Considering the fact that there is no systematic overview of what has been written, researched or induced about drama (dramatic text or performance) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, throughout centuries, this paper aims to create clearer image of totality of dramatic experience in the mentioned area: all important elements of different periods of Bosnian-Herzegovinian cultural history (journals, festivals, theatre institutions, publications, scientists, critics) are set and described. By connecting characteristics of Mediaeval period, especially period after World War II, with contemporary period, the paper aims to prove and emphasize continuity of dramatic experience, from XIIIth century to modern period, refer to specific characterists of different phases, show the developing line of Bosnian-Herzegovinian theatrological – scientific and critic – notions and to estimate how experience of the past affects contemporary period in that sense. It has been shown that, in the post-War period, theatre is understood as mean of ideological transmission, while later more intensive need for theatre independency is noticed. It is noted that researching and understanding of earlier theatrological specificities can be very useful for objectivization, rationalization and solution of problems typical for recent Bosnian-Herzegovinian dramatic experience. Because very specific material has been used (periodic and monographic data), different methods were combined in the paper: classification method, inductive and dialectic method, descriptive and explicative analysis. What Bosnian-Herzegovinian theatrology was in lack of (according to theatre historicist Josip Lesic) is attempt of synthesized view of specific issue or problem: in other words, by focusing on one element only (for example, dramatic texts, performance or critics) no answers can be found or no dillemas can be solved in terms of some specific problems noted in interrelations of these elements. If only history of dramatic texts is isolated in a research, it can be concluded that Bosnia and Herzegovina had many authors and genres in that sense, while focusing only on performance – contradictory conclusion can be made, considering the fact that mainly foreign authors were present on Bosnian-Herzegovinian stage. This paper aims to connect all important elements together, with regards to social and political condition of different periods, so that clearer image of relations and challenges of theatre arts in general can be detected. This was done by isolating some extremely indicative examples (case of Kulenovic's Djelidba, Muradbegovic's Majka, Pavlovic's Pozorisne kronike), which were used to carry out general conclusions about theatrological motions and interdependence. First part of the paper shows that Bosnian-Herzegovinian theatrological experience has been continuously present, since Medieval times (despite of opposite opinion of many historians), if the term "theatrology" is understood as "totality." This is also important when referring to periods of Ottoman occupation, concerning the fact that different historians claim that "theatre did not exist during that time." A special emhpasis is given to Austro-Hungarian period, by noting that first dramatic text, first chamber stage, even first attempt of theatrical experiment derive from it. Analysis of period 1945 – 1970 shows that theatre was then understood as mean of transmitting ideological message, where all alements of one theatre act were controlled by that kind of preconceptions. Is it, however, noted that the sixties show more intense need for theatre independence, despite of the "theatre crisis" mentioned in many theatrological texts of that time. The seventies bring new artistic challenges: theatre is seen as complex and independent art, which differentiates this period from the previous one. By analyzing extent and content of theatrological discussions, it can be concluded that in the seventies and the eighties theatre is aimed to be understood outside political, social, administrative and ideological impositions. It has been also proven that contemporary theatrological problems are just products/extents of the mentioned continuity, but much more time is needed to view and rationalize those problems objectively. However, as all the examples in the paper show, experience of the past can be extremely helpful in that process.


B. Fundraising Update Melissa Yuchniuk reports that Pupstravaganza being held on August 16, 2014 from 10-2. Items are being collected for the silent auction, and vendor registration forms are being sent out and over 60 applications have been received. The Waterford Lions will be holding a hot dog sale so food will be available this year. Supporter Merchandise will be discounted during the event, a merchandise price list was presented to the committee and approved unanimously. Student Volunteers will be allowed for this event to receive LTS hours. Several have already signed up. To receive information contact Melissa Yuchniuk by email email@example.com or call 860-608-4860.


