In a study conducted on three forest watersheds namely Sal' Eucalyptus and Brushwood on an agricultural land in Doon valley' higher nitrates were observed upto 20 cm soil depth' which decreased in deeper layers. Agricultural land revealed much higher levels of nitrates than forest land users' particularly in 0-10 cm depth. Thus agricultural fields when dressed with heavy doses of nitrogen fertilizer pose a serious threat to nitrate contamination. Amongst the forest watersheds' higher nitrates were recorded under Sal followed by Eucalyptus and then brushwood. Maximum amount of nitrates were observed in February sampling followed by September and June sampling. Nitrate contents was found to bear direct relationship between ph' organic carbon and moisture status in surface layers. The correlation coefficients and regression equations have been reported.


This article is a descriptive and interpretative statement of a basic analytical tool of institutional economists-the dichotomy.' And, it is divided into two major sections: first, a brief description of the dichotomy is given; second, several important corollary tenets are presented.


In this paper the average transmitted reference receiver (ATRR) and simple transmitted reference receiver (STRR), of transmitted reference system receiver of UWB system are analyzed via the test decision of extend maximum likelihood ratio (EMLR) method.


Agricultural Innovation in the green revolution contains high ecological risk, so that eco-technology innovation is needed for the sustainability of agricultural productivity. Unfortunately, not all farmers know about of this innovation, including members of the Nanga-Nanga Makmur Farmers Group around the Kendari City Botanical Gardens. This Community Partnership Program aimed to: (i) increase the knowledge and skills of target farmers regarding the management of abundant organic waste around farmers' fields to be used as non-microbial biofertilizer products; and (ii) provide knowledge to target farmers about conducting soil quality testing as a reference for farmers to determine the dose of non-microbial biofertilizer on managed agricultural land by members of the farmer groups. The method applied to achieve this goal is to do incidental counseling through face-to-face activities, training activities through mentoring in plot demonstration actions. Data on the increasing knowledge and skills of farmers were recorded through photos during mentoring and pilot demonstrations and analyzed descriptively. The results of these activities have increased the knowledge and skills of farmers in evaluating soil fertility using KIT for soil analysis, and determining the need for organic matter and fertilizers. Partner farmers have been able and skilled to produce biochar, compost tea, and compost as non-microbial biofertilizer by utilizing liquid organic waste and organic solid waste. Farmers can to manage soil quality and plant health through the application of non-microbial biofertilizer to soil and plants. Farmers also have insight into pest/disease control through an eco-technology approach.


Biofuel cells (BFCs) based on enzymatic electrodes hold great promise as power sources for biomedical devices. However, their practical use has been hindered by low electron transfer efficiency and poor operational stability of enzymatic electrode. Here, we present a novel mediator-free multi-ply BFC that overcomes these limitations and exhibits both substantially high-power output and long-term operational stability. Our approach involves the utilization of interfacial interaction-induced assembly between hydrophilic glucose oxidase (GOx) and hydrophobic conductive indium tin oxide nanoparticles (ITO NPs) with distinctive shapes, along with a multi-ply electrode system. For the preparation of anode, GOx and oleylamine-stabilized ITO NPs with bipod/tripod type were covalently assembled onto the host fiber electrode composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Remarkably, despite the contrasting hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, this interfacial assembly approach allows for the formation of nanoblended GOx/ITO NP film, enabling efficient electron transfer within the anode. Additionally, the cathode was prepared by sputtering Pt onto the host electrode. Furthermore, the multi-ply fiber electrode system exhibited unprecedented high-power output (∼10.4 mW cm-2 ) and excellent operational stability (2.1 mW cm-2 , ∼49% after 60 days of continuous operation). Our approach can provide a basis for the development of high-performance BFCs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The objective of the present study is to demonstrate and evaluate the photorefractive (PR) performance of an all-organic PR device with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified organic conductive electrode of PEDOT:PSS coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The PR composite consisted of a triphenylamine-based photoconductive polymer: poly(4-(diphenylamino)benzyl acrylate) (PDAA), a triphenylamine photoconductive plasticizer: (4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)methanol (TPAOH), a nonlinear optical dye based on aminocyanostyrene: (4-asacycloheptylbenzylidenemalononitrile) (7-DCST), and soluble fullerene: [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid-methyl ester (PCBM). For comparison with the all-organic PR device, the PR performances using PET/ITO, glass/ITO, and glass/PEDOT:PSS substrates were also evaluated. At an applied electric field of 40 V μm–1, the diffraction efficiency and the response time of the PR device using the PET/PEDOT:PSS-SAM substrate were 21.9%, and 390 ms, respectively. As a result of repeating bending ...


Most industrial processes require heat in the temperature range from (60-260)°C (Kalogirou, 2002b). – representing an application which could potentially be met with locally derived solar heat (Li et al., 2016). The authors believe this is a promising, but critically underdeveloped field, so this paper employs TRNSYS software (Klein, 2012) to conduct a comparative annual parametric study of four different solar thermal collectors for a sterilization application. Several cases were investigated using different load profiles, control methods, tank configurations, and two solar resource locations in Sydney and Alice Springs. Sterilization process requires steam to be delivered at a temperature from 132°C-135°C (Patel, 2003). To meet this demand, a solar collector must provide 180°C Oil to a steam generator. Our results indicate that a small, but significant, fraction of industrial demand can indeed be met with solar heat coming from the rooftop of the building. Solar contribution up to 53% has been acheived using the TVP collector, stratified tank-differential controller strategy. However, an economic analysis reveals that the system must be carefully designed in order to have any chance at achieving an economic payback (without subsidies).


B‐HT 958 (2‐amino‐6‐(p‐chlorobenzyl)‐4H‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydrothiazolo 5,4‐d azepine) blocked the γ‐butyrolactone‐induced increase in the synthesis of dopamine and slowed down the α‐methyltyrosine‐induced disappearance of dopamine in the mouse brain by haloperidol‐sensitive mechanisms. In reserpine‐treated mice, B‐HT 958 produced at most a weak locomotion and no change in the apomorphine‐induced increase in motor activity. The motor activity of normal mice was reduced by B‐HT 958. At high doses, B‐HT 958 accelerated the α‐methyltyrosine‐induced disappearance of noradrenaline and it inhibited the effects of clonidine on the turnover and on the synthesis of noradrenaline in the mouse brain. The findings indicate that the dopamine autoreceptors can be selectively stimulated by B‐HT 958 but that the α2‐adrenoceptors can be blocked following high doses.


The practice of Heritage Conservation in the context of the regular practice of architecture has either been largely misunderstood or, at worse, regarded as architecture with an outdated twist. Far too many practicing architects see no need or utility for conservation and regard it as useless nostalgia and retrograde. The conservation and restoration of old structures in practical construction terms could even be qualified as plain "retrofitting" and expensive. It is within scientific parameters that we approach the special branch of architectural practice called Heritage Conservation, and its preservation of human – in this case Philippine – values. The important link that architecture has as a manifestation of Philippine Identity can only be seen if we regard the expression of space as socio-cultural in nature, including the intangible connections of the design process to our own Philippine value systems and concepts. How we assess a heritage resource using the scientific method, in this case a heritage structure or site, will only help but aid in its judicious conservation and future use as a contemporary functioning building. The interpretation of this assessment aids us in the proper adaptive re-use of the historic building without losing its heritage value. The Capitol Building of Lingayen, Pangasinan (1918), an outstanding example of Philippine state architecture in the American Colonial Period, will be the test case. The building is also embodied in the official provincial seal and is of historical value, and thus is of great heritage value to the people of Pangasinan as a symbol of their ethnicand self-identity. The building functions today as a typical capitol building of a prosperous province, with its typical problems found in almost all government buildings of overcrowding, misuse and chronic lack of maintenance perhaps also a manifestation of the lack of 1 Rene Luis S. Mata has completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture at the University of the Philippines and a Masters degree in Architectural Restoration and Rehabilitation of Patrimony at the University of Alcala-Henares, Madrid, Spain. He has been involved in the conservation of Philippine built heritage: is an executive committee member of the Committee on Monuments and Sites, NCCA, board member of the Heritage Conservation Society, and current president of the International Committee on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Philippines, the NGO of the UNESCO. Arch't. Mata is current head of the History, Theory and Criticism Studio Laboratory, tasked with the development of all architectural history courses, including various joint conservation projects on heritage sites in the country as part of the requirement for fourth year design Studio Lab on Conservation. As Assistant Professor, he also teaches first and second year design subjects, as well as architectural research subjects. appreciation of state architecture as heritage. The conservation and restoration of this building type, retaining its heritage value without compromising its continued function as the prime administrative center of Pangasinan, will be the topic of this paper.


Migration of labour force has a significant impact on national economy. The labour force is the most important resource of any country; growing and developed economy is not possible without labour force. The economic crisis of 2008 has been one of the factors influencing fast migration of the labour force and decrease in number of population in Latvia during 2000-2015. Despite the fact that the economic crisis is defeated and the economic situation gradually improves, the number of population has shrunk by 400 000 persons from 2000 until 2015. It is critical to identify reasons of labour migration, factors influencing the process, and its impact on national economy as the country's overall development depends on it. The aim of the research was to study migration of the labour force, influencing factors, and their impact on the national economy of Latvia. Within the research, the factors related to labour migration influencing the national economy of Latvia were analysed. The authors have come to the conclusion that the Latvia's economic crisis and free movement of labour have been the most essential factors causing migration.


