Medea++ program of ARGO collaboration,the differences between gamma and proton,in a variety of distributions with different event reconstruction methods,are investigated,and two methods named reconstruction robustness and noise tolerance are developed.The simulated data for gamma and proton,injected in the center and then the whole of the array,are analyzed with these methods,demonstrating some interesting features,indicating a potential way on gamma/proton discriminations,worthwhile for further study.


A trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of controlled-release and common compound fertilizers with various rates on tobacco leaf production.The results indicated that the controlled-release fertilizer could promote the tobacco plants growing quickly and prolong their growth time.In the fields fertilized with the controlled-release fertilizer,the production cost per unit area could be saved by 11.37% and the output value was enhanced by 22.82%.


We investigate the density-shear instability in Hall-MHD via numerical simulation of the full non-linear problem, in the context of magnetar activity. We confirm the development of the instability of a plane-parallel magnetic field with an appropriate intensity and electron density profile, in accordance with analytic theory. We find that the instability also appears for a monotonically decreasing electron number density and magnetic field, a plane-parallel analogue of an azimuthal or meridional magnetic field in the crust of a magnetar. The growth rate of the instability depends on the Hall properties of the field (magnetic field intensity, electron number density and the corresponding scale-heights), while being insensitive to weak resistivity. Since the Hall effect is the driving process for the evolution of the crustal magnetic field of magnetars, we argue that this instability is critical for systems containing strong meridional or azimuthal fields. We find that this process mediates the formation of localised structures with much stronger magnetic field than the average, which can lead to magnetar activity and accelerate the dissipation of the field and consequently the production of Ohmic heating. Assuming a 5 × 1014G magnetic field at the base of crust, we anticipate that magnetic field as strong as 1015G will easily develop in regions of typical size of a few 102 meters, containing magnetic energy of 1043erg, sufficient to power magnetar bursts. These active regions are more likely to appear in the magnetic equator where the tangential magnetic field is stronger.


We have been working on the development of catalytic systems in which the catalyst, the substrate and a cofactor spontaneously self-assemble into a pre-programmed architecture with unique properties. The assembly of the supramolecular catalytic systems is driven by metal-ligand interactions of metalloporphyrins with nitrogen-based ligands. In solution, manganese porphyrin hexamers 1c are excellent oxidation catalysts for the epoxidation of cis-stilbene using the bidentate ligand 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as the axial ligand (Figure 1).


Organ donation and allocation form a particularly instructive case of health care provision. On the one hand, due to the necessity of resource pooling, there is a clear collective good aspect. On the other hand, there is a strong moral case in favor of purely private organization of cadaveric organ donation, and allocation in private clubs. But can such clubs ever be successful? Simple decision theoretic modeling relying on both, standard expected utility theory and prospect theory is applied to model the decision making of individuals under different institutions of organ donation and allocation. Conclusions on an equilibrium club size are derived. Empirical data on frequencies of organ transplantation and results from questionnaires on the willingness to donate are used to derive some conclusions about the likely success or failure of different institutional forms of organ allocation.


We introduce a flow of Riemannian metrics over compact manifolds with formal limit at infinite time a shrinking Ricci soliton. We call this flow the Soliton-Ricci flow. It correspond to a Perelman's modified backward Ricci type flow with some special restriction conditions. The restriction conditions are motivated by convexity results for Perelman's $\mathcal{W}$-functional over convex subsets inside adequate subspaces of Riemannian metrics. We show indeed that the Soliton-Ricci flow is generated by the gradient flow of the restriction of Perelman's $\mathcal{W}$-functional over such subspaces. Assuming long time existence of the Soliton-Ricci flow we show exponentially fast convergence to a shrinking Ricci soliton provided that the Bakry-Emery-Ricci tensor is uniformly strictly positive with respect to the evolving metric.


ness and romanticism than do many social scientists and humanists. The most exciting students of Earth's biophysical status learn from one another. Biologists (particularly ecologists), atmospheric specialists, and experts in public health should make their knowledge accessible and useful in local and state forums. Scientists must cease hiding behind walls of objectivity and become advocates of policies that remain consistent with their scientific knowl edge. Some (e.g. Ehrlich and Wilson) have been involved for decades, but mostly in national and international arenas. Communities, counties, and states-·perhaps less alluring stages-urgently need good applied science to defend their environments. The science departments of major state universities REFLECTIONS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 237 could fonn ad hoc oversight teams to scrutinize the actions of state environ mental agencies and to offer constructive criticism. For decades, ecologists such as Holdgate, Kassas & White (69) have pre sented scholarly warnings of intensifying global environmental deterioration. . Malone (97), in 1976, described scientists as linking humanity to the natural biosphere. Scientists, well aware of the steady contamination of air, water, and soils, must become sophisticated about such critical social issues as population, food security, and access to natural resources. Malone urged scientists to illuminate issues relevant to environmental policy. He praised scientists who preferred "the advocacy role" (97, p. 87). Slobodkin (130) warned that ecology will lose its relevance unless its research is driven by practical questions. Frustrated by the failure of politicians to act with common sense on the basis . of the best available data, Myers (102) asserted that biologists were as com petent as economists to engage in policy making. But nonnal science, conducted by thoroughly institutionalized practitioners in the laboratories of government, corporations, and universities, emphasizes uncertainty and, therefore, the need for more research money. Two decades ago, Dasman (46, p. vii) suggested that need for effective application of ecological principles exceeded the need for more research. The values and strategies enunciated by two recent and influential statements on the role of science in protecting the planet diverge dramatically from the arguments of scientists (12, 13, 46, 100-102) who assert that current knowledge is capable of retarding, if not reversing, the further deterioration of soils, water, and forests. The Ecological Society of America (ESA) (49) and the US National Re search Council ( 140) both fashioned powerful cases for massive infusions of research money. ESA's Sustainable Biosphere initiative, launched in 1988, accepted as articles of faith reliance on investigator-initiated research and the retention of disciplinary integrity, each of which confonns to the research structure of universities. Complexities and uncertainties, rather than the avail ability of data useful now in defending the biosphere, were stressed to justify funding aimed at global change, biological diversity, and sustainable ecological systems (49). Congruent with the ESA message were urgent calls by Wilson (150, 151), Holloway (71, p. 12), Resser, Lubchenko & Levin (120), and the US National Research Council (140, pp. 37-40) for the emergency recruitment of systema tists to conduct national inventories of species, especially in remaining tropical rain forests. Ludwig and coauthors (90, pp. 17-18) objected to the simplistic assumptions that ignorance is the problem (19, pp. 640-42) and that more of such research would yield remedies to resource exploitation. The wild species of Brazil's Pantanal and Atlantic rain forests are plundered and destroyed by squatters and poachers who seek survival and by ranchers, resort developers,


The paper describes the discussions within the International Standardisation Committee ISO TC59/SC8 during the time period 1979-1989 that led to the publication of the ISO 9047 standard on movement capability of building joint sealants. Since ISO 9047 «Determination of Adhesion/Cohesion Properties at Variable Temperatures» will be the key performance standard in the future ISO classification scheme on glazing and facade joint sealants, the author examines the correlation of the test results obtained according to ISO 9047 with the performance of sealants after 6-7 years of outdoor weathering under mechanical strain


Nanocomposite and nanolayered dielectrics provide new avenues to enhance the performance of RF and power components. They enable engineering of properties such as permeability, permittivity, frequency-and temperature-stability, and tunability, along with low loss, to miniaturize next-generation multiband RF modules that require higher functional density and improved performance. This paper demonstrates two such advances in nanodielectrics: 1.) Magnetic nanocomposites for miniaturization of antennas, metamaterials and other RF components, 2.) Nanolayered stack dielectrics for tunable RF components with temperature- and frequency-stability and low loss. The materials design, synthesis, processing and characterization to demonstrate the superior properties are presented.