Abstract A total dislocation in a face-centred cubic crystal can dissociate to form a glissile extended dislocation on a {111} plane. The latter consists of two Shockley partial dislocations connected by a stacking fault. An analysis of dislocations based on anisotropic elasticity theory has been employed to calculate the force between the Shockley partials as a function of orientation in eight f.c.c. elements. In all cases the force was found to be repulsive, i.e. the dissociation is always energetically favourable in these elements. It is also shown, however, that there are permissible elastic constant values in the anisotropic case for which the dissociation is not energetically favourable. The widths of the glissile extended dislocations in the various f.c.c. elements have been computed as a function of stacking-fault energy. The anisotropic results have been compared with those derived from two isotropic approximations: the first employing average values of the elastic constants, the second employing...


Context The relative effects of premixed insulin analogues, other insulin regimens, and noninsulin antidiabetic agents for adults with type 2 diabetes are unclear. Contribution This systematic review of comparative trials in adults with type 2 diabetes found that premixed insulin analogues and premixed human insulin provided similar glycemic control. Premixed analogues provided tighter glycemic control and caused more hypoglycemia than long-acting insulin analogues and noninsulin antidiabetic agents. Caution Evidence for effects on clinical outcomes was scant and inconclusive. Implication We need large, long-term trials that compare premixed insulin analogues with other agents to see whether improvements in glucose control lead to improved clinical outcomes. The Editors According to the National Health Interview Survey, 28% of patients with type 2 diabetes are using insulin, either alone (16%) or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents (12%) (1). In the management of type 2 diabetes, the role of premixed insulin analogues relative to other insulin regimens and noninsulin antidiabetic agents is unclear. Premixed insulin analogues are derived from rapid-acting insulin analogues and consist of a mixture of a rapid-acting insulin analogue and its intermediate-acting protaminated form. Premixed insulin analogues may be a better alternative than premixed human insulin preparations for patients who wish to have a near-physiologic insulin administration regimen but want to avoid multiple daily insulin injections. In addition, they may allow patients flexible meal times, because these preparations can be administered from 15 minutes before meals to immediately after a meal. Given the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (2), the number of patients who use insulin for glycemic control (1), and the importance of glycemic control in decreasing mortality and morbidity (3), it is imperative to establish the weight of evidence for the safety and effectiveness of these relatively newer insulin preparations compared with traditional insulin preparations. Therefore, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality commissioned a systematic review of published studies on the comparative effectiveness and safety of all the premixed insulin analogues that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are available in the United States. Methods Data Sources We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL from inception to February 2008. The complete search strategy is available at effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/. We also reviewed reference lists of included articles, recent issues of 13 medical journals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency Web sites for the premixed insulin analogues, unpublished data from premixed insulin analogue manufacturers (Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana; Sanofi-Aventis, Bridgewater, New Jersey; and Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), and Web sites of public registries of clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov and ClinicalStudyResults.org). Study Selection We included studies that compared a premixed insulin analogue approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as of February 2008 with any other drug for adults with type 2 diabetes and evaluated clinical outcomes (such as mortality), intermediate outcomes (such as hemoglobin A1c level), or adverse events (such as hypoglycemia). We included randomized, controlled trials (RCTs); controlled clinical trials; and observational studies with control groups, regardless of their duration or sample size. However, we used data from crossover studies only for intermediate outcomes and hypoglycemia. We excluded crossover trials from the quantitative evaluation of outcomes that were either progressive (for example, retinopathy) or irreversible (for example, death). For the evaluation of hemoglobin A1c, we included crossover trials with at least 12 weeks of follow-up before and after the crossover phase. We aimed to use within-individual comparisons from crossover trials if trials had reported data in such detail, but no study did so. Because all crossover studies reported results for each intervention and no trial reported a statistically significant carryover effect, we ignored the crossover design and used reported estimates as if they came from a parallel trial. We excluded nonEnglish-language articles, editorials, comments, letters, and abstracts. Data Extraction and