Part 1 Preparation: timetable materials required accommodation and room layout session timings pre-workshop preparation. Part 2 Introduction: timing guidelines introduction a problem-solving model. Part 3 Problem identification and definition: timing guidelines problem identification and definition exercise - Grinding Solutions plc (1). Part 4 Generating creative solutions: timing guidelines introduction exercise - evaluating and selecting options exercise - Grinding Solutions plc (2). Part 5 Planning for implementation: timing guidelines exercise - planners and operators. Part 6 Action planning: timing guidelines action planning further reading about the author and Harbridge Consulting Group slides and handouts.


~/~ NTAL health consultation is usually defined as the interaction between a consultant 1 V land a consultee on behalf of a client (Greenblatt, 1975). Since the original description of the four types of consultation by Caplan in 1964, mental health consultation has found a broad field of application: it has helped with the hospital staff (Stanton and Vetter, 1968, Wallis and Katf, 1972, Wodinsky, 1964), the schools (Hirschowitz, 1971, Birnbaum, 1971), the police (Friedman, 1965), the nursing homes (Frankel, 1967, Goldberg et al, 1970), the rehabilitation agencies (Goldbert and Stein, 1970), the military (Bey and Smith, 1971, Datel, 1970) and numerous other agencies. At the same time more and more training programs in Psychiatry have been making formal attempts to teach consultation, the exact organization of which is open to trial, error and experimentation (Greenblatt, 1975). A usual cnsultative activity included in these programs is case consultation with a social agency. Social agencies in the metropolitan cities deal with every type of human problem including welfare needs, legal counsel, housing, homemaking, family crisis and child welfare. Some of these agencies in the U.S. are now being amalgamated into multiservice institutes under the antipoverty program. Many have long sought and received consultative and educational help (Greenblatt, 1975) particularly from departments of Psychiatry. This was exactly the case with the social agency to which I was assigned during my residency training in Community Psychiatry as a consultant.


For more than twenty years, Stanley Hauerwas has written compellingly about the practice of Christian ethics. Four interconnected moments characterize his thought during this period. First, he focussed in his early books on the relationships among the character of the moral agent, moral virtues, and the importance of "vision," or "seeing the world rightly." He criticized versions of theological ethics that one-sidedly attended to the rightness or wrongness of acts (not virtues or dispositions), the isolated event of moral decision-making (not character as that which makes decision-making intelligible), and models of human obedience and divine command (not the capacity to "see" the world, say, with the "mind of Christ"). This position was clarified, second, with his subsequent consideration of the way "narrative" governs claims about the "truthfullness" of Christian ethics. But just as the early ethics of character relied on an


Objective To investigate the mechanisms of the alleviation of islet graft earlier injury in the gastric submucosa.Methods The recipients were divided into gastric submucosa group (n =8) and hepatic portal vein group (n =8).1200IEQ SD rat islets were transplanted into diabetic SD rats induced by the administration of streptozocin (STZ).Glucose tolerance test and pathological examination were performed 14 days post transplantation.30 min after the transplantation,the C-peptide of the two groups were detected.12 h after the transplantation,IL-1β and TNF-α of the two groups were examined.Results The mean survival time (MST) of grafts in gastric submucosa group was (25.9 ± 4.1) d and (16.0 ± 0.8) d (P <0.01) in portal vein group.The results of glucose tolerance test and immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that grafts in gastric submucosa group survived well and got excellent function 14 days post transplantation.Compared with the gastric submucosa group,after 30 min of the transplantation,C-peptide in portal vein group was significantly higher [(1.46 ± 0.28) ng/ml.vs.(3.84 ± 0.22) ng/ml,P < 0.01].Additionally,the level of IL-1β [(29 ± 1.41) pg/ml.vs.(262.26 ± 53.37) pg/ml,P < 0.01] and TNF-α [(23 ± 1.41) pg/ml.vs.(138.51 ± 39.5) pg/ml,P < 0.01] in portal vein group,were also significantly higher than the gastric submucosa group,after 12 h of the transplantation.Conclusion Islet transplantation in gastric submucosa prolongs islet grafts survival by avoiding or alleviating IBMIR and the injuries induced by early inflammatory mediators.

Key words:
Islet transplantation;  Gastric submucosa;  Hepatic portal vein;  Inflammatory reaction


The ability to differentiate in-group from out-group members on the basis of symbolic cues may be unique to Homo sapiens. The current research examined whether meaningful cues of in-group status moderate ovulatory shifts—a psychological adaptation that likely evolved earlier in humans' evolutionary timeline. Four studies demonstrated that men were more attracted to fertile than nonfertile women's voices only when men were evaluating in-group members. In Study 1, the fertility of Caucasian, but not Hispanic, women's voices positively predicted 92 Caucasian male students' attraction ratings. Study 2a (N = 56) replicated this effect among older participants, and Study 2b (N = 233) included a public preregistration and replicated it again. Study 3 replicated the effect in a sample of 47 Caucasian male students, and an experimental manipulation of the targets' school membership produced a conceptual replication. These results stress the utility of considering the phylogeny of human evolution when testing evolutionary hypotheses.


This paper discusses the importance of book reservation university libraries in new era, and analyses the effects of book reservation on readers. Proposes that the university library should pay great importance to book reservation, upgrade the literature resources utilization ratio, and look forward to the future book reservation.


Artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm has been very popular in the last few years in computational intelligence research area. This paper proposes a modified version of the ABC algorithm for solving numerical function optimization problems. The purpose of this modified ABC algorithm is to improve the exploitation capability of the ABC algorithm. For this purpose, the proposed ABC uses an inversely proportional mutation function and a new search mechanism. Experiments are performed on a set of 9 widely used benchmark problems. The experimental results show that this modified ABC algorithm outperforms the standard ABC algorithm.


As the important content and backbone of the building of harmonious society,the concept of judicial harmony is a new form of the civil trail pattern reformation and it also gives a guide to the change of civil litigation pattern.It is proved by the practice of the civil trail pattern reformation of our country that neither the exofficio nor the adversary system is the right choice.According to the situation of our country and the trend of the worldwide judicial reformation,we should build the cooperating pattern of civil litigation.To build the cooperating pattern of civil litigation is to distribute the function and power in litigation properly between the parties and the court and to build the cooperating mechanism and relationshio of them.


The process of verification of the most important processes in security applications and many applications that are special and depends on the identification of the person to ensure privacy. The process of identifying people is done through several things, but the most important of these are biometrics, where people are distinguished by behavioral characteristics (such as gait, signature, sound) or biologic (such as the fingerprint, iris, and vein print).The fingerprint is one of the most important biometrics in humans, because it does not change and be easy to capture in addition to that the human has many fingers, if a problem got a finger can use another finger. In this research a method was proposed to identify the fingerprint by the texture features. Hybrid properties are used by using invariant moments that extract features from a new proposed model is a double thinning model DTM, and GLCM that extracts features from the binary model. The matching process was performed using the Euclidean distance. The system was tested on a database of 40 people. The results were very impressive above 98%. This research opens the horizon to the use of hybrid properties to identify biometrics.


Discharge data is usually less available than rainfall data, so it is necessary to find a relationship between river flows that are applied in the period available rainfall data in a watershed area. The purpose of this study is to determine the suitability of the method based on the analysis of data validation between the observed discharge and the model discharge. The method is done by modeling the discharge based on rainfall with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) MATLAB R2014b program. The Upper Brantas Watershed is used as a case study because it often has runoff problems. Validation of the ANN method was tested with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Correlation Coefficient (R) and Relative Error (KR). From the results of calibration using the ANN Model, the best data is found in the five years data of epoch 500. Verification results based on the value of R have a relatively good relationship between observation discharges with model discharges. The validation results show the validity in a year data of epoch 500.


Abstract This paper addresses issues of how leadership operates, the nature of the power of leaders and the organisational cultural environments amongst quantity surveying consultant practices in Hong Kong. Due to resource limitations, a survey design was employed for the research. Data collection was achieved through use of previously-developed and well-tested questionnaire instruments which were adapted for use in context following piloting. Separate questionnaires were used for each of the main categories of variables. Results show that leadership in quantity surveying practices in Hong Kong is mostly supportive which fosters good morale and performance amongst subordinates; negative impacts were detected for directive leadership. Quantity surveyors are relationship-oriented with expert power as the most important source. The practices exhibit hierarchical organisational culture, although market culture is strongest amongst younger firms. Overall, results suggest movement towards clan culture, the expressed preference of participants.


The design, development, sea trials and exploitation of the SESAMO (SEa Surface Autonomous MOdular unit) platform, an autonomous surface vessel for the study and characterization of the air-sea interface, are presented. The SESAMO prototype robot, developed by the robotics group of CNR-ISSIA, Genova branch, in strict cooperation with the scientific end-users in the framework of a project of the Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (PNRA), was able to sample the sea surface microlayer and immediate sub-surface. After satisfactory basic at field trials of the navigation, guidance and control (NGC) and sampling systems, the robotised catamaran was exploited by the scientific end-users for water sample collection in the area of Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea, Antarctica, in the framework of the PNRA project Chemical contamination.


The paper presents the results of studies of the structure and properties of the gypsum composition comprising 3% of crushed siltstone, a metamorphic rock. The structure and physicochemical properties of siltstone were
studied, which predetermine its usage as a structuring additive in gypsum compositions. Adding crushed siltstone to
the composition of a gypsum binder is shown to cause the compaction of the structure of the gypsum matrix due to
changes in the morphology of crystalline hydrates of calcium sulfate and monolithic structure in general, and, consequently, the enhanced mechanical characteristics of the gypsum composition. Using scanning electron microscopy,
differential thermography, and IR spectral analysis explain the change in the physicomechanical properties of the
gypsum binder.