Lizards of the World: Natural History and Taxon Accounts. G. R. Rodda. 2020. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9781421438238. 801 p. $150.00 (hardcover).— Lizards have proven to be outstanding models for ecological and evolutionary studies of tetrapod vertebrates, partly because they are diverse, often abundant, relatively easy to capture, and exhibit a spectacular array of behavioral, morphological, ecological, and life-history traits (Pianka, 1975; Dunham and Miles, 1985; Pianka and Vitt, 2003; Vitt et al., 2003; Shine, 2005; Mesquita et al., 2016). Use of lizards as model organisms traces back at least to the 1930s (Noble and Bradley, 1933; Noble and Mason, 1933). One would think that we know a lot about lizards 90 years later, and we do know a lot about some lizards (e.g., iguanas: Burghardt and Rand, 1982; Alberts et al., 2004; Cnemidophorus (sensu lato): Wright and Vitt, 1993; lacertids: Pérez-Mellado et al., 2004; varanoids: Pianka and King, 2004; helodermatids: Beck, 2009; Anolis: Losos, 2009; xantusiids: Bezy, 2019). Nevertheless, as Gordon Rodda indicates, very little is known about most species. With that in mind, Rodda, a well-respected ecologist (Zoologist Emeritus at the United States Geological Survey) who has spent much of his career working with lizards, has taken on a monumental task—assembling most of what is currently known about the ecology and natural history of all lizards of the world. At the outset, I admit that I found this book and its associated databases daunting because of their breadth, a bit difficult to work through, yet extremely useful. As of December 2020, there were 6,905 described lizard species (Reptile Database: Uetz et al., 2020), with about 200 species added each year. Data collection for Rodda's book was completed in 2017, when 6,528 lizard species were known (Rodda, 2020). Keeping abreast with taxonomic revisions and new phylogenies presents a significant challenge in itself. However, the greatest challenge is assembling data on natural history traits, particularly considering that relatively few species have been thoroughly studied. When I think of the natural history of individual species, the following general categories come to mind: where it lives (habitat, microhabitat), what it eats (prey categories with volumetric data), when it is active (time, often measured in part by body temperatures)—Pianka's (1967, 1975) place, food, and time niches. Reproduction and behavior are also important components of a good natural history inventory. Try finding all of these in a single natural history article! Add to that the observation that permit processes and granting institutions are increasingly unlikely to support natural history studies. Consequently, for a majority of species, complete quantitative data sets do not and may never exist. Yet natural history data are critical for generating and testing hypotheses on the evolution of ecological traits (Greene, 1986, 1993, 1994; Greene and Losos, 1988; Vitt, 2013). Moreover, natural history data are critical for the development of conservation strategies (Bury, 2006). Nevertheless, natural history studies of reptiles and amphibians have declined in mainstream journals (McCallum and McCallum, 2006). When I see ''Natural History'' in the title of a research article or book, I expect to see data on individual species as indicated above. Rodda's approach in this book is entirely different. Instead of constructing accurate multidimensional niches using complete data sets for each species (e.g., Pianka et al., 2017), Rodda constructs natural history models for generalized lizards against which he compares each species. A single generalized model for morphology did not capture the diversity of body forms, so Rodda first subdivided species by body design (e.g., short and fat, long and thin, etc.) and then compared each species to the most appropriate generalized lizard model via residuals from a large series of correlations. Thus, for example, rather than learning what the mean clutch size is for say, the agamid Chelosania brunnea, we learn that it has ''. . . an utterly normal clutch count ( 0.09 v. 0.20 std. resid.).'' Clutch-size residuals of C. brunnea are similar to the genus Chelosania (in this case, because there is only one species in the genus) and only slightly larger than that expected for the family. What you will not find in this book is the actual clutch size. Moreover, many readers will not have a clue what a residual is. So, I went to the supplemental database associated with the book, searched for Chelosania, and eventually discovered that the mean clutch size is six eggs. The database is a bit cumbersome to view, even with my two 72 cm monitors. Nevertheless, it is the backbone of the data distillations and lizard models defined in the book, and as such, can be corrected if errors are discovered, added to as new information becomes available, and used to address many interesting questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. More on the database below. The book begins with a seven-page Introduction and Methods, although most of the Methods are detailed in three large appendices near the end of the book. A series of definitions is provided with explanations. With two exceptions, diet and parity, most definitions seem quite reasonable to me (see below). Many are categorical (e.g., foraging mode) and others are quantitative or estimated (e.g., size). A different investigator might have made different choices for some species, but most of those differences would not change anything in the meta-analysis that leads to the next chapters. The second chapter, ''What are Lizards?,'' is particularly interesting in that it provides a wealth of information about the relative numbers of species doing a particular thing. Based on the huge database, Rodda defines what he terms ''business models,'' each of which describes where lizards live and, to some extent, what they do. A graphic of these (Fig. 2.1) appears here, yet the full development and description of the business models is not presented until Chapter 4, where the graphic is


All current cryptocurrencies are controlled by private entities, so that the issue of impact on monetary system becomes very important. Autonomous decisions by private entities concerning the money supply could diminish the ability of central banks to implement monetary policy effectively. The subject of this paper is the influence of alternative cryptocurrency forms on the monetary system. The aim of this paper is to determine the ability of central banks to conduct monetary policy successfully in conditions of widespread use of cryptocurrencies in payment transactions. The situation in the cryptocurrency market is compared with the phases of Internet development and the current situation on other markets of electronic payment systems. It is concluded that cryptocurrencies do not have the capacity to endanger the traditional monetary system at the current level. Bearing in mind the early maturity of this market, certain predictions of possible future trends have been made. In the case of private cryptocurrency usage growth, central banks could partially or completely lose influence over monetary policy. The proposed solution is the development of national cryptocurrencies that would ensure the retention of seigniorage to central banks and the prevention of further use of private cryptocurrencies in criminal activities.