Quality Assessment Two investigators independently reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full articles for inclusion and abstracted data by using standardized forms. We developed a study quality assessment tool based on the Jadad criteria (4), the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (5), and questions from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's guide for conducting comparative effectiveness reviews (6). We adapted the evidence grading scheme recommended by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) Working Group (7) to classify the strength of the body of evidence on each comparison as high, moderate, low, or insufficient. Data Synthesis and Analysis We conducted meta-analyses for outcomes when data were sufficient (2 trials). For intermediate outcomes (fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, and hemoglobin A1c levels) and the adverse outcome of weight gain, we recorded the mean difference between groups, along with its measure of dispersion. If this was not reported, we calculated the point estimate by using the mean difference from baseline for each group. If the mean difference from baseline was not reported, we calculated this from the baseline and final values for each group. If no measure of dispersion was reported for the between-group difference, we calculated it by using the sum of the variances for the mean difference from baseline for each group. If there were no measures of dispersion for the mean difference from baseline for each group, we calculated the variance by using the standard deviation of the baseline and final values, assuming a correlation between baseline and final values of 0.5. We pooled the results of the plasma and blood glucose levels from different studies because blood glucose measurements accurately reflect plasma glucose levels (8). For hypoglycemia, we used 2 strategies to synthesize data. If a trial reported the incidence of hypoglycemia, we calculated an odds ratio (OR) by using the incidence of hypoglycemia in each study group. If a trial did not report the incidence of hypoglycemia but reported event rates in episodes per patient per 30 days, we calculated the rate ratio by dividing the event rate in the premixed insulin analogue group by the event rate in the comparator group. If a trial reported the number of episodes in each group or reported an event rate in a form other than episodes per patient per 30 days, we converted this information into episodes per patient per 30 days. We pooled the results of individual studies by using a random-effects model. These analyses were conducted by using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, version 2.2.046 (Biostat, Englewood, New Jersey). For clinical outcomes, we included all studies that reported any information about clinical events (all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity). All analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle. We combined results from the premixed insulin analogue group of different trials, assuming that the results were similar enough between premixed insulin analogues. In the study with 3 groups and comparing a premixed insulin analogue with 2 different insulin preparations (9), we chose the most relevant comparison to include in the meta-analyses (premixed insulin analogue vs. long-acting insulin analogue). We calculated pooled ORs and 95% CIs by using a MantelHaenszel fixed-effects model (with a 0.1 continuity correction) in Stata Intercooled, version 9.2 (Stata, College Station, Texas) (10, 11). For analysis of clinical outcomes, we used a fixed-effects model because it is less biased with rare event data (12). For sensitivity analyses, we used 3 meta-analytic methods: the Peto method, the MantelHaenszel fixed-effects model (with 0.5 and 0.01 continuity corrections), and Bayesian analysis (13). Heterogeneity among the trials was tested by using a standard chi-square test, with a significance level of 0.10 or less. We also examined inconsistency among studies by using an I 2 statistic (14); a value greater than 50% represented substantial variability. For all outcomes, we conducted sensitivity analyses by omitting 1 study at a time. We assessed publication bias visually by examining the symmetry of funnel plots and statistically by using the Begg (15) and Egger (16) tests. Role of the Funding Source The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality suggested the initial questions and provided copyright release for this manuscript but did not participate in the literature search, data analysis, or interpretation of the results. Results Study Characteristics The Appendix Figure shows the results of the literature search. We found 45 studies that reported at least 1 of the intermediate clinical outcomes or adverse events (Appendix Table). All studies except 2 (17, 18) were RCTs. In 1 study (17), patients were enrolled consecutively and followed prospectively, and in the other study (18), data were obtained from the medical record database of a large employer. Among the RCTs, 23 were parallel-group (9, 1940) and 20 were crossovers (4160). The median duration of follow-up in these trials was 16 weeks (range, 1 day to 2 years). Appendix Table. Characteristics of the Included Studies Appendix Figure. Study flow diagram. FDA = U.S. Food and Drug Administration. * The total may exceed the number in the corresponding box because articles could be excluded for more than 1 reason at this level. The trials enrolled a total of 14603 patients (median per trial, 93 patient