This paper aims at summarizing previous work on fundamental estimations about the FSW process with a minimum of ad-hoc experimental input. To do so, an approach based on asymptotic analysis, along the lines of boundary layer analysis in fluid mechanics is developed, resulting in closedform expressions of great generality. The scaling laws obtained predict the correct trends and orders of magnitude for the maximum temperature reached in the process, the thickness of the shear layer, the shear stress around the pin, the torque and the thermal effect of the shoulder. A comparison of the scaling laws obtained with published experimental measurements and numerical simulations show that within the range of validity, the expressions obtained captures the right order of magnitude and trends with no model calibration. In addition to process predictions, the analysis also yields dimensionless groups, which can be used to relate existing experiments to theoretical predictions, thus calibrating the models in an accurate and rigorous way. The available experimental and numerical data were used to calibrate the closed-form predictions resulting in simple and accurate closed form expressions (14% standard deviation from measurements for maximum temperature). The proposed calibrated expressions are accurate for a broad range of materials including aluminum alloys 6061, 2024, 7075, 7050, 5083, mild steel, stainless steel, and titanium. This model aims to help metallurgical research on FSW by providing simple and accurate approximations of broad validity across alloy systems that can be used to quickly assess problem parameters for models of phase transformations, to generalize observations about defect formation, and to design FSW applications of radically different materials or dimensions than currently known.


Background  The present research extended previous research by broadening the dimensions of personality traits, and focusing on burnout and psychological well-being among staff working with people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour.

Methods  This is a cross-sectional survey in which 103 staff completed questionnaires measuring clients' challenging behaviour according to staff perception, as well as staff burnout, psychological well-being and personality traits.

Results  Regression analyses showed that staff perception of challenging behaviour predicted burnout. Controlling for challenging behaviour, three personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness) predicted burnout and psychological well-being.

Conclusions  Personality traits can affect the degree of burnout and poor psychological well-being that staff may experience. Staff should be informed about the role that their personality traits can play in their well-being. Training programmes for staff should incorporate the complex relationship between personality traits and well-being. Further studies should aim at identifying other personality traits that could increase or decrease resilience of staff working in this area.


This chapter consists of a historical backdrop in which I explain how the Naga conflict started and who were the chief protagonists. I then introduce the different armed actors involved in the conflict, their ideology, organization and belief systems, and how the conflict has changed over time. The chapter starts with the history of the conflict and why it has prolonged for so long. It offers an understanding of the impact of the deployment of the armed forces within the Naga society. The chapter highlights the complex role of Naga women in the local political setting, as well as their status today. The chapter also offers the reader a detailed map of the book, and the content of the following chapters.


Feedback intervention research historically transformed focus from using single to using multidimensional factor analyses. Since researchers have been traditionally interested in determining how to predict future human behavior, the complexity of the feedback intervention research has grown gradually. The importance and multidimensionality of feedback construct on the individual level is presented by the key theories, which are reflected in the historical context, starting from the first "Law of effect", up to the hybrid "Feedback Intervention Theory". As a conclusion, possible future research direction is presented.


One type of servo system needed to operate properly under compound conditions of high temperature,low temperature and high speed.Due to the decreasing of the old step driver power working performance influenced by the temperature environment,the driving capacity of servo system couldn't meet the requirement.Based on the no constant frequency chopping drive technology,a new step driver power was developed and good effect was achieved in testing.In this paper,the buildup,design and control method of step driver power were described in detail.And the results of experiment and test were introduced briefly.


Abstract Glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1 DS) is a treatable neurometabolic condition caused by impaired glucose transport across the blood–brain barrier. The phenotypic spectrum of this condition has expanded with complex movement disorders being increasingly recognized in affected patients. We present a 10-year-old boy who was brought to our institute with developmental delay, infantile-onset epilepsy with multiple seizure types, paroxysmal ataxia more marked in the morning, fatigability with leg pains, and behavioral issues. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed hypoglycorrhachia with normal blood glucose, which clinched the diagnosis of GLUT1 DS. He responded very well to ketogenic diet. Thus, in case of refractory epilepsy or complex movement disorder, CSF analysis may provide a clue for the diagnosis of GLUT1 DS. Early recognition helps in prompt initiation of treatment with the ketogenic diet and leads to a favorable outcome.


The reasons for the slowdown of the Russian economy and the main trends in changing of its structure are considered in this article. The level of labor capacity in Russia is compared with one in various countries as in whole, and in the same industries. The lag in volume production on a number of manufacturing industries is analyzed and the reasons for the low rate of investment in fixed assets are assessed. The main directions of improving labor capacity, which should enhance the competitiveness of Russian production on the world market and ensure the welfare of the population, are proposed.


Results of a hardware vs. software correlation of the RDV77 session are presented. Group delays are found to agree (WRMS differences) at an average level of 4.2 psec and with a noise floor of 2.5 psec. These RDV77 comparisons agree well with several previous correlator comparison studies.


The invention relates to an improved environment-protection PVC-U high-strength tubing. The tubing is prepared from the following raw materials: 100 units of PVC, 3-5 units of calcium and zinc stabilizer, 4-6 units of CPE, 3-5 units of ACR-401, 2-4 units of TiO2, 8-10 units of CaO3, 0.5-0.9 units of HST stearic acid, 0.3-0.6 unit of Wax, and 2-4 units of MBS. The the finished product is prepared by following steps of: proportioning, mixing, extruding, shaping, forming, cutting and the like. The sanitary resin and the environment-protection type stabilizer are adopted, therefore the tubing has no precipitation and no pollution in the use environment range of the product, and can ensure the environment to be free from any damage. By adopting the modifiers of CPE, ACR, MBS and the like to mix and modify, the tubing obviously enhances the anti-cracking and anti-shock properties, has high strength accompanied with high toughness, strong tensile capability, long service life, and obvious environment protection and weather resistance using property, and can be applied to water supply, municipal pipelines, uranium exploring pipelines and the like.


The enantiomeric resolution of salbutamol and its chiral and achiral related impurites is investigated using capillary electrophoresis. The effects of nine varieties of cyclodextrin, cyclodextrin concentration and organic modifier concentration were studied in an attempt to resolve all possible analytes in a complex mixture of salbutamol‐related solutes. Eleven components including three enantiomeric pairs were baseline resolved using 112 mM dimethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin at pH 2.5 in a citric acid/phosphate buffer. Both methanol and iso‐propyl alcohol at up to 20% were found to have a deleterious effect on the separation. Binding constants and mobility values for the free and complexed forms for each solute were determined. The results are interpreted by considering the physical properties of the molecules under the conditions employed and a rationale proposed for the underlying basis for chiral and achiral selectivity.


We present combined experimental and theoretical results for the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) in resonant 4f photoemission (RPE) from Tb metal in the perpendicular geometry at different photon energies across the whole of the M 4 , 5 resonance. The atomic calculations, which take into account the full multiplet structure and the coherent second-order optical process, give excellent agreement with new experimental results for the resonant photoemission decay. The angular dependence of the MCD-RPE and its strong spin polarization in the M 5 region are also reported. For a single-configuration state the variations in the spectral shape are found to be stronger as a function of angle than as a function of photon energy. Due to the presence of the multiplet structure in the intermediate state 3d 9 4f 9 the coherent second-order optical process is essential for a correct description of the RPE. While the analysis of the spectra in parallel geometry yields accurate values of the spin-orbit, Coulomb. and exchange interactions, only the angle dependent RPE provides the phase factors of the emitted photoelectron.


For future space infrared astronomical coronagraphy, we perform experimental studies on the application of aluminum mirrors to a coronagraph. Cooled reflective optics is required for broadband mid-infrared observations in space, while high-precision optics are required for coronagraphy. For the coronagraph instrument originally proposed for the next-generation infrared astronomical satellite project SPICA (SCI: SPICA Coronagraph Instrument), we fabricated and evaluated the optics consisting of high-precision aluminum off-axis mirrors with diamond-turned surfaces, and conducted a coronagraphic demonstration experiment using the optics with a coronagraph mask. We first measured the wave front errors (WFEs) of the aluminum mirrors with a He–Ne Fizeau interferometer to confirm that the power spectral densities of the WFEs satisfy the SCI requirements. Then we integrated the mirrors into an optical system and evaluated the overall performance of the system. As a result, we estimate the total WFE of the optics to be 33 nm (rms), each mirror contributing 10–20 nm (rms) for the central 14 mm area of the optics, and obtain a contrast of 10-5.4 as a coronagraph in the visible light. At a wavelength of 5 μm, the coronagraphic system is expected to achieve a contrast of ∼10-7 based on our model calculation with the measured optical performance. Thus our experiment demonstrates that aluminum mirror optics is applicable to a highly WFE-sensitive instrument such as a coronagraph in space.


In this paper, we propose a way to construct a single forward-looking model for interest rates, which represents their evolution under both the Q-measure and P-measure (a joint measure model). As is well known, the market prices of contingent claims are independent of investor risk preferences. This means that risk preferences, and therefore real world processes, cannot be obtained from market prices alone. Using a new concept, the local price of risk, we present a simple way in which historical data can be used in conjunction with market prices to create a joint measure model for the short rate and estimate the real world drift in interest rates. The local price of risk can be used for a wide range of interest rate models.


The pharmaceutical compositions of the novel aryl sulfonamide ether compound and the compound is described. The new use of the aryl sulfonamide ether compound and inhibitors of other cysteine proteases in interleukin -1β converting enzyme and ICE family of pharmaceutical compositions of the compound have also been described. Furthermore, stroke using a compound or pharmaceutical composition of the compound of the present invention, inflammatory disease, septic shock, reperfusion injury, the method of treating Alzheimer's disease and shigellosis are also described.