The wheat flour samples were scanned directly by NIRS.The moisture content model was built up with MPLS at different spectral data preprocessing methods,and the optimal preprocessing method was tested by comparing the models prediction performance.Then the models was established by using the PCA,PLS,and MPLS under the optimal preprocessing method.The best establishing model method was determined by comparing the three models prediction performance,and the optimal model was tested by the test set.Experimental results indicated that the fore cast results of spectral data was optimal at scattering approach by one rank differential coefficient derivative disposal by using the MPLS,its standard deviation of cross validation(SECV) was 0.1874%.Fore cast standard deviation(SEP) was 0.381%.The NIRS technique can realize fast detection of flour moisture content and provide technical support for food regulator when they are monitoring the flour market.


Within the frame of the NDSC, the total vertical column abundances of HCl and ClONO2, by far the two most important inorganic chlorine reservoirs at northern mid-latitudes, have been further monitored above the Jungfraujoch station (Swiss Alps, 46.5oN, 8.0oE, 3580m a.s.l.), by analyzing infrared solar absorption spectra recorded with very high-resolution Fourier spectrometers. The mean temporal evolution of the sum of their monthly mean abundance time series indicates that the total stratospheric inorganic chlorine loading (Cly) has decreased slowly (-0.7�0.3%/yr, 1�) since it peaked in late 1996, at the limit of being statistically significant at the 2� level. Comparison with model calculations and with the evolution of surface total organic chlorine will also be


Lycaena ratushinskayae sp. n. is described from the Baitag mountain range isolated in the Dzhungarian Gobi desert, SW Mongolia. Externally the new species strongly differs from related taxa by a dark-gray underside and deep reddish upperside with widened blackish margins. A new study of the male genitalia is performed with the diagnosis of new and all related species. It is confirmed that juxta presents the most valuable sclerite for taxonomic purposes.


The search for clouds in satellite images is a challenging subject which still attracts a lot of attention due to the amount and quality of data, which is growing at a tremendous pace, the development of satellite techniques and methods, inexpensive equipment, and automation of satellite imaging processes. This paper presents a new approach to the assessment of cloudiness based on the use of the theory of moments with invariants. The values of moments with invariants, determined on the basis of the available cloudiness maps, create a new, valuable set of data, which are the geometrical parameters of the scene representing the cloud cover. In further research, the obtained data sets will be used in machine learning methods, deep machine learning methods, etc. The method is used for different conditions, including different angular positions of the Sun and time periods. The effectiveness of the method is checked on the basis of comparing the entropy results of the input maps after subtracting clouds masked by various methods. The obtained results additionally indicate the potential of the moments method as a support for the existing methods of estimating cloudiness over the sea surface.


How do discount food stores compare with conventional supermarkets? Can they underprice and still operate profitably? Are they able to reduce operating expenses? Is the food discounter a threat to the conventional supermarket? This article provides some insights into these questions based upon the practices of three noncompeting companies engaged in both conventional supermarket and discount food operations. The author also reports the actual operating figures of comparable discount and conventional outlets.


A pseudopregnant, immature rat model for studying hormone-receptor interactions and biochemical mechanisms involved in the differentiation of granulosa cells to luteal cells has been developed and characterized. Pseudopregnancy was induced by sequential treatment of 25 day old intact rats for 2 days with ovine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; 5 injections, each equivalent to 250μg of NIH-FSH-S1), followed by a single injection of ovine luteinizing hormone (LH; equivalent to 120 μg NIH-LH-S1) at 1600 h day 27. The FSH-treatment initiated follicular development and the appearance in expressed granulosa cells of LH-receptor (quantified by binding of human [125I]iodo-CG). Subsequent LH-induced luteinization of these granulosa cells was associated with a further increase in LH-receptor as determined by binding studies in vitro and uptake studies in vivo. Serum progesterone concentrations increased transiently following the injection of LH, rose steadily in association with the increase in LH-receptor in lute...


"What gives a film its power, grandeur, and beauty is not on the screen. It breaks through the screen. It is the desire, the love carried by the film, which is precisely what allows one to speak of the film otherwise than as an object, a work, or a production." --Jean-Luc Nancy, Adoration (1) "I like it. It's got layers ... you know? lots of layers." --Hans/Christopher Walken, Seven Psychopaths (Martin McDonagh 2012) Americans love their wars. Given the opportunity, they will declare war on just about anything that moves. You've got your war on poverty, which some people might mistakenly confuse with the Occupy Movement, but which actually was a government sponsored war back in the dim recesses of history when the government still pretended people were more important than banks. You've got your war on drugs, now in its 62nd glorious year--and counting. You've got your war on terror, now in its 12th glorious year. You've got your war on Iraq, which is best left forgotten (along with the War on Viet Nam). You've got your war on the family--well, at least according to the Tea Baggers. And the list goes on: the war on crime, the war on women, the war on cancer, the war on gangs, and even the war on Christmas. And lurking around the edges of all these other declared and undeclared wars is their hidden, bastard sibling, the war on art. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The war on art is constant, but unlike other wars, it is mostly undeclared and often invisible. It lurks in the dark corners of the culture waiting for some 'elitist' artist to cross a line before bursting into full scale hostilities. It's an old American tradition. As long as art stays confined to scenes of the sun setting over the Pacific or clever, ironic poems about broken hearts, or even clear moral declarations on the evil of, well, whatever--homophobia, gay marriage, slavery, crazy Iranian militants--all is peaceful. But offend someone, challenge the status quo, put a crucifix in a jar of urine, or write a realistic book about the stupidity of racism and slavery, and howls rip through the nation. Committee meetings are called, investigations launched, budgets threatened, grants cancelled--until morality triumphs, and everyone goes back to feeling secure and smug. For some reason, a lot of artists seem drawn to cross that line, even to set up camp on the other side. Not out of perversity, and often not even on purpose, but simply because that's what art demands, to be outside and further so the work can happen. It's not a grudge against morality; it's just that morality is not that relevant to the work which, if it is real work, tends to find itself in an encounter with the world's excessive sense. Art raises questions that propel the mind not toward answers but towards questions, into a bewildered awe, and the tight boundaries moralism imposes are antagonistic to that. That's why what is art and what isn't will always be the stuff of unresolvable fights. While the war sometimes may seem to be specific to this issue or that (e.g. sacrilege, torture, sex, violence), behind those issues it has to do with art's excess because that excess is what is always beyond control, what overflows the given, what unsettles: Michelangelo's nudes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel; Mark Twain's dialogue accurately reflecting the voices of his world; Stravinsky's dissonance and bizarre instrumentation; Duchamp's--well, pretty much anything Duchamp did. And art is certainly not a passive victim of these contests. It is often art's own war with a culture of universal equivalence which demands that it legitimize itself through politics or economics, or that it confirm the 'given'. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The outrage over art's insistence on unsettling the world is part of what Jean-Luc Nancy calls a "horizon of subtraction". In a world where everything is equivalent to a price, where exchange value is all the value left us, the mind closes in on itself shutting down any sense beyond the immediately, materially present. …


Sodium vapor was released in darkness on the downleg of a rocket trajectory, from 150 to 125 km. An intense headglow was observed surrounding the rocket, followed by a short-lived afterglow disappearing within 0.2–0.5 s. The glow is interpreted in terms of a chemiluminous reaction involving sodium dimers Na2. The dimers react with atomic oxygen either in a single step, Na2 + O → Na* + NaO, or in two steps, Na2 + O → Na + NaO and NaO + O → Na* + O2, with an effective bimolecular rate constant of 6 × 10−11 cm³ s−1. The Na2-O reaction could be involved in the natural sodium nightglow, but it is difficult to explain the required fast resupply of dimers from monomers.