The effects of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes, α-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) and monensin on fermentation and digestibility of grass hay were examined using two rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) devices, each equipped with eight 820-mL fermenters with a liquid dilution rate of 0.73 d−1. Grass hay (10 g d−1) was fed either untreated or pre-treated with 0.2 g each of cellulase and xylanase, and in combination with no chemical or daily dosing of 20.5 µmol monensin, 20.5 µmol BES or 41 µmol BES. Pretreatment of hay with the fibrolytic enzymes increased (P < 0.05) organic matter (OM), cellulose and hemicellulose digestibilities by 9, 15, and 20%, respectively, and increased (P < 0.05) methane production per gram digestible OM by 43%. With the enzyme treatment, both β-endoglucanase and xylanase activities were enhanced (P < 0.05). Application of the enzymes promoted (P < 0.05) the growth of methanogenic bacteria, with no effect on total bacterial or cellulolytic bacterial populations. α-Bromoethanesulfonate did...


For the problems that most Computerized Aided Factory Layout(CAFL)'s arithmetic was so large and complicated,this paper put forward a method centered on Prim arithmetic and designed CAFL process,based on classical Systematic Layout Planning and integrated with the Tompkins' character of visual plane layout.What's more,an effective and simple CAFL visual was developed by use of Visual C++6.0 software,and testified by an example.


Combining broadband satellite solutions with terrestrial wireline and wireless solutions can rapidly extend the reach of IP multimedia applications to underserved parts of the world.


This report summarizes two years of work on investigating algorithms for automatically detecting fringe patterns in images acquired using oil-drop interferometry for the determination of skin friction. Several different analysis methods were tested, and a combination of a windowed Fourier transform followed by a correlation was found to be most effective. The implementation of this method is discussed and details of the process are described. The results indicate that this method shows promise for automating the fringe detection process, but further testing is required.


Selective B-O-Si bond formation was achieved in the reaction of bisboryloxide O(Bpin)2 (pin = (OCMe2)2)/boroxine (MeBO)3 system with tertiary silane R3SiH in the presence of stoichiometric water and a catalytic amount of [M](CO)5 ([M] = Mo(CO), W(CO), Fe) to give boryl silyl ethers. Moreover, this reaction can be applied to various hydrosilanes (disilyl compounds and secondary silanes) and hydrogermane. Some of the boryl silyl ethers thus formed were confirmed by X-ray analysis.


This study is aimed at developing seismic design methods for steel bridge piers with circular cross-section. For this purpose, this paper deals with the cyclic elastoplastic large displacement FE analysis of uniform thickness circular steel columns. The cyclic uni-directional and elliptical/circular bi-directional loading patterns with constant axial force are applied to the columns. The effect of gradual change in loading pattern on the strain behavior in shell and beam element models is observed. The parametric study is carried out and based on the ultimate average compressive strain in the beam element models. Finally, the ductility formulas are developed separately for uni-directional and circular bi-directional loading cases.


The new generations of aircraft embark, growingly, avionics systems and functions to increase passengers' security and comfort. Therefore, a huge increase in data traffic is generated. Higher rates with more interconnections become necessary. However, Conventional avionics communications busses cannot meet these new needs. They are prompting avionics manufacturers (Airbus and Boeing) to install on their aircraft high speed communication networks based principally on switched Ethernet technology. Currently, the communication architecture of the latest aircraft generations is based on the AFDX (Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet) backbone interconnected principally to data peripheral bus. The aim of our paper is to study and evaluate these new network architecture real-time performances. We are focused on the assessment based on simulation approach using OMNet++ simulator. We propose an illustrative example of the AFDX network that already exists on the literature. Firstly, the AFDX network end-to-end delay is determined by simulation. Then, we analyze and compare our results with other works. Thus, the AFDX performance is verified and validated through the simulation.