With the development and upgrading of industrial structure of Haidian District,there have occurred among the workers in the hi-tech enterprises a new demographic characteristic and new family planning demand together with new issues,which include: frequent change of jobs and younger age of the people,their lack of knowledge of population and FP policy as well as conceptive methods,the necessity for the government to further widen channels for distributing conceptives,the need of more specific FP services and technical cooperation between FP sectors and medical institutions,etc.Therefore,the FP Committee of the district has created such new ways,based on the rule of "management according to habitual residence",as series of FP service,filed records and document of reproduction health,and FP volunteer teams.


Objective of this study is the comparison of the damages produced by unipolar or oscillatory waveform for the lightning current component 'A'. The component has the peak value of 200 kA and the specific energy of 2•106 J/Ω. The current parameters represent the lightning threat for aircrafts due to the first return stroke. A variety of specimen were investigated including various metal plates as well as different samples of composite material. All of the specimen exhibited no or no significantly different damages when testing with unipolar or oscillatory current. Obviously, tests with the oscillatory waveform are equivalent to those with unipolar waveform irrespectively of the characteristics of the material.


Such drastic treatment for one of the minor manifestations of photophobia (although in this case due to pepper) would certainly not be approved by modem paediatricians, for most of whom the old adage of sparing the rod and spoiling the child is at present unfashionable. Nevertheless, the title ofthe paper in this issue by B Katz and colleagues, 'Photic sneeze reflex in nephropathic cystinosis', provides an irresistible temptation to introduce the quotation. There is a certain amount in the ophthalmic literature about the biological effects of light, including papers on such curiosities as photophobia in porphyria' and astigmatism,2 the photoconvulsive response,3 the influence of retinal stimulation on the blood cholesterol,4 and even the effect of photostimulation on the gonads of the duck.5 Lewkonia6 has given an excellent account of the photic sneeze reflex, which is of course familiar to everyone who has ever tried to consummate a promised but tantalisingly suspended sneeze by looking at a bright light. In the case described by Katz et al. in this month's issue cystinosis, in which crystals are deposited in the cornea, was associated in a patient with an enhanced photic sneeze reflex, and one presumes that the mechanism had something to do with the corneal abnormality. The mystery is, how does it work? One had to assume that the close linkage between the eyes and the nose via the trigeminal (Latin: three born at a time, or triplets) nerves must be the mediator, and there is of course another well known linked reflex in this connection, namely, lacrimation on being punched on the nose. There is, however, a slight inconsistency in comparing sneezes and lacrimation, directly linked via the trigeminal nerves, with photic reflexes. The photic reflexes are much harder to explain. Indeed photophobia itself, though obviously valuable as part of a system of protective reflexes, must have a fairly complex pathway in the central nervous system, since it is obvious that light cannot directly stimulate the trigeminal nerve. Nevertheless once photophobia has been initiated it is not difficult to accept a sneeze almost as easily as a blink as a valid part of the process. One can only be grateful to nature that the sneeze factor is usually in abeyance, otherwise we should have to insist on our patients wearing face masks to undergo slit-lamp examination, and one shudders to think what explosions would rock the consulting room during routine indirect ophthalmoscopy. REDMOND SMITH


Placental development in higher primates is characterized by the invasion of uterine blood vessels by trophoblast cells. These cells proceed to migrate within uterine spiral arteries, opposite to the direction of normal blood flow. Observations indicate adhesion of intra‐arterial trophoblast to endothelium as well as to adjacent trophoblast cells.


Evodiamine, a bioactive component derived from Evodiae Fructus, displays anticancer activity against a variety of types of human cancers. According to the anticancer potential of evodiamine, we obtained a series of evodiamine derivatives and determined their anticancer activities. After a screening test on cell proliferation by sulforhodamine B assay, we found several active derivatives demonstrating more than ten-fold potency compared with the parent compound. Accordingly, we studied the anticancer mechanism and evaluate the potential of Evo00825, which stood out from these derivatives. Evo00825 inhibited cell proliferation of various cancer cell lines, including prostate cancer PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP, hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B, breast cancer MCF-7 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressed NCI/ADR-RES cells with IC50 values ranging from 84 to 210 nM. The data also indicated that Evo00825 was a poor substrate for P-gp, since over-expressed P-gp did not blunt Evo00825-mediated effect. The cytofluorometric analysis showed that Evo00825 induced G2/M arrest of the cell cycle in a time-dependent manner, followed by a sequential increase of hypodiploid phase (apoptosis). Evo00825 inhibited microtubule assembly in both in vitro turbidity assay and in vivo microtubule spin-down experiment. Immunochemical examination showed that Evo00825 caused abnormal mitotic spindles in PC-3 cells. This compound also activated the up-regulation of cyclin B1 expression, Cdk1 phosphorylation at Thr161, Cdc25C phosphoryltaion at Thr48 as well as MAP4 phosphorylation and elevation of MPM-2 levels. These data indicated the occurrence of mitotic arrest to Evo00825 action. Moreover, several mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathways were activated by Evo00825, including phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The JNK inhibitor, SP600125, significantly blocked Evo00825-induced Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL phosphorylation, caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage. It also abolished the mitotic arrest and rescued the apoptotic cell death caused by Evo00825. In summary, the data suggest that Evo00825 induces anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in cancer cells through the inhibition of tubulin polymerization and stimulation of JNK activity, resulting in the induction of mitotic arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways and, ultimately, leading to apoptosis of cancer cells. The data also provide evidence supporting the further development of evodiamine derivatives. Pim-1, a serine/threonine kinase functions as an oncogene, has diverse biological roles in cell survival, proliferation and differentiation and has been implicated in prostate cancer progression, particularly in hormone-refractory prostate cancers. In this study, we tried to identify the role of Pim-1 in microtubule-binding agent-mediated apoptosis in human hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells. Several microtubule-binding agents were used including paclitaxel, vincristine, colchicine and evodiamine. These agents activated STAT3 phosphorylation and its transcriptional activity, leading to up-regulation of Pim-1 expression. The knockdown of Pim-1 expression by siRNA transfection technique sensitized cells to the cytotoxic effects and reduced accumulation of G2/M phase of the cell-cycle caused by these microtubule-binding agents. Confocal microscopic examination showed that Pim-1 was co-localized with tubulin. However, the tubulin polymerization assay revealed that the knockdown of Pim-1 did not change the tubulin/microtubule dynamics under the treatment of microtubule-binding agents. The knockdown of Pim-1 delayed and reduced the activation of ATM and DNA-PKcs, a DNA damage sensor, but showed the activation of the phosphorylation of H2A.X at Ser139, a DNA double-stranded break marker, in an ATM-independent manner. Notably, the comet assay did not show an increase of comet tail suggesting that the sensitization of paclitaxel-mediated apoptosis by Pim-1 knockdown was not through the direct effect on DNA damage. Moreover, confocal microscopic examination showed that Pim-1 knockdown reduced the binding of DNA-PKcs and Ku protein, resulting in the inhibition of NHEJ pathway. In summary, we suggest that Pim-1 knockdown potentiates paclitaxel-induced H2A.X phosphorylation through the inhibition of Pim-1-involved and DNA-PKcs-signaled NHEJ pathway, leading to the blockade of rescuing chromatin defects. The data also reveal that Pim-1 kinase serves as a potential target to enhance the anticancer activity of therapeutic drugs.


The concept of  ̳Sustainable Development' presented through Brundtland Report under World Commission gained popularity and importance in 1987. Energy plays a vital role in usage of nature's resources and it has direct and indirect impact in economy and environment. Sustainable development of resources, proper mix of the resources for balancing the present need, future demand, conservation of precious resources and at the same time shifting towards non-conventional energy resources are the areas of key challenges we face today in India and the world over in general. India has taken a lead role in exploiting renewable energies and has become a role model to many of the countries of the world. In particular, the potential of solar energy in India is huge due to its location advantage. This paper illustrates various policies adopted by Government of India and other stakeholders for promotion of solar energies and challenges ahead to move towards sustainable energy development.


A 10-ps beam of 12 MeV electrons was loaded in a 1-cm long plasma beat wave accelerator driven by a TW CO/sub 2/ laser pulse. CO/sub 2/ laser pulses and electron bunches were deterministically synchronized with an uncertainty of 20 ps. At the resonant electron plasma density of /spl sim/10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/ the electrons have been accelerated to 22 MeV with a gradient of /spl sim/ 1 GeV/m.


Traditional service registries or catalogs publish and describe individual services of different entities. In this paper, we propose a new approach of service publication and discovery based on the philosophy of "product catalogs". In this new approach, entities are equivalent to products in typical products catalogs. We conceptualize an entity registry where each entry constitutes to its collection of remote services. For logical abstraction of entities, we utilize the concept of Digital Twin (DT). To support our objective, we present a reference DT architecture that virtualizes entities, exposes all its functionalities as services, and offers a remote programmable instance to invoke the services directly from application code. To publish and discover DTs, we propose a novel framework, OpenDT. This framework enables entity owners to publish DTs and allow users to discover them for creating mashups and applications using DT services. It also allows developers to create composite DTs that consists of other DTs for large and complex entities. To evaluate OpenDT, we implement a cyber-manufacturing testbed comprising of multiple machining tools and their DTs. Case validations from testbed show excellent efficiency of DT-driven entity publication and discovery.


We give new estimates of lengths of extremal rays of birational type for toric varieties. We can see that our new estimates are the best by constructing some examples explicitly. As applications, we discuss the nefness and pseudo-effectivity of adjoint bundles of projective toric varieties. We also treat some generalizations of Fujita's freeness and very ampleness for toric varieties.