This study aims to obtain empirical evidence of how it affects capital structure, growth opportunities and earnings persistence on earnings response coefficient. The coefficient in the construction and building sub-sector service companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) 2013-2017 period. Data analysis and hypothesis testing using panel data regression analysis. The results showed that the variable Capital structure has a negative and insignificant effect on earnings response coefficient. Growth opportunity has a significant positive effect on earnings response coefficient. Earnings persistence has a significant positive effect on earnings response coefficient


The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the fall self-efficacy and the physical body function in frail elderly individuals. The study consisted of 24 frail elderly individuals. The subjects were divided into the non-fall group (n= 17) and the fall group (n=7) according to the subject's fall history within one year. The fall self-efficacy scale (FSES; Takenaka, 2002) is a measure of self-efficacy/confidence of perform certain daily activities without falling. The 5-m walk test (5MWT), timed up and go test (TUG) and single leg stance (SLS) were used as the criteria of the physical body function. The Spearman rank correlation method was used to assess the relationships between the FSES in each group and physical body function tests. In the non-fall group, there was a correlation between the FSES and the physical body function tests, whereas no significant correlation was observed in the fall group. Our study shows that the physical body function was recognized by subjects own in the non-fall group due to the correlation between the FSES and physical body function. However, no such correlation was observed in the fall-group. Thus, the FSES may be a useful criterion for fall prediction.


We report the case of a 37‐year‐old man who underwent excision of small benign abdominal wall masses using a vacuum‐assisted biopsy device designed for breast biopsy (Mammotome®). To our knowledge, this is the first application of such a device to remove a soft tissue mass other than a breast lesion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008


Shellfish farmers make their production decisions i n an environment characterized by multiple uncertainty. As shellfish farming is done in an ope n area, producers face a large number of risks: e.g. biological, environmental, pollution or climat ic risks. Historically, this sector has been affected by several crisis; the last ones were the unexpected mortality of spat in 2008 and 2009. Insurance is one important potential mechanism for managing this kind of risks (e.g. crop insurance in agriculture), but shellfish farming ha d limited insurance availability in France. The purpose of this article is first to determine speci fic risks of this segment of agriculture. We then present the existing hedging mechanisms, from self- protection / self-insurance measures to the possible intervention of the Fishery European Funds . We analyze the limits of such instruments and we try to explain why efficient protection is n ot available for this sector. Main reasons of such a lack are: High level of ambiguity in risks d efinition, individual correlation and the high degree of specialization of a small sector, what li mits the possibility of risk pooling. Veronique Le Bihan & Sophie Pardo (co-authors,LEMNA-University of Nantes)


Recently, as the development of thermoplastic resin with excellent property and forming process of thermoplastic resin composite material, research of thermoplastic resin becomes a hot issue in related areas. Comparing with common composite material, thermoplastic resin composite material has many advantages, such as, excellent impacting resistance and many processes. So, more and more researchers focus in thermoplastic resin composite material. In this article, applications of carbon fiber strengthen thermoplastic resin composite materials are comprehensive.


Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine with peripheral menthol-thiophenyl substituents was synthesized using Linstead conditions and purified by flash column chromatography. The optimized synthetic and purification procedures allowed us to obtain a new macrocycle with 36% yield. Tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine derivative was characterized by UV–Vis and NMR spectroscopy, as well as MS spectrometry. Complex NMR studies using 1D and 2D NMR techniques allowed the analysis of the bulky menthol-thiophenyl substituted periphery of the new macrocycle. Further, photochemical stability and singlet oxygen quantum yield were determined by indirect method with diphenylisobenzofuran. The new tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine revealed low generation of singlet oxygen with a quantum yield of singlet oxygen formation at 2.3% in dimethylformamide. In turn, the macrocycle under irradiation with visible light presented very high stability with quantum yield for photostability of 9.59 × 10−6 in dimethylformamide, which figures significantly exceed the border for its classification as a stable porphyrinoid (10−4–10−5).


JINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY the professions of medicine and education have attempted, through scientific investigation, to understand the phenomenon of human growth. Many of the visible indications of growth have been charted through anthropometric means. However, little has been done as it relates to other existing studies dealing with the measurability of the total growth processes. In a previous article this researcher gave a summary of studies made by Jerome, Greulich, Tachella, Cattell, and Hamilton and Hubert showing the relationship of various maturation processes to vocal change.l The purpose of the present study was to establish a basis for determining norms, means, and extremes of voice range. Derivation of such norms was to be accomplished through the measurement of height, weight, dentition, hip and shoulder breadth, actual voice range, and through the classification of body types of 907 school children between the ages of eleven and eighteen years. The prediction of the expected incidence and degree of mutation of voices vas to be determined from a simple singing test and from data available from existing school records.


The dielectric properties of a new, cubic, pyrochlore-type solid solution Bi(1.6−1.08x)NdxTi2O(6.4−0.11x) have been studied across the compositional range 0.35 < x < 0.86. The dielectric constant (e) of the ceramics based on the pyrochlore-type solid solution within the experimental compositional range varied from 104 to 76 at 1 MHz, whereas the dielectric losses were well below tan δ = 8 × 10−3. The temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant τk for single-phase pyrochlore samples was found to be in the range between −20 and −40 ppm/K. Below room temperature dielectric relaxation phenomena were observed for all the compositions.


The kinetics of oxidation of hexamethylpararosaniline chloride (hereafter referred to as CV) by periodate ion have been studied in aqueous hydrochloric acid medium under pseudo-first order conditions of excess [IO4 -] at 28 ± 1˚C, [H+] = 5.00 x 10-2 mol dm-3, and ionic strength, I = 0.5 mol dm-3(NaCl). The stoichiometry of the reaction was found to be 1:2 mole ratio of CV to IO4 - ions. The redox reaction follows first order with respect to the reductant [CV+] and zero order with respect to the oxidant [IO4 -] at constant hydrogen ion concentration. The rate of reaction increased with increase in hydrogen ion concentration. The overall reaction conforms to the rate law


An experiment was conducted to use of palm kernel cake with cellulase and manannase supplemented enzyme in the ration on broiler performance. The method used was experimental. The design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatment rations containing palm kernel cake (PKC) (10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%) and cellulase and manannase supplemented enzymes 800 U/kg in ration, each treatment was repeated four times. Parameters measured were feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion, body weight, carcass percentage of broiler chickens. The results showed that the use of palm kernel cake with cellulase and manannase supplemented enzyme in the ration of broiler had no significant (P>0.05) effect on feed consumption, but highly significant (P


The fractal dimension (FD) is an important feature used for classification and shape recognition. The best method to obtain the FD is the Bouligand-Minkowski method. However, this method is computationally exhaustive because of the use of the distance transform. Presented is a modification in the method and a proposed architecture, suitable for field programmable gate array implementation that enables calculating the FD in a simple and efficient way.