Questionable journals represent an increasing problem in scholarly communication. The warnings about such journals are plentiful, but the methods used to identify them vary a great deal and make it difficult to accurately determine which journals are fraudulent or simply of low quality. This article presents an overview of the existing frameworks for identifying questionable journals and discussions around them. Most of the frameworks rely on describing the journals under investigation according to a set of criteria, and some can even be turned into a metric or mechanism. The development of frameworks for identifying questionable journals has so far been characterized by a great diversity in format, length, and content. Generally, the frameworks come with little information on development, validation, and reliability. The consequences of prolific tool development are discussed, and a recommendation for testing such frameworks is proposed.


In order to achieve intelligence control of air purification and sweeper combined robot, it is developed in this paper a set of control system, this paper designs the hardware and software of control system based on the description of the main function of the system, especially for the design of step motor control system for the open and close of the door. The system has the merit of high degree of intelligence to realize the remote control of dust concentration to realize clearance of air and floor. The cooperative control between the purifier and the sweeping machine is realized based on the calculation of the dust thickness of the floor to achieve high efficiency and energy saving of cleaning and purification.


This paper has proposed a new shape of the twin-web turbine disc. Based on a design optimization of the shape of the twin-web turbine disc by finite element numerical calculation, we analyzed welding types and carried out the simulation of the welding process and obtained the residual stress. Finally we got a 5.8% weight loss and summarized residual stress of the welding and proved the feasibility of the new shape.


Objective To study the volatile constituents in stem tip of Cucurbita moschata Duch.(chaotianmiben).Methods The volatiles were analyzed by head-space solid micro-extraction,coupled with GC-MS and Kovats indices for the first time.A quantitative analysis in percent was performed by peak area normalization measurements.Results 26 compounds were identified in Chaotian,accounting for 98.04% of the total volatiles.Conclusion Perhydrofarnesyl acetone(10.14%) content was the highest,and followed by butylated hydroxytoluene(9.24%) and germacrene D(8.07%).


The utility model relates to an electric current sensing circuit, device and multiphase switched -mode power supply for power converter, switched -mode power supply. The utility model discloses a swithmode power converter's electric current sensing circuit adopts the no source current sensing network that connects in parallel and be coupled with the switch inductor. The no source current sensing network and inductance (its self -resistance) impedance match to provide the electric current sensing that is used for single wire electric current sensing node by electric current sensing circuit. No source current sensing network can be arranged in every a plurality of every that control switch circuit mutually that all have a contribution to power converter's output to control mutually in the switch circuit. The utility model discloses eliminate the needs (this kind of difference sensing structure that prior art is commonly used) to the difference sensing structure that requires two wires. Another benefit realizes in heterogeneous SMPS.


The paper discusses cultural continuity and change in kinship relations involving ayeyin (grandchild), ukod (in-law), and imaan (blood brother) relationships among Ibibio immigrants in Efikland. Mixed marriages involving the Efik hosts and Ibibio immigrants are also examined in relation to this "trinity." The trinity constitutes a cultural fulcrum upon which Ibibio kinship, ethnic identity, and intergroup relations revolve. Infraction of its tenets is supernaturally sanctioned. Social change seems to have affected the three kinship relations and their contents only minimally, even among Ibibio immigrants in distant Akpabuyo in Efikland, in spite of several problems experienced in the process of living together. When two or more groups from different sociocultural backgrounds interact, people are more predisposed to abandon or significantly modify aspects of their culture that are not supernaturally protected, and so do not threaten their existence or survival as individuals and as a corporate entity. To break the normative expectations of the trinity inside or outside Ibibioland is to destroy Ibibio ethnic identity.