Objective: To research and analyze the clinical curative effect of Chinese and western medicine rehabilitation nursing of cerebrovascular accident. Methods: In our hospital during October 2010-October 2013,220 cases of cerebrovascular accident patients were selected in this study. According to the random number table method,they were grouped into control group and observation group. Control group: atorvastatin calcium tablet,such as aspirin,traditional Chinese medicine,acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. Observation group: TCM combined with rehabilitation nursing on the basis of routine treatment. We observed two groups' nerve function defect score(NIHSS) scores,Barthel index,the clinical curative effect and the hs-CRP level and blood lipid levels and adverse reactions after treatment. Results: Before the treatment,two groups' blood lipid levels and neural function defect degree and the hs-CRP and Barthel index were not significant(P 0. 05). After treatment,the observation group's NIHSS score was(6. 05 ± 2. 89),the Barthel index(75. 01 ± 14. 95),serum hs-CRP(5. 67 ± 2. 48) mg / L. In the control group NIHSS score was(7. 81 ± 3. 23),Barthel index(64. 49 ± 12. 69),serum hs-CRP(8. 65 ± 3. 31) mg / L. The two groups compared with those before treatment were significant(P 0. 05),but the observation group was better than the control group(P 0. 05). Two groups' blood lipid levels were altered significantly(P 0. 05),but the observation group was better than the control group(P 0. 05). Treatment effective rate was 90. 91%(100 /110) in observation group and was obviously higher than 85.45%(94 /110) of control group(P 0. 05). Conclusion: Using combined Chinese and western medicine rehabilitation nursing for patients with cerebrovascular accident can obviously improve the clinical symptoms and improve the effect of treatment.


In this paper, we present balanced dual-band bandpass filters (BPFs) using asymmetrical coupled lines. The proposed dual-band BPF has an enhanced common-mode suppression level because the proposed asymmetrical coupled line inherently has the bandstop characteristic on common-mode signals without either additional stubs or lumped elements. The proposed asymmetrical coupled line has dual-band performance on differential-mode signals. The common- and differential-mode equivalent circuits of the proposed filter are given and analyzed to demonstrate the common- and differential-mode responses. Two passbands of the differential-mode response are designed based on a lumped equivalent circuit of the proposed filter. Therefore, two bandwidths can be easily controlled. Two second-order balanced dual-band BPFs are designed and tested at center frequencies of 2.4 and 3.57 GHz with fractional bandwidths (FBWs) of 7.5% and 5% and with FBWs of 7.5% and 6.16%, respectively.


A high-performance silicided amorphous-silicon contact and interconnect technology (HPSAC) for VLSI is presented. In this novel scheme, a patterned silicide layer is used to form self-aligned contacts to the source/drain regions, as well as to interconnect devices. The fabrication procedures and some key processing techniques are described, Experimental results on n-and p-channel MOSFET's fabricated with HPSAC technology are presented. The performance improvement due to reduction of parasitic capacitance and resistance is discussed.


Gilles Duval : The Wheel of Fortune in English chap-literature. ; Despite its relatively unobstrusive nature, the topos of the Wheel of Fortune plays an important role in English chap-literature. It is at the basis of both books of magic and astrology and also many biographies (such as Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex, Moll Flanders, etc...). Its importance springs from its malleability and its kinship with other commonplaces (notably ' The World Turned Upside Down ') ; together they reveal some of the more secret aspects of these texts.


A strict and delicate analogy relation between the magnetic moment of a rotational charged body and the rotation inertia of a rigid body about a flxed axis has been found in this paper. Based on this analogy relation, many rules and theorems about calculating the rotation inertia of a rigid body can be transplanted to fleld of electromagnetism and used to calculate the magnetic moment of a rotational charged body. Some principles or theorems are extended, generalized, illustrated, and enumerated. Some related examples are listed in the paper. 1. PREFACE Reference (1) gives the analogy relation between the magnetic moment (3{5) of a rotational charged body and the rotation inertia of a rigid body about a flxed axis, which is very stimulating and pedagogical. According to this paper, a rotational charged body with an element electric charge of dq, a constant angular speed of ! (the size of ~) about a flxed axis, and a rotation radius of r?, must have a deflnite magnetic moment of following magnitude: fl fld ~ Pm fl fl = dI…r 2 ? = (!=2…) ¢ dq ¢ …r 2 = (!=2) ¢ r 2 dq or d(2Pm=!) = r 2 ? dq


Leaders of a community college, the YouthBuild charter school, and a public career and technical institute speaking on a Reinventing Our Communities conference panel addressed the need to forge stronger connections between high school and postsecondary education or employment, especially for "opportunity youth" who are neither employed nor in school


Nanometer sized Permalloy antidot arrays with different square hole sizes (1200 X 1200, 800 X 800, and 400 X 400 nm 2 ) have been fabricated by means of electronbeam lithography and lift-off techniques. We report here the dynamic properties of antidot arrays at GHz frequencies by using a flip-chip geometry and Network Analyzer based Ferromagnetic Resonance (NA-FMR) techniques. The dynamic excitations in the antidot arrays exhibit multiple resonance modes for the magnetic field applied in the plane of the array. Two distinct effective anisotropy field patterns split the uniform resonance into double resonance modes. The double resonance modes show uniaxial in-plane anisotropy and the easy axes are orthogonal. The magnitude of the induced effective anisotropy field decreases with the increase of square-hole size. The higher order resonance mode peaks move to low frequency with increase of the square-hole size at a constant applied field. We have demonstrated the possible application of antidot arrays as a magnetically tunable localized band-pass filter.


The 1983–1984 Hunt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Acoustics took me to the Mathematics Institute at University of Bergen in Norway. My acoustics education began at Columbia University with an undergraduate acoustics course from Cyril Harris, who encouraged me to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Acoustics at Pennsylvania State University. My doctoral advisor at Penn State, Francis Fenlon, introduced me to nonlinear acoustics. Frank succumbed to cancer at age 41, and David Blackstock invited me to Applied Research Laboratories at University of Texas at Austin to complete my Ph.D. degree in his nonlinear acoustics group while remaining a Penn State student. At Texas I encountered another two leaders in nonlinear acoustics, Jacqueline and Sigve Tjotta on leave from University of Bergen, who invited me to spend my Hunt Fellowship year with them in Norway. I thus had the good fortune to be instructed and mentored by pioneers who approached nonlinear acoustics from three different perspectives: engineering (Fenlon)...


This paper presents an approach to teaching Computer Ethics that blends the use of contemporary media, subscriptions to digests of current technology news, and reflective writing in a learner-centered strategy. This approach is designed to make use of activities and assignments that take advantage of (1) student interest in contemporary media (video and film) to provide motivation and context beyond historical case studies, (2) breaking news about technology and technology use in education to provide current real world context, and (3) reflective writing to stimulate thinking critically about the course content outside the classroom context. Digests published three times weekly provide a constant flow of current real-world issues that can be used for focused reflective writing. Contemporary media productions are viewed and then a writing assignment in a structured learning log is used to focus on ethical issues raised by the film. We present an example using a feature length film and subsequent learning log assignment.


In this paper, a combination of Space-Time Block Coded Spatial Modulation with Hybrid Analog-Digital Beamforming (STBC-SM-HBF) for 60 GHz Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications is proposed in order to take advantage of the merits of Spatial Modulation (SM), Space-Time Block Codes (STBC), Analog Beamforming (ABF), and digital precoding techniques while avoiding their drawbacks. This proposed system benefits from the multiplexing gain of SM, from the transmit diversity gain of STBC and from the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) gain of the beamformer. The simulation results demonstrate that the Zero Forcing (ZF) and the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) precoded STBC-SM systems have better Bit Error Rate (BER) performance than the precoded SM system, and the former showed a performance degradation compared to STBC-SM system tough. Furthermore, the error performance is significantly improved by employing an array of ABF which improves the system performance as the number of antenna array elements increases due to providing a beamforming gain, which is hence of great significance to the Fifth Generation (5G) mmWave communications. In addition, it is demonstrated that a minimum of 2 antenna elements in the proposed scheme of STBC-SM-HBF are required to obtain better error performance than that of the conventional SM and STBC-SM systems under the same spectral efficiency of 2 bits/s/Hz.


This question is subsidiary to the larger question of the better definition of the field belonging to the secondary school. The tendency has been to give over to the secondary schools some subjects previously assigned to the higher education. The tendency to-day is to throw back upon the elementary schools some subjects heretofore assigned to the secondary schools. The former tendency has reached its limit, and the reaction has set in. The latter is a growing tendency, and has to do with the present discussion. Both have had one aim, and will reach one result-the improvement of all our education. The question as to the relative time due to languages on the one hand, and to natural sciences on the other, in the curriculum of the secondary school, is confused by the circumstance that, as a rule, the secondary school is providing for two separate groups of pupils, viz.: those who go up into the higher education, and those who do not. It is sometimes assumed, and sometimes elaborately argued, that one course of study cannot suit both. It is often forgotten that a compromise may be possible which is practically, and even theoretically, better for both than separate courses would be, and that possibly the course designed expressly for one group of pupils may be better for both than any attempt either at division or compromise. Once settle where the inevitable differentiation of studies should begin, and many questions are answered at once.


Since the 1970's  Development disorders starts to be considered as an educational issue and it is now defined as any type of alteration, disfunction or difficulty in a person's personal development. It uses to start during the childhood or adolescence and it requires a psicoeducative intervention to get a social adaptation. Within the development disorders we have mental retardation, autism, any sensorial deficit or physical deficit, bad behaviour (with ADHD, dissocial disorder or defiant negativism) and students with high capacities.