In the present study, some 3-(substituted phenyl)-2, 10-dihydro-10-oxo-1-thioxo-1Hpyrimido[6, 1-b] quinazoline-4-carbonitriles were prepared from 6-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- 4-oxo-2-thioxopyrimidine-5 carbonitriles. The synthesis involved three steps. The first step was one pot condensation of thiourea with substituted benzaldehydes in alcohol using potassium carbonate as catalyst to give uracils (TSI –TSIV). These uracils were then converted to the compounds, 4-chloro-1, 2-dihydro-6-substituted phenyl-2-thioxopyrimidine-5-carbonitrile (TSIa- TSIVa) by overnight stirring of with POCl3 using DMF as solvent. Later on the title compounds, quinazoline derivatives (T1-T4) were prepared in one step by reacting (TSIa-TSIVa) with anthranilic acid in DMSO using catalytic amount of ionic liquid (1-n-butylimidazolium chloride). The structures of newly synthesized compounds (T1-T4) have been confirmed on the basis of spectral data


Characterizes user behavior (e.g., location, such as interaction with advertising on a mobile communications device) in order to select a targeted advertisement-end-to-end mobile advertising system is micro. Marketplace platform is a mobile communication device in accordance with certain of the audience you want in the scheduling window ( "reach"), for a number of suitable display ( "Frequency") and, for the effective duration ( "Time") negotiated tag It handles the formatting required for presentation suitable for the. The conditions of the schedule for part-time coupon advertisement campaign is supported. Efficiency can even be determined at the moment of impression advertisement by monitoring the interaction and / or user location with the communication apparatus in order to observe a change in behavior (e.g., not go to a competitor as predicted, sense a position of an advertiser phone to the advertiser, such as an ad for future reference clip). Marketplace platform for secure user identity (secure) because of privacy reasons from advertising entities that provide ad.


Recent research into job flow dynamics highlights the asymmetry in aggregate employment adjustment. This has implications for patterns of worker flow adjustment. This paper draws upon modelling strategies developed in the applied finance literature to characterize the asymmetry of aggregate employment outflow volatility. It is found that higher employment outflow volatility is associated with negative shocks, when the outflow is lower than expected. This, it is suggested, could be associated with the dynamic processes linking the hiring and turnover of workers.


A large-scale Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) has been developed for a new activity-based traffic model for the Greater Copenhagen Area (Compass) to capture network dynamics that is not possible in static route choice models. The DTA model improves the estimate of peak hour travel times and provides similar or even better link load accuracy than the static route choice model. 1. Background and purpose A realistic and well-functioning traffic assignment model constitutes an essential part of any Transport Model used for e.g. evaluating the effects of potential infrastructure investments or policies. Historically, models spanning a considerable area has used either a static or pseudo-dynamic approach for conducting traffic assignment. Static traffic assignments load all demand onto the network simultaneously. Congestion is calculated by comparing traffic on the link with capacity in the timespan under consideration e.g., the rush hour. The Danish National Transport Model (LTM) use a pseudo-dynamic approach (Rasmussen & Hansen, 2021). This has a more detailed representation of temporal variations, since typically the time horizon modelled is split in certain intervals (e.g. 10 time periods across a day) and trips start in certain time intervals and traverse the network as time progress. A whole day may thus be calculated with trips ending when they reach the destination. Congestion is calculated for individual time intervals. However, even such an approach is limited in its capability of representing network spatial and temporal dynamics accurately, especially in congested urban settings where traffic demand fluctuates considerably and queues spill-back across links and cause add-on effects. Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) models address these issues, providing a highly disaggregate temporal and spatial representation of the network dynamics. Moreover, DTA treats trips individually and each trip has an individual start time, and time is modelled at a far more disaggregate temporal resolution. In particular, DTA models model in detail queue lengths and spill-back effects at intersections, lane merging etc. giving a more detailed representation of network dynamics than static route choice models. Recently, a DTA model based on the ideas developed by Bliemer (2003) has been developed by Rapidis. The DTA model is used in a new activity-based model for the Greater Copenhagen Area (the COMPASS model). Section 2 describes the principles of DTA, while Section 3 gives an in-depth description of the approach taken and algorithms used. Section 4 presents a few examples of output from the DTA COMPASS-model. Dette resumé er udgivet i det elektroniske tidsskrift Artikler fra Trafikdage på Aalborg Universitet (Proceedings from the Annual Transport Conference at Aalborg University) ISSN 1603-9696


We consider the problem of parameter estimation from real-valued multi-tone signals. Such problems arise frequently in spectral estimation. More recently, they have gained new importance in finite-rate-of-innovation signal sampling and reconstruction. The annihilating filter is a key tool for parameter estimation in these problems. The standard annihilating filter design has to be modified to result in accurate estimation when dealing with real sinusoids, particularly because the real-valued nature of the sinusoids must be factored into the annihilating filter design. We show that the constraint on the annihilating filter can be relaxed by making use of the Hilbert transform. We refer to this approach as the Hilbert annihilating filter approach. We show that accurate parameter estimation is possible by this approach. In the single-tone case, the mean-square error performance increases by 6 dB for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) greater than 0 dB. We also present experimental results in the multi-tone case, which show that a significant improvement (about 6dB) is obtained when the parameters are close to 0 or π. In the mid-frequency range, the improvement is about 2 to 3dB.


Magnet power-supply systems for both experimental and external-proton-beam (EPB) magnets used at the Bevatron are described as feedback control systems. Individual components contained in the systems are also described. The power-controlling component first used in the supplies was a three-phase magnetic amplifier. Silicon-controlled-rectifier (SCR) bridges are being used now. The requirements placed on the experimental magnet supply systems are ±0.1% current regulation with ±10% line-voltage perturbations occurring every pulse of the Bevatron. The EPB systems must track to at least ±0.1% a dynamic signal closely related to the proton beam energy. The performance criteria for EPB systems involve both error coefficients and transient response.