There has been considerable modelling and wave basin validation of the multi-mode, multi-float, moored wave energy converter M4. The 6 float (2 power take off) (PTO) configuration is considered here with mooring from a buoy with light inextensible cables. Large mean mooring forces and very large peak or snap forces were measured in large waves while the rotational response about the hinges (for power take off in operational conditions) was predominantly linear. Modelling has been extended with elastic mooring cables connected directly to the base of the bow float and to the buoy. The experimental mean force is input to the linear diffraction/radiation model. The device response is effectively unchanged. The peak mooring force and tensions remain large with direct connection to the base of the bow float but are only slightly greater than the mean forces with elastic cables to the buoy, and an elastic hawser provides a further slight reduction. For the largest waves measured, the force was about 10% of the dry weight of the platform. The idealized efficient modelling may inform more detailed design while efficient methods for determining highly nonlinear mean forces remain to be established.


We report the experimental results of a highly sensitive silicon photonic biosensor based on two cascaded ring resonators operating in transverse-magnetic mode. The sensitivities of wavelength interrogation method and intensity interrogation method reach 24,300 nm/RIU and 2,430 dB/RIU, respectively.


An encoder/decoder using a concatenation code, and an encoding/decoding method thereof are provided to reduce an error of a decoding process using an only LDPC(Low Density Parity Code) code by concatenating the LDPC code and a product code. An encoder/decoder using a concatenation code includes a product parity adding unit(110), and an LDPC parity adding unit(130). The product parity adding unit generates a product parity for data by a product code scheme, and adds the generated product parity to the data. The LDPC parity adding unit generates an LDPC parity for the data to which the product parity is added by the LDPC code scheme. The LDPC parity adding unit adds the LDPC parity, which is generated to be concatenated with the added product parity, to the data to which the product parity is added. The product parity adding unit generates and adds a first product parity by a row unit of the data. The product parity adding unit generates and adds a second product parity by a column unit of the data.


Computations have become a tool coequal with mathematics and measurements as a means of performing electromagnetic analysis and design. This is demonstrated by the volume of articles and meeting presentations in which computational electromagnetics (CEM) is routinely employed to address an increasing variety of problems. Yet, in spite of the substantial resources invested in CEM software over the past three decades, little real progress seems to have been made towards providing the EM engineer software tools having a functionality equivalent to that expected of hardware instrumentation. Furthermore, the bulk of CEM software now available is generally of limited applicability to large, complex problems because most modeling codes employ a single field propagator, or analytical form, of Maxwell's Equations. The acknowledged advantages of hybrid models, i.e., those which employ different propagators in differing regions of a problem, are relatively unexploited. The thrust of this discussion is to propose a new approach designed to address both problems outlined above, integrating advances being made in both software and hardware development. After briefly reviewing the evolution of modeling CEM software to date and pointing out the deficiencies thereof, we describe an approach for making CEM tools more truly user friendly'' called EMSES (Electromagnetic Modelingmore » and Simulation Environment for Systems). This will be achieved through two main avenues. One is developing a common problem-description language implemented in a visual programming environment working together with a translator that produces the specific model description needed by various numerical treatments, in order to optimize user efficiency. The other is to employ a new modeling paradigm based on the idea of field propagators to expedite the development of the hybrid models that are needed to optimize computation efficiency.« less


Background: Kleptomania is characterized by repetitive stealing and has severe consequences for patients. Stigma, a lack of standardized therapy and a limited number of assessment tools hinder advances in treatment. This study provides preliminary data on the Portuguese-language version of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (P-K-SAS) and preliminary data on an outpatient program. Methods: Experts in the field analyzed an initial P-K-SAS version, produced