The purpose of this study was studying the construction of meaning around the concept of life in terms of complexity in students of the Master of Education, minor in Biology Education at the Pedagogical University Experimental Libertador (UPEL), so develop an integrated vision of life processes from the application of a conceptual model proposed (Von Bertalanffy, 1976; Morin, 1998, Arana, 2012), aimed at making explicit the interactions that occur between the organs and systems of a living being. An investigation was carried out critical-interpretive, based on a qualitative-ethnographic approach. For information, we used participant observation and nonparticipating (application of two questionnaires) to 10 key informants selected "a posteriori". Results determine: a) The variety of meanings about the concept prior life the informants, b) That the use of strategies involving the externalization of mental representations in proceedings heuristics and analog models, helped to structure a mental model about the concept under study from the complex perspective c) The development of own meanings through an inclusive educational model influenced enrichment and / or restructuring of the concept under study.


SNS (Social Network Service) in which people can interact anytime and anywhere when users send messages, SNS allows receivers to view messages immediately by installing applications. Therefore, SNS is utilized as a communication tool in very various media. In particular, SNS forms networks of relationships for university students" lives in which their digital index is high. In addition, SNS actively takes part in actions gathering, producing, and sharing messages related with society and information. This study starts from curiosity that various kinds of SNS increase and phenomenon that SNS affects society. In addition, this study paid attention to the spread of the message through SNS communication and was accessed from the users" side. As communication tools when users gives big changes as producers and users on sharing information through the use of SNS, therefore necessary examination is needed for SNS, that affects societies differently unlike traditional media, This study concerns how information and messages are shared according to users" social distance that perceive SNS.


In vitro culture of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from suspension culture into plantlet is a time consuming process which has been reported to be highly heterogeneous resulting in embryoids differing in sizes, colours and developmental stages. The ability to select embroids at the right stage of development allows the selection of high quality materials. Due to fact that conversion of embryoids is a continuous process, the establishment of suitable storage method is necessary for the selected material. Thus, this study focus on establishment of short term and long term storage protocols for oil palm polyembryoids. In order to establish a successful storage technique, it is essential to identify the right stage of embryoids prior to
plantlet formation which will aid in simultaneous plantlet production whereby it can be stored adequately and recommenced for growth only when needed. In the first
experiment, the micromorphological changes during conversion of suspension culture into polyembryoids were observed. Morphological observations revealed that, matured polyembryoids with the presence of globular structures, haustorium and secondary somatic embryo (SSE) as the appropriate stage for rapid conversion into plantlets hence it was chosen for storage. In the second experiment,
determination of suitable gelling agent was conducted using two types of gelling agent with different concentration (Agar Type 900 at 8g/L, 10g/L and 12g/L or Gelrite® at 1.5g/L, 2.5g/L and 3.5g/L) for better conversion of selected
polyembryoids. Gelrite® with 3.5g/L concentration was chosen as the effective gelling agent for higher conversion of polyembryoids into plantlets.
Prior to storage, the samples were pretreated with sucrose to condition the polyembryoids for better adaptation to storage condition. Thus, in the third experiment, the effect of encapsulation and gradual sucrose preculture on
polyembryoids was undertaken. Results show that exposure of naked polyembryoids to sucrose preculture led to lethal damage while the encapsulated polyembryoids were able to withstand the treatment and gave better survival. Hence, for both short term and long term storage study, encapsulated and sucrose precultured polyembryoids were used. In the fourth experiment, method for short term storage was established by manipulating storage temperature whereby the samples were stored at 5°C, 10°C and 25°C. In this study, the highest survival (73.3%) was obtained at 5°C after 60 days of storage. The results showed that storage in higher temperature reduced the survival rate due to increasing metabolic activity that denatured the proteins.
In the fifth experiment, the encapsulated polyembryoids were subjected to long term storage through cryopreservation method after gradual sucrose preculture and
Laminar Air Flow (LAF) desiccation using encapsulation dehydration technique. In this technique, encapsulated materials were subjected to cryopreservation after
desiccation in order to avoid freezing injury upon liquid nitrogen (LN) exposure. Based on the results obtained, 73.3% survival percentage was obtained with 23.3% water content for encapsulated polyembryoids that subjected to gradual sucrose preculture and cryopreservation. The experiments showed that, oil palm polyembryoids acquired tolerance for successful storage either short term or long
term.


A 14-month study by Ceramatec, with a subcontract to the University of Utah, was initiated in order to determine if ferroelastic switching contributes to toughening in ceramic materials. Domain switching in ZrO{sub 2} single crystals (heat treated to minimize transformation) at 1400 C was used to show that ferroelastic switching is a process that occurs at temperatures in excess of the monoclinic-to-tetragonal transformation temperature. These data, coupled with fracture toughness measurements of 8 MPa.m 1.2 at 1000 C, show that ferroelastic toughening has the potential for toughening at temperatures in excess of that possible by transformation toughening. Experiments on PZT, SrZrO3 and Gd{sub 2} (MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} were used to show that ferroelastic switching can contribute to toughening. The time dependence of switching was demonstrated using PZT ceramics. Dopants were added to polycrystalline TZP materials in order to substantially increase their fracture toughness. In the case of SrO additions, strontium aluminate platelets, formed in-situ during sintering, contributed to toughness.


The ability of bilayer lipids to form interdigitated states, in which the acyl chains from opposing monolayers interdigitate, has recently come into focus as a means to significantly alter membrane properties. In addition to changing the membrane thickness and the hydrophobic region of bilayer membranes, the formation of interdigitated membranes alters the electrostatic properties of the membrane surface. A variety of molecules can induce the formation of a fully interdigitated phase by saturated symmetric phospholipids. They include amphipathic molecules such as polyols, short chain alcohols, anesthetics and so on. Common properties are that they do not penetrate too deeply into the hydrocarbon core of bilayer membranes and that they are capable of displacing some of the water molecules associated with the head groups of lipids, thereby creating an increase in the surface area of these groups.In the present review, the forces governing the self-assembly of lipid molecules into interdigitated structures, the physical properties distinctive of interdigitated state membranes and fruitful methods by which interdigitation in membranes may be determined and characterized are outlined along with a detection method developed by the author and coworkers. Mechanisms of phase transition of lipid membranes in the presence of ethanol as an inducer are also proposed and covered together with the results of research concerning the effects of cholesterol on the formation of interdigitated membranes. The possibility of producing formation of interdigitated structures in biomembranes is discussed.


This article describes the radio frequency identification technology, discusses the application of RFID technology in GuangZhou Funeral Interment Center, and concludes what influence will appear in the future.


Gearless-electric-motor adjustable-speed drives can, in many applications, be an attractive alternative to thermodynamic and hydraulic drivers on high-speed centrifugal pumps and compressors in the uppermost power range. The authors discuss electrical and mechanical design criteria for these synchronous motors as well as their limit ratings, provide actual examples of such machines, and highlight typical performance characteristics. A survey of the required auxiliary electrical equipment, identical to that used on low-speed load-commutated inverter (LCI) drives, and economic considerations are included.<<ETX>>


Summary

A case of multilocular renal cyst associated with an intrapelvic small nodule of malignant Wilms' tumour presenting subsequent urothelial metastasis is described. To avoid the possibility of urothelial neoplastic cell implantation the authors suggest more detailed histological examination and removal of the ureter in appropriate cases.


This chapter discusses the mechanisms by which vertebrates sequester iron from invading pathogens and the response of pathogens to this sequestration. It provides examples of iron-regulated virulence determinants in several clinically important gram-positive bacteria. Iron is crucial to the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, nitrogenase, peroxidase, catalase, and succinic dehydrogenase, and it is therefore required for the vital functions of respiration and several metabolic pathways. During infection, pathogens must rely on their host as the sole source of nutrient iron. Diseases in iron metabolism impact susceptibility to infection, exemplified by an increased frequency of infections caused by Salmonella, Mycobacterium, and Plasmodium in patients with high iron levels. Transcriptional regulation of bacterial genes in response to iron occurs through the activity of metal-dependent regulators. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria, a contagious upper respiratory tract infection that has been largely eradicated in the last century due to worldwide utilization of the diphtheria vaccines. The iron-containing tetrapyrrole heme is the preferentially bound iron source of Staphylococcus aureus. Iron-dependent virulence gene expression in S. aureus involves a complex regulatory network comprised of Fur and the two-component systems Agr and Sae, which regulate quorum sensing and secreted virulence factors, respectively.


The Irish health minister, Micheal Martin, has warned that migration of patients could become a major issue in an enlarged European Union.

The current 15 member union, of which Ireland currently holds the rotating six month presidency, expands on 1 May to take in 10 new members, most of them former communist countries.