This study aims to examine and prove the influence of the characteristics of the  internal control system of accounts receivable effect on bad debts. This research uses quantitative data and is carried out in the Koperasi Karyawan Keluarga Besar Petrokimia Gresik. Data collection techniques for Independent variables using questionnaire data and the dependent variable uses cut-off data for uncollectible accounts for the period September 2015 to December 2018. Data analysis techniques use multiple linear regression analysis, t test, f test and coefficient of determination. The results of the research on the characteristics of the Internal Control System trade accounts receivable have a positive and significant effect on uncollectible accounts. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.3629922


Postlaparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) frequently follows laparoscopic surgery. In this placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the efficacy of two perioperative doses of pregabalin 300 mg 12 h apart for preventing and attenuating PLSP after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The frequency and severity of PLSP, need for postoperative rescue analgesia, and side effect profiles were assessed for 48 h postoperatively. In both groups, the overall incidence of PLSP did not differ significantly, and the pain score for PLSP, time to first rescue analgesia, and cumulative ketorolac consumption were similar at each timepoint. However, the 2-h postoperative incidence of oversedation was higher with pregabalin.


This article intends to add on the critical and theoretical discussion about the processes and practices on women's education in graduation courses historically considered as male's. The research problem is situated by presenting the locus of research, the foundation and specificity of the graduation courses: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in Campus Tucuruí of the Federal University of Pará. Presents the link between the concept of gender and memory, the last one articulated with the oral history methodology to discuss the possibilities of the study about the reasons, the modes and effects of gender stereotypes in the constitution, during the formative processes, of women identities who were in these graduation courses.


Evidence on the sustained effect of early intervention is inconclusive, with many studies experiencing a dissolution of treatment effects once the program ends. Using a randomized trial, this paper examines the impact of Preparing for Life (PFL), a pregnancy to age five home visiting and parenting program, on outcomes in middle childhood. We find little evidence of cognitive fade-out at age nine, with significant treatment effects on cognitive skills (0.67SD) and school achievement tests (0.47-0.74SD) that are of a similar magnitude to those observed at the end of the program. There is no impact on other school outcomes and earlier effects for socio-emotional skills are no longer evident. While about 50 percent of the sample is retained at age nine, the treatment groups are still balanced on all key baseline characteristics and the results are robust to inverse probability weighting. Mediation analysis suggests that ~46 percent of the treatment effect on cognitive skills is explained by improvements in early parental investment. This study demonstrates that boosting children's early cognitive skills can reduce school-age inequalities five years after program completion, yet continued investment may be needed to break long-standing inequalities in other dimensions of skills.


On the basis of analyzing the difficulties and properties of the process control of thermal chlorination reaction, a knowledge base of the control system was constructed according to the theory and practical operating experiences of this reaction process. A hierarchical knowledge intelligent expert control system was designed. It has been successfully used in comercial process at Luzhou North Chemical industry Ltd.


Polyoxazolidone composites were prepared from polymeric isocyanate (PAPI 901) and epoxides (Epon 828 and DEN 431) in the presence of an oxazolidone-forming catalyst, triphenylantimony iodide. The effects of isocyanate to epoxide equivalent ratio, type of epoxide, and amount of fiberglass reinforcement on the composite properties were studied as well as the effects of post-curing temperature and time. Increasing the fiberglass content of the polyoxazolidone composites resulted in an improvement of the thermal and mechanical strength properties. The heat deflection temperature of all polyoxazolidones was > 250°C. The retention of the tensile strength at 150°C was excellent, ∼90% or higher. Polyoxazolidone composites based on DEN 431 at 1.2 isocyanate to epoxide equivalent ratio with 70 wt.% of fiberglass and post-cured at 150°C for 48 h exhibited the best properties. According to the results of DMA, TMA and DSC, the maximum operating temperature for polyoxazolidone composites is around 200°C. The TGA data showed that the decomposition temperature was ∼330°C.


ABSTRACT The Lancashire and Cheshire Ladies Hockey League (LHL) was formed in 1910, 'by way of dissenting from the policy of the All England Women's Hockey Association [AEWHA]', which disapproved of playing for championships or trophies.2 Similar league competitions – set up and largely run by men – quickly followed in cities and towns across the North and Midlands, providing women with regular Saturday afternoon fixtures, as well as knockout cup games. After failing to find satisfactory accommodation within the AEWHA, several leagues broke away to form an alternative governing body, the English Ladies Hockey Leagues Association (ELHLA), which remained in existence until 1960. As well as organising inter-league games and cup competitions, the ELHLA selected England representative teams. With a focus on class and gender, this article – for the first time – will examine the AEWHA's evolving attitude towards leagues from 1910 to the start of the Second World War, and the types of teams that populated these early competitions. It will also explore the conditions that gave rise to the ELHLA and the impact this organisation had on the authority of the AEWHA before 1939.


Disclosed is a process for preparing cerebrose sodium alginate-polylysine nano particles which comprises, synthesizing cerebrose sodium alginate-polylysine nano gel by employing gel-forming phenomenon, dissolving sodium alginate and calcium chloride into water, magnetic stirring, charging calcium chloride solution and cerebrose polylysine, stewing till the second day at room temperature, passing the nano turbid liquor through SephadexG-25 column for purification, finally vacuum drying the purified product.


Recensao critica a obra de Simon Sinek, "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action". New York: Penguin, 2011


The objectives of this work are to review the aesthetic designs currently available in removable partial dentures (RPD) and discuss their clinical applications. Covering metal structures with ceramic or resins, and technopolymer or acetate resins clasps are alternatives that commonly fail and present significant disadvantages. Coating a cobalt-chromium framework with white powder paints revealed promissory results but further research is needed.


Based on the spatial data management way of ArcSDE and SQL Server 2005,designed and developed Shanghai automatic Weather Stations data Analysis and Application System by the component second development way with ArcGis Engine and Delphi.It realized the functions including update the database by the real time data,query and search the data,the time-space distribution display,meteorological disaster warning.It provided a visual analysis platform of meteorological data for forecasters,improved the efficiency of the meteorological services greatly.


The purpose of the article is to show the Northern English dialect as a complex creation dependent on various geographical, cultural and social factors responsible for its fluidity and changeable nature. Its strong tendencies towards developing new linguistic solutions are considerably manifested in the morphological and syntactic system which since the very beginning has been subject to alternations, sometimes affecting even other English dialects. The analysis of such areas as nominal and verbal inflection, pronouns, definite articles, auxiliaries, and irregular verbs, makes it tempting to notice certain regular patterns aimed at introducing modern, more economical and thus improved linguistic models. The character and motivation of these novel creations is at times perplexing and calls for arguments not only from historical linguistics, but also geographical and perceptual dialectology as well as functional and evolutionary theories. What is beyond any doubt, however, is that as a result of those new solutions the Northern dialect has become a special sociolinguistic construct whose specific morphosyntactic makeup reveals a unique and innovative dimension defining the North both of the past and of today.


Slip-line fields in plastic deformations have been theoretically obtained for contact deformations between rigid and idealized-rigid perfectly plastic media under idealized contact conditions. In these analyses, simple assumptions such as idealized perfect lubrication, Coulomb friction or uniform contact pressure have been made However, the deformation and stress states near the contact surface are seriously affected by the mechanical properties of the contact media used and the lubricant or the contact pressure on the contact surface Hence the theoretical slip-line fields are fairly different from the fields obtained from actual experiments The actual slip-line fields are easily constructed, however, by using the isoclinic- fringe pattern obtained from photoviscoplastic model tests using polymers.