AIM To observe the long-term effects of intranasal bencycloquidium bromide(BCQB) administration on the learning and memory capacity of mice.METHODS Fifty selected male mice were randomly divided into vehicle group,BCQB high-,medium- and low-dose group(5.86,2.93 and 1.47 mg·kg~(-1), respectively),and penehyclidine group(2.25 mg·kg~(-1)).The administration volume was 5μL·10 g~(-1).After successive administration of BCQB to the mice for 1 month,the Morris water maze test and the step-down test were conducted to investigate the effects of BCQB on the learning and memory capacity of mice.Another fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups(10 mice for each time point).The brain tissue and blood plasma of mice were respectively sampled at 10,45 min and 3,12 and 48 h after the administration of BCQB(5.86 mg·kg~(-1)) to determine the concentration of BCQB by LC-ESI-MS method.RESULTS There was no significant difference in the behavior of mice among the groups(P0.05).The concentrations of BCQB in the brain homogenates at all time points were less than the lower limit of quantification(0.540 5μg·L~(-1)),while the concentration of BCQB in blood plasma was(4.01±0.52)μg·L~(-1) at 48 h after the administration. CONCLUSION BCQB has no effects on learning and memory capacity of mice after long-time administration, which is likely due to the fact that this drug does not sufficiently permeate through the blood-brain barrier.


Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a growing health concern in the United States due its rising prevalence, its impact on functional disability and increased risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. A recent review by Basgoz et al. [1] summarized the importance of screening for PAD and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD). Importantly, the authors delved into the less widely appreciated association between PAD and congestive heart failure (CHF). The presence of PAD has been found associated with nearly a doubling the prevalence of CHF [2]. Conversely, an earlier study showed a high prevalence of PAD in heart failure patients as 17.1% of CHF patients with low left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) ≤40% enrolled in disease management programs in Louisiana and Florida had PAD [3]. In another study of more than 18,000 subjects, aimed at deriving a clinical risk score derived to predict PAD, heart failure conferred a higher likelihood of a low ABI among the general population [4]. These prior studies measured the ankle brachial systolic blood pressure index (ABI), which is the most common method used to assess for PAD [5-7]. While multiple reasons may account for co-existing PAD and CHF including age dependence, common risk factors and similar metabolic disturbances, ABI determination may play a role as well. The ABI is essentially ratio of lower extremity systolic blood pressure (BP) to brachial artery BP measured by Doppler or sphygmomanometry. Normal values range from 1.2 to 1.4, indicating that systolic BP is normally higher in the lower than the upper extremities. Systolic BP increases with increasing distance from the heart as the arterial pressure waveform changes shape from the central aorta to the periphery due to arterial pressure amplification resulting from vascular branching and tapering as well as peripheral arterial wave reflections [8-11].


We propose a new definition for a Banach algebra A to be extremely non-Arens regular, namely that the quotient A/WAP(A) of A ∗ with the space of its weakly almost periodic elements contains an isomorphic copy of A. This definition is simpler and formally stronger than the original one introduced by Granirer in the nineties. We then identify sufficient conditions for the predual V∗ of a von Neumann algebra V to be extremely non-Arens regular in this new sense. These conditions are obtained with the help of orthogonal l1-sets of V∗. We show that some of the main algebras in harmonic analysis satisfy these conditions. Among them, there is (i) the weighted semigroup algebra of any weakly cancellative discrete semigroup, for any diagonally bounded weight, (ii) the weighted group algebra of any non-discrete locally compact infinite group and for any weight, (iii) the weighted measure algebra of any locally compact infinite group, for any diagonally bounded weight, (iv) the Fourier algebra of any locally compact infinite group having its local weight greater or equal than its compact covering number, (v) the Fourier algebra of any countable discrete group containing an infinite amenable subgroup. Date: June 2, 2020. 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 47D35; Secondary 22D15;43A46, 43A60,47C15.


Discusses the arithmetic for finding the method of the face images using computer. The method includes arithmetic bascd on texture and generic arithmetic.