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Irish health minister, Micheal Martin, warns of EU migration

Credit: CZECH MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Mr Martin told the BMJ that two rulings by the European Court of Justice …

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When should depository institutions recognize loan losses ? Depressed economic times and stepped-up regulatory scrutiny of depository institution (DI) loan portfolios have drawn new attention to an old concept: the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL). Nevertheless, not everyone interprets the authoritative literature in the same way or, more important, shares the same objective. Questions of ALLL adequacy at DIs and the timing of loan loss provisions often cause controversy, as might be expected given the diversity of interested parties-- management, auditors, regulators, depositors, shareholders and politicians. It might be possible to resolve these conflicts if interested parties better understand existing generally accepted accounting principles and agree on a common objective. Rules, methodologies (the principles and procedures of inquiry) and a common language for discussion can be based on that foundation. Without it, desired allowances and provisions will continue to be at odds, while discussions among interested parties will continue to be difficult and frustrating. REASONABLE ALLL The current state of affairs can be best illustrated by two troublesome statements some DIs are hearing from examiners: * "We've been analyzing losses on your consumer loan portfolio. They seem to be fairly stable at 100 basis points a year, but we expect that rate to increase because of what we predict for the local economy. Also, your portfolio has an average life of three years, so we think your reserve should consider these facts and be adequate to handle all future losses through liquidation of the existing portfolio." * "We've reviewed all your specific allocations of the ALLL to specific problem loans, to the pools of classified loans and to remaining uncriticized loans. Your ALLL covers all those needs, but it's still not enough. We want you to book a supplemental amount but can't tell you how much it should be." But it's not fair to just single out examiners. Securities and Exchange Commission reviewers and some managers and auditors also might agree with these statements. Others will disagree, based on tradition or experience, but be unable to articulate technical challenges. How should management and the DIs' auditors analyze such statements and requests for additional provisions? Are they reasonable? Consistent with GAAP? To begin, the ALLL must be * Based on an appropriate concept or principle. * Documented by management in such a manner as to be reviewable by examiners, auditors and others. Differences of opinion may arise, but only then is there a basis for a rational discussion of differences in desired dollar amounts. The Financial Accounting Standard Board's emerging issues task force confirmed in Issue no. 85-44, Differences between Loan Loss Allowances for GAAP and RAP, that differences may exist between regulatory accounting principles (RAP) and GAAP allowances, but warned auditors to be skeptical of such differences. In practice, few differences appear to exist between the total ALLL for RAP and GAAP, although differences often appear among components justifying the total allowance. Quite often, these differences reflect varying concepts or objectives for the ALLL. This article explains the current GAAP basis Of the ALLL, points out today's conflicting ideas and offers a systematic methodology for evaluating the ALLL. THE GAAP CONCEPT FASB Statement no. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, established the GAAP concept behind the ALLL. Statement no. 5 applies not only to loan losses but also to environmental and insurance losses. It requires tosses to be recognized in the financial statements in the period they occur, not before or after the loss event. Statement no. 5 defines a loss contingency as "an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible . …


Temperature accelerated tests, with and without bias, show that the considerable MTTF advantage, at elevated temperature, of Al gate MESFETs over gold-base gate devices diminishes at lower temperatures. This is due to the difference in the activation energies, EA, of the respective gate metallization systems (EA= 0.8-1.2 ev for Al-gate and EA= 1.3-1.8 ev for gold-base gate devices). The standard deviation of the logarithms of the lifetimes, σ, was less than 0.3 in all cases. The primary mode of failure for all types of devices was a gradual degradation of IDSS. Impurity profiles indicated that the associated failure mechanism is a gate metal interaction with the epi-layer. It has been established that the degradation of the low-field resistance, RDS, is not an index of contact resistance degradation, but the logical consequence of the above failure mechanism.


The application and usage of precision agriculture technologies targeted reduction of agricultural input and improvement of effects of soil management and conservation. Spectrophotometers are used for fast and accurate measurement of soil physical and chemical properties to create soil mapping. To use reflection values obtained from spectrophotometer for precision agriculture application, Partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses with full crossvalidation were performed to establish a model. Regression results show that the predictability performance of the model for desired soil properties. In this research possibilities of using spectrophotometer to determine soil properties have been examined.


Summary The flexural wave as well as other guided waves in a borehole has been used to measure the axial shear velocity. Dipole shear logging is supported by the theoretical conclusion that the flexural mode velocity equals the formation shear velocity at the low-frequency limit. This conclusion is derived in isotropic formations and seems undoubtedly correct for anisotropic cases. But our analysis reveals that the flexural mode in certain transversely isotropic formations propagates at a velocity, which is lower than the shear velocity, at the low-frequency limit; similarly, the velocities of both pseudo-Rayleigh and screw modes do not approach the shear velocity in such a kind of formations. The dispersion curves of these guided waves are shown for several transversely isotropic formations. In this case, the measurement result for the shear velocity is incorrect by extracting the arrival times of low-frequency flexural waves.


Under two habitats (shady and terrace) and four grades (0.2—0.6m, grade 1, G1; 0.6—2 m, grade 2, G2; 2—3.6 m, grade 3, G3 and 3.6—8.6 m, grade 4, G4, respectively) of Leontopodium nanum patches in Qinghai鄄Tibetan Plateau, we used the power laws method: (1) to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of populations and communities, and the species diversity characteristics of the community, (2) to determine the effects on the vegetation distribution pattern by the dominant species, subdominant species, accompanying species, and rare species. The results indicated that each L. nanum patch exhibited an aggregated distribution pattern, the variance logarithm values of both random occurrence frequency and actual occurrence frequency of each species better coincided with their respective power laws (R> 0.8), which suggested that the power laws method can objectively analyze the distribution patterns of grassland vegetation. The relative spatial heterogeneity indices ( 着) of dominant species both L. nanum and Kobresia capillifolia, and subdominant species both


Human brains typically grow through development, then remain the same size in adulthood, and often shrink through age-related degeneration that induces cognitive decline and impaired functionality. In most cases, however, the neural and organismal changes that accompany shrinkage, especially early in the process, remain unknown. Paralleling neurodegenerative phenotypes, the Eurasian common shrew Sorex araneus, shrinks its brain in autumn through winter, but then reverses this process by rapidly regrowing the brain come spring. To identify the molecular underpinnings and parallels to human neurodegeneration of this unique brain size change, we analyzed multi-organ, season-specific transcriptomics and metabolomic data. Simultaneous with brain shrinkage, we discovered system-wide metabolic shifts from lipid to glucose metabolism, as well as neuroprotection of brain metabolic homeostasis through reduced cholesterol efflux. These mechanisms rely on a finely tuned brain-liver crosstalk that results in changes in expression of human markers of aging and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. We propose metabolic shifts with signals that cross the brain blood barrier are central to seasonal brain size changes in S. araneus, with potential implications for therapeutic treatment of human neurodegeneration. Significance Statement Metabolic regulation has been implicated in altered brain size and function, but the processes that parallel brain shrinkage remain unknown. Sorex araneus, the Eurasian common shrew, maintains activity throughout the winter through seasonal brain size plasticity, known as Dehnel's phenomenon. Using this predictable, natural model of brain size change, we generated and analyzed multi-omics data across organs that undergo seasonal size change to characterize underlying molecular mechanisms. Results implicate drastic metabolic shifts and coordinated brain-liver crosstalk in seasonal size change, highlighting the relationship between metabolism, aging, and neurodegeneration.


Objective:To determine the content of Magnolol and Honokiol from fruits of Magnolia officinalis, and optimize the methods of extraction for Magnolol and Honokiol from fruits of Magnolia officinalis. Methods:Alcohol-reflux extraction, alkali extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction were compared for extraction of magnolol and honokiol from fruits of Magnolia officinalis, in which alcohol-reflux extraction were optimized by single factor test. The content of magnolol and honokiol was determined using TLC scanning method. Results:The content of Magnolol and Honokiol in fruits of Magnolia officinal is a quarter of that in bark of Magnolia officinal, which indicated that the fruits of Magnolia officinal can be used as medicine. The optimal parameters in the alcohol-reflux extraction in our study is: temperature 60 oC, 80% alcohol(v/v), three times of extraction(2, 1.5, 1 h). Conclusion: Alcohol-reflux extraction, alkali extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction have the similar extraction efficiency, which suggested that we can choose the proper extraction method depend on situation.


Abstract Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of chitosan-N-acetylcysteine (C-NAC) eye drops on tear film thickness (TFT) in patients with dry eye syndrome (DES). Methods: This was a controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical investigation with patients assigned to 2 cohorts. In Cohort I, 21 patients were randomized to receive 1 instillation of C-NAC eye drops in 1 eye and placebo (normal saline solution) in the contralateral eye. In Cohort II, 17 patients were randomized to receive C-NAC eye drops once (QD) or twice (BID) daily for 5 days. TFT was assessed with a custom-built ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography system. Results: In Cohort I, mean TFT increased from 3.9 ± 0.5 μm predose to 4.8 ± 1.1 μm 10 min postdose after treatment with C-NAC. The increase was significantly different from placebo over time (P < 0.0001) and remained stable until 24 h postdose. In Cohort II, TFT increased with QD and BID instillation, with no significant difference between regimens. In b...


We discuss the predictions of perturbative QCD for angular flows of final state particles in two and three jet events including their cms energy and jet resolution (ycut) dependence. The simple analytical formulae for gluon bremsstrahlung from primary partons, modified for gluon cascading, reproduce the main features of the experimental data well. For ycut-selected events, the particle flow is derived from a superposition of colour dipoles in much the same way that photon radiation is derived from electric dipoles. MPI-PhT/02-2002-78 IPPP/02/80; DCPT/02/160


To construct a reasonable demand forecasting model and reduce the shortcomings of existing algorithms in this type of forecasting. In this paper, we construct a short-term demand forecasting model based on Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) - The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) using an integration algorithm based on GBDT as the base learner, to solve the demand for short-term data forecasting. The optimal model is obtained through iteration by varying the amount of integration of GBDT and setting MAE, RMSE, and R2 test parameters. In this paper, the daily bike-sharing data of Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2012 is used as the research object. The results show that the model achieves good results in experimental prediction, where MAE is 90.7788, RMSE is 125.5685, and R2 is 0.6680. It proves the robustness and generality of the model and provides some basis and methodology for solving short-term predictions.