Abstract Identifying the environmental factors influencing biotic patterns in large rivers will assist with extrapolating biological monitoring results to broader scale conclusions about river condition. In the present study, we collected macroinvertebrates and physico‐chemical data at 47 shallow‐water (<1‐m deep) sites, including nine sites at major tributary junctions, during summer along the lower Waikato River, North Island, New Zealand. Macroinvertebrate communities were dominated by a few relatively abundant and widespread taxa. Upper site samples were characterised by high relative abundances of Diptera, but the significance of this group declined further downstream where Crustacea became more dominant. Overall, more taxa (36) were found at tributary junctions than at mainstem sites within four hydrogeomorphic zones (22–31 taxa per zone). Significant differences among faunal groups identified in a cluster analysis on relative abundance data were detected for the percentage of wood sampled, and for water conductivity which increased downstream at mainstem sites and was high at some junction sites. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling of percentage abundance data revealed differences in community composition among zones, and among some mainstem and tributary junction sites. Geographic position (easting and northing) was significantly correlated with taxa richness and community evenness (Pielou) at mainstem sites (excluding tributary junctions), reflecting an increase in sample diversity and less equitable taxonomic dominance with distance down river. Overall, these results point to an interplay between habitat patchiness and successional and hydrogeom orphic processes influencing macroinvertebrate community composition in the lower Waikato River. Such multiscale variations need to be accounted for in the design of invertebrate biomonitoring programmes if they are to represent the ecological condition of large river environments.


This letter presents a modular naturally clamped snubberless bidirectional soft-switching current-fed dual 6-pack (CFD6P) dc/dc converter to interface two dc buses of large voltage difference such as 24 V and 380 V. It is therefore suitable for energy storage, uninterruptible power system, renewable energy system, vehicle, and micro-grid applications. The proposed novel secondary modulation technique forces the currents through the primary-side (low-voltage side) devices to reverse its direction resulting in zero-current switching (ZCS) or natural commutation of current-fed low-voltage side devices. Secondary-side (high-voltage side) devices are turned-on with zero-voltage switching (ZVS). In addition, the resonance between the device parasitic capacitance and transformer leakage inductance achieves ZVS turn-on of the primary-side devices. Thus, the converter maintains a zero-voltage zero-current switching of the current-fed devices and ZVS of high-voltage devices. High-current applications needs short-circuit protection and that is built-in the converter inherently. It limits the peak current and circulating current through the devices resulting in low kVA rating devices. Steady-state operation, analysis, and design of the proposed converter have been studied and explained. Experimental results for 1-kW laboratory prototype have been demonstrated as a proof of concept to validate the claims.


Bovine pericardium (BP) is an important biomaterial used in the production of glutaraldehyde‐fixed heart valves and tissue‐engineering applications. The ability to perform proteomic analysis on BP is useful for a range of studies, including investigation of immune rejection after implantation. However, proteomic analysis of fibrous tissues such as BP is challenging due to their relative low‐cellularity and abundance of extracellular matrix. A variety of methods for tissue treatment, protein extraction, and ;fractionation were investigated with the aim of producing high‐quality 2‐DE gels for both water‐ and lipid‐soluble BP proteins. Extraction of water‐soluble proteins with 3‐(benzyldimethylammonio)‐propanesulfonate followed by n‐dodecyl β‐D‐maltoside extraction and ethanol precipitation for lipid‐soluble proteins provided the best combination of yield, spot number, and resolution on 2‐DE gels (Protocol E2). ESI‐quadrupole/ion trap or MALDI‐TOF/TOF MS protein identifications were performed to confirm bovine origin and appropriate subcellular prefractionation of resolved proteins. Twenty‐five unique, predominantly cytoplasmic bovine proteins were identified from the water‐soluble fraction. Thirty‐two unique, predominantly membrane bovine proteins were identified from the lipid‐soluble fraction. These results demonstrated that the final protocol produced high‐quality proteomic data from this important tissue for both cytoplasmic and membrane proteins.


Part 1 Historical and Constitutional Frameworks Chapter 2 Religion, Politics, and Law in the United States in Comparative Perspective Chapter 3 Historical and Constitutional Relations between Churches and the State in France Part 4 Protestantism Chapter 5 Religious Freedom and American Protestantism Chapter 6 Putting God into the City: Protestants in France Part 7 Catholicism Chapter 8 The Catholic Story: The Political Consequences of Internal Pluralism Chapter 9 French Catholics, Secularization, and Politics Part 10 Judaism Chapter 11 The American Jewish Experience Chapter 12 From Assimilation to Post-Republicanism: Jews in France Part 13 Islam Chapter 14 To Vote or not to Vote: The Politicization of American Islam Chapter 15 From Migrants to Citizens: Muslims in France Part 16 Conclusions Chapter 17 Current Issues in France Chapter 18 Politicized Religion in France and the United States: Different Histories, Common Ideals, Similar Dilemmas


When evaluated with a spatially uniform irradiance, an imaging sensor exhibits both spatial and temporal variations, which can be described as a three-dimensional (3D) random process considered as noise. In the 1990s, NVESD engineers developed an approximation to the 3D power spectral density (PSD) for noise in imaging systems known as 3D noise. This correspondence describes the decomposition of the full 3D PSD into the familiar components from the 3D Noise model. The standard 3D noise method assumes spectrally (spatio-temporal) white random processes, which is demonstrated to be atypically in the case with complex modern imaging sensors. Using the spectral shape allows for more appropriate analysis of the impact of the noise of the sensor. The processing routines developed for this work consider finite memory constraints and utilize Welch's method for unbiased PSD estimation. In support of the reproducible research effort, the Matlab functions associated with this work can be found on the Mathworks file exchange [1].


Fuel cells have gained considerable interest as a means to efficiently convert the energy stored in gases like hydrogen and methane into electricity. Further developing fuel cells in order to reach cost, safety and reliability levels at which their widespread use becomes feasible is an essential prerequisite for the potential establishment of a 'hydrogen economy'. A major factor currently obviating the extensive use of fuel cells is their relatively high costs. At present we estimate these at about 1100 €/kW for an 80 kW fuel cell system. We analyse past fuel cell cost reductions for both individual manufacturers and the global market. We determine learning curves, with fairly high uncertainty ranges, for three different types of fuel cell technology – AFC, PAFC and PEMFC – each manufactured by a different producer. For PEMFC technology we also calculate a global learning curve, characterised by a learning rate of 21% with an error margin of 4%. Given their respective uncertainties, this global learning rate value is in agreement with those we find for different manufacturers. In contrast to some other new energy technologies, R&D still plays a major role in today's fuel cell improvement process and hence probably explains a substantial part of our observed cost reductions. The remaining share of these cost reductions derives from learningby-doing proper. Since learning-by-doing usually involves a learning rate of typically 20%, the residual value for pure learning we find for fuel cells is relatively low. In an ideal scenario for fuel cell technology we estimate a bottom-line for specific (80 kW system) manufacturing costs of 95 €/kW. Although learning curves observed in the past constitute no guarantee for sustained cost reductions in the future, when we assume global total learning at the pace calculated here as the only cost reduction mechanism, this ultimate cost figure is reached after a large-scale deployment about 10 times doubled (1340 times multiplied) with respect to the cumulative installed fuel cell capacity to date.