The effect of available diffusion paths on activation energies are considered for silver iodide, zinc oxide, and bismuth selenide. It is shown that the energy in β‐AgI should be nearly twice that in γ‐AgI because the Ag atoms in tetrahedral sites first must be displaced to octahedral voids before voidal diffusion can occur in the beta modification. The 2:1 ratio between the self‐diffusion energies of Zn determined by radioactive tracer and electrical conductivity measurements in ZnO is similarly explained. It is also shown that the difference between the activation energies for diffusion in BiSe and Bi2Se3 can be used to determine the formation energy of vacancies in BiSe. The agreement between these predictions and experimentally determined values attests that qualitatively accurate explanations can be based on considerations of the crystal structure.


(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a polyacrylic acid granules, then relates the granules are formed, these granules have fluidity, and polymerized polyacrylic acid It has a bulk density which is increased compared to, and the amount of dust is generally characterized as a particle passing through a 325 mesh screen herein is small. Granules formed by the method of the present invention, controlled release tablets, the release pharmaceutical tablet especially control can be used to prepare. Controlled release tablets formed from granules prepared according to the method of the present invention is as good as unexpected than tablets prepared from granules formed by other known granulation method.


Today's technology gurus understand little about software testing—a fundamental software engineering pillar that presents many challenges. Furthermore, what role will testing play in the new worlds of mobile apps?


The obstruction is removed through stream tube 腔等, delivering means or material implantable flow or in the vicinity of the tube 腔等, and / or restoring blood flow, the system and method. Proximal and distal portions of the second diameter of the first diameter (smaller than the first diameter) is advanced into a body cavity. The distal portion of the catheter is greater than the second diameter is expanded to a diameter not greater than the first diameter. Actuating means is then advanced out of the catheter distal end and removing occlusive material, is used to recover the delivery and / or blood flow means or material implantable. The distal portion can be reduced in the diametrical direction prior to removal from the body.


Recently Dunne 2010 and Dronkers, van der Velden Dunne 2011 introduced a three-level model countries, schools, and students. They showed that school characteristics like socioeconomic composition and ethnic diversity have substantial effects on achievement levels and also affect the relation between parental background and achievement. Moreover, these school characteristics seem to mediate some of the effects of educational system characteristics found earlier see Figure 1. However their results contradict very much the consensus about the effects of educational systems on outcomes and inequality, which are exclusively based on a two-level model countries and students. The most important authors are Hanushek and Wmann 2006, Schtz, Ursprung and Wmann 2008, Wmann, Ldemann, Schtz and West 2009 and Hanushek and Wmann 2012. Esser forth coming discussed rightfully extensively the possible explanations of the different outcomes of the Hanushek Wssmann approach and the Dronkers, van der Velden Dunne puzzle.


This paper is primarily an evaluation of a method of achieving end to end modelling of marine ecosystems using Ecopath and Ecosim written in FORTRAN and a biogeochemical model. As such it should be accepted, it provides a generally clear exposition of a conceptually simple way of linking models, a series of test of reproducibility and a worked example of the method being discussed. However, the paper is over glib in places (particularly about the results) and overstates the value of the FOTRAN method compared to others whilst failing to mention that the choice of approach is very much dependent on system organisational and objective considerations and by no means the only or indeed always the best approach. There needs to be more comparison and evaluation of the quality of the results.


Objective: Harnessing technology is one accepted method to leapfrog the barrier of inadequate trained human resources for mental health. The Chhattisgarh Community Mental Healthcare Tele-Mentoring Program (CHaMP) is a collaborative digitally driven initiative of the Government of Chhattisgarh (GOC) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru the aim of which is to train the Primary Care Doctors (PCDs) and Rural Medical Assistants (RMA) to identify, screen and treat/refer cases of mental health disorders presenting to the primary care settings (n = 2150). The objective of this article is to give a brief overview of the initiative Methods: CHaMP consists of the following modules: (a) a brief on-site training (b) eLearning and Skill Development (eLSD) and (c) Collaborative Video Consultation (CVC). The latter two are andragogic training methods delivered digitally. Results and conclusion: From August 2019 to May 2020, 501 PCDs and RMAs have been covered. During this time, they have cared 15,000 patients suffering from mental illness, which hitherto was not the case. Technology that is easily available and usable has the potential to overcome the big hurdle of inadequate mental health human resources in India.


Background: With improved access to highly active antiretrieval treatment, many children with perintally acquired HIV are now able live longer. These children are now reaching into adolescence and sexually active. This qualitative, explorative study examines the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs and concerns of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in India. Materials and Methods: We used qualitative research design to collect the data. Twenty participants were recruited from two nongovernmental organizations which provide shelter care, education, and emotional and social support to HIV/AIDS orphan children located in Bengaluru District of Karnataka State using purposive sampling. In-depth interview guide was prepared and used to elicit the adolescents' concerns, knowledge, and perspective related to sexuality, marriage, child bearing, and barriers in availing SRH services in the context of HIV. Results: Totally, four themes were emerged from that qualitative data based on thematic analysis, which are as follows: "Perceived challenges in relation to romantic relationship;" "Confusion regarding whether to marry person with HIV positive or HIV negative;" "Aspiration to have children," and "Perspective of ALHIV in relation to SRH needs and concerns." Conclusion: The findings of the research brought out the need for policies and guidelines specifically targeting the SRH needs and concerns of ALHIV.


The thesis will aim to empirically assess how judgment impacts a statistical forecast in a spare parts supply chain.
The thesis will investigate what impact judgment has on forecast accuracy that is, does it improve the statistical forecast. If so, is there specific types of demand series, spare parts types or expertise which can affect the accuracy improvement. The results will be used to provide a matrix showing where judgment should or should not be applied to a statistical forecast with regards to accuracy improvement.
The size and direction of the judgmental adjustment will be scrutinised to explore where any correlation can be found to accuracy improvement.
The experiment will be for a 12 months longitudinal period using forecast experts who are working in a company and are forecasting the same spare parts on a day to day basis. The statistical forecast used will be the method that the company uses on a day to day basis.
In order to benchmark the performance of the experts a senior academic will also be forecasting the spare parts involved over the same period in order to show another comparison but with a more considered, complex statistical forecast rather than the relatively simple average based statistical forecast the company used.
Insights into further research, limitations of the experiment and a conclusion stating the impact to academic knowledge and possible practitioner usage will be discussed.


To satisfy the aims of performance based design, levels of damage which interrupt the serviceability of the structure or require more invasive repair techniques must be related to engineering criteria. In this report, the influence of displacement history on performance limit states, the relationship between strain and displacement, and the spread of plasticity in reinforced concrete structures is explored. An experimental study is underway to assess the performance of thirty circular, well-confined, bridge columns with varying lateral displacement history, transverse reinforcement detailing, axial load, aspect ratio, and longitudinal steel content. Eight of these columns, with similar geometry and detailing, were subjected to various unidirectional displacement histories including standardized laboratory cyclic loading and recreations of the displacement responses obtained from non-linear time history analysis of multiple earthquakes with distinct characteristics. Longitudinal reinforcing bars were instrumented to obtain strain hysteresis, vertical strain profiles, cross section curvatures, curvature distributions, and fixed-end rotations attributable to strain penetration. Results indicate that bar buckling was influenced by load history, but the relationship between strain and displacement along the envelope curve was not. The main impact of load history on bar buckling is its influence on accumulated strains within the longitudinal reinforcement and transverse steel.


If we want to solve the deep arrangement contradiction of State-owned economy, we should take the State-owned economy structure adjustment as the main line and take the modern enterprise system as the target and at the same time increasingthe strength of correlation reform.


Objective To observe the effect of metoprolol on Pdisp and Pmax in dilated cardiomyopathy patients.Methods All patients were divided into two groups, the control and the metoprolol groups. Pdisp is described as the difference between Pmax and Pmin.Results Pdisp and Pmax in dilated cardiomyopathy patients were longer than ordinary people. Pdisp and Pmax in dilated cardiomyopathy patients after metoprolo treatment were shorter than before.Conclusion Metoprolol can decrease Pdisp and Pmax in dilated cardiomyopathy patients, which may reduce the incidence of atrial arrhythmia.


Sulphur trioxides are common toxic gaseous pollutants which can be produced from alternative routes via calcination of aluminum sulfate derived from kaolin clay. Its demand increases geometrically, thus the need to optimize the yield of SO 3 from the calcination of alum is essential. The rate of alum decomposition was monitored by the formation of SO 3 via thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray fluorescence analysis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of calcination temperature and curing time on the SO 3 conversion and yields using Face Central Composite Design and optimize the process conditions to evaluate the maximum yield of SO 3 using response surface methodology and its effects and interactions were investigated between 800–900 °C at 60-180 minutes. Results indicated that experimental data satisfied second order polynomial regression model for SO 3 conversion and SO 3 yield from TG analysis while XRF analysis satisfied first order model respectively. An increase in SO 3 conversion and yields was observed as the calcination temperature and time were increased both independently and simultaneously. The calcination temperature was found to have a stronger influence compared to the calcination time. Validation indicated agreement between experimental and predicted values with a regression value of 97.8 %, 97.77 % and 97.67 % for SO 3 conversion, SO 3 yield via TG and XRF analyses respectively. Based on the ANOVA, the SO 3 yield via XRF produced the best model with R 2 pred of 91.98% while SO 3 yield via TG analysis and SO 3 conversion had R 2 pred of 79.99% and 78.01% respectively. Optimization of the production of SO 3 was carried out and the optimal condition for SO 3 conversion, SO 3 yield via TG and XRF analyes were 90.11 %, 91.67 % and 75.81 % respectively at an optimal calcination temperature of 877.43 o C and time of 155.04 minutes respectively.