The existence of weaving in the life of society have a role and a very valuable both economically, socially and culturally. These values can be seen from the behavior or habits of local communities Flores. Cultural importance of weaving makes the writer tries to design reference books related to the process of making traditional ikat in Sikka Regency society, especially on the island of Palue which is one of the islands in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The book is designed specifically reserved for teenagers in Sikka district, because the author assumes that the youth in the district slow sea change will be the development of increasingly sophisticated technology, resulting in lack of interest of youth to preserve back traditional culture, one that is with weaving. Keyword : buku refrensi, tenun ikat, flores, tradisi


In this work, the computational complexity of a hierarchic optimization problem involving in several players is studied. Each player is assigned with a linear objective function. The set of variables is partitioned such that each subset corresponds to one player as its decision variables. All the players jointly make a decision on the values of these variables such that a set of linear constraints should be satisfied. One special player, called the leader, makes decision on its decision variables before of all the other players. The rest, after learnt of the decision of the leader, make their choices so that their decisions form a Nash Equilibrium for them, breaking tie by maximizing the objective function of player. We show that the exact complexity of the problem is FPNP-complete.


While the noticeable shift from serial to parallel programming in simulation technologies progresses, it is increasingly important to better understand the interplay of different parallel programming paradigms. We discuss some corresponding issues in the context of transforming a shared-memory parallel program that involves two nested levels of parallelism into a hybrid parallel program. Here, hybrid programming refers to a combination of shared and distributed memory. In particular, we focus on performance aspects arising from shared-memory parallel programming where the time to access a memory location varies with the threads. Rather than analyzing these issues in general, the focus of this position paper is on a particular case study from geothermal reservoir engineering.


Although Theresa May wants a bespoke deal with the EU that will be outside the European Free Trade Association, EFTA's own relationship with the Union is instructive, write Sieglinde Gstohl (College of Europe) and Christian Frommelt (Liechtenstein Institute). It sheds light on the challenges of an 'arm's-length' relationship with the EU, in particular for trade policy. In her Florence speech in September, Theresa ...


This paper considers the use of compliant or Robin boundary conditions to provide a homogenised model of a finite array of collinear plates, modelling a perforated screen or grating. This geometry forms a canonical model in scattering theory, with applications from electromagnetism to aeroacoustics. Interest in perforated media incorporated within larger structures motivates interrogating the appropriateness of homogenised boundary conditions in this case, especially as the homogenised model changes the junction behaviour considered at the extreme edges of the screen. To facilitate effective investigation we consider three numerical methods: the unified transform and an iterative Wiener–Hopf approach for the exact problem of a set of collinear rigid plates (the difficult geometry of the problem means that such methods, which converge exponentially, are crucial), and a novel Mathieu function collocation approach to consider a variable compliance applied along the length of a single plate. We detail the relative performance and practical considerations for applying each method, of broader interest to those considering applying the methods. We verify the appropriateness of the constant compliance given in previous theoretical research to gain a good estimate of the solution even for a modest number of plates, provided we are sufficiently far into the asymptotic regime in which the homogenisation is valid, which we describe. We further investigate tapering the compliance near the extreme endpoints of the screen, and find that tapering with tanh functions reduces the error in the approximation of the far-field (if we are sufficiently far into the asymptotic regime). We also find that the number of plates and wavenumber have significant effects, even far into the asymptotic regime. These last two points indicate the importance of modelling end effects to achieve highly accurate results.


Type slides and the last remnant of the type sample of Haslea wawrikae were examined in LM and SEM. An emended diagnosis is presented, one new finding being that the transverse bars of the basal layer on either side of the raphe are offset—the bars on the one side aligning with the areolar foramina on the other. The species is confirmed (SEM) to have a fully developed raphe and the valve structure characterising Haslea species: an internal "grate-like" basal layer and an external tegumental layer with continuous longitudinal fissures. An erroneous identification of H . wawrikae was traced in the literature and the existence of similar, but non-conspecific, species is suspected.


Linamarase application exists in biotechnology such as potentiometric sensors for linamarin by coupling linamarase from cassava leaf with a cyanide ion-selective electrode and to measure glucose in biomedical applications. It is used in a batchwise process to detoxify fermenting cassava during 'garri' production. Linamarase along with its naturally occurring substrates, linamarin and lotaustralin, is found in a variety of edible plant tissues such as those of cassava from which garri is produced. However, the separation and purification of linamarase at reasonable large quantity for these applications from plants has been a challenge. In the study a miniflex Ultrafiltration (UF) Cross Flow obtained from Schleicher and Schuell (Germany) was used for linamarase isolation and purification from cassava tissues. Membranes with different pore sizes of 0.45, 0.2, 0.1 and 0.02 μm, made from polyethersulfon screnes and silicone adhensives, with surface area of 2.4 mm, were experimented. Fluxes were observed to decrease very sharply from 0.45 to 0.02μm membrane pore sizes. No permeate was collected from 0.1 and 0.02 μm membranes due to concentration polarisation and clogging of these membranes. Permeate and retentate from 0.45 and 0.2 μm membrane contained linamarase, while the retentate of the 0.1 and 0.02 μm membranes contained linamarse and that no permeate was collected from 0.1 and 0.02 μm membranes due to the fouling and clogging of the small membrane pores. It was therefore concluded that linamarase was finally purified by the 0.2 μm membrane. A simple mathematical model derived from the Hagen-Poiseuille equation could not predict the linamarase flux data, perhaps due to the effect of concentration polarisation, which led to the proposition of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was interesting to observe that the plot of 1/v versus 1/∆p from the use of the Langmuir equation gave a linear relationship from which the linamarase flux


User segmentation is one the most important problems in online advertiting. The use of online latent Dirichlet allocation model for analysing big datasets for this purpose is proposed in this paper. The relationship between the number of segments and segmentation quality metrics is analized and criteria for assigning ads to user segments are proposed.


We examine the spectrum of bremsstrahlung photons that results from the stopping of the initial net charge distributions in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collier (LHC). This effect has escaped detection so far since it becomes sizable only at very low transverse momentum and at sufficiently forward rapidity. We argue that it may be within reach of the next-generation LHC heavy-ion detector ALICE-3 that is currently under study, and we comment on the physics motivation for measuring it.