The growing interest in the political economy of protection and the extensive literature which has already developed around the theme are mainly due to the wide gap between what policy makers practice and what economists preach. Notwithstanding the interesting nuances brought forth by the new trade theory, most economists do not seriously contest the superiority of free trade over protection. But policy makers in almost all countries practice some form of trade-protection. Further, the context within which such practices occur, the extent to which they are resorted or the industries that benefit from them, do not often seem to conform to the traditional explanations of protection such as optimal tariffs, infant industry protection, or the new arguments in favour of international rent shifting in specific 'strategic' sectors. This being the case, the study of the positive theory of trade policy determination has continued to gain ground, with economists borrowing concepts from political science. Most, but not all; such analyses have attempted to explain tariff protection, particularly inter-industry differences in nominal or effective tariff rates. But successive, multilateral trade negotiations have brought down average tariffs to single digit figures. Also agreement has been reached through the Uruguay Round negotiations to reduce the levels of some important types of non-tariff barriers such as agricultural subsidies and export restraints. Although the trend has thus been clearly towards a reduction of the levels of protection, the use of certain selective, unilateral protectionist measures such as anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) measures are very much on the increase. This has raised genuine fears that the codes and regulations which were meant for a corrective purpose are now being increasingly used for legitimising selective, unilateral protection. Although the political economy analysis of this type of contingent protection is still in its infancy, from the trade policy point of view this is an area of considerable importance.


Midwife is a health workers which is included in nursing and has an authority to give midwifery directions, such as in communication, information and education (known as therapeutic). Therapeutic communication is obliged to be done by midwife on behalf resurrection. This research aims to analyze the correlation between several factors with therapeutic communication of midwife in community health centre in giving health service in community health centre Semarang. This research is conducted in Observational Analytic way and uses Cross Sectional Study. Population of the research are 96 midwifes; using 40 samples. The analysis comprises of univariat and bivariat descriptive (crosstab). Bivariat analytic uses Chi Square Test (Pearson, Fisher Exact Test) (α=5%). Univariat test shows respondents percentage are equal for all three major matters, included: young adult (50%) and mature adult (50%), new midwife (50%) and incumbent midwife (50%), good working regulation (50%) and bad working regulation (50%). Most of respondents are coming from bachelor program (97,5%), less acknowledged (55%), good trust (87,5%), good manner (70%), good external (coworker and manager) encouragement (70%), and good therapeutic communication (55%). Bivariat analysis shows correlation between knowledge (p= 0,048), external encouragement (p= 0,002) with therapeutic communication of midwife in giving health care. It is suggested that Health Department of Semarang arise awareness of therapeutic communication. Moreover for community health centre, giving socialization and periodic monitoring.


Building on the neorealist assumption, the current study argues that during the analysed time frame (2006-2016), the energy related issues have contributed to a shift in the Black Sea regional structure which drastically affected the regional balance of power. The current strategic reset determined by the shift in the regional system from a "balanced multipolar" system, to an "unbalanced" one warns about the new regional context that has reached an unprecedented level of uncertainty. In order to test this assumption, the study utilizes interpretative case studies for each Black Sea riparian state focusing on analysing the trends in the energy cooperation. The results reveal that energy cooperation represents a crucial aspect for interpreting and elucidating the complexity of the Black Sea regionalisation process, for defining and characterising the space of interactions between the riparian states and for understanding the power distribution within the region.


Pursuing a study of the superheating field for the Ginburg–Landau equations performed in Ref. 8, we consider an approximate model for a film on a bounded interval when the thickness 2e is large in comparison with the inverse of the characteristic κ of the material. We show for this problem the existence of a local superheating field, and recover, as e tends to +∞, the superheating field for a similar approximate model on a semi-infinite interval which has been studied in Ref. 8.


Our ability to enrich our communities, variously defined, through library collections, facilities, and services, is based on community members being able to "discover" what the library can provide to them and to imagine new ways that libraries and librarians can be a meaningful part of their teaching, learning, scholarship, and more. Drawing on examples of innovative work done in recent years at DePaul University and across the City of Chicago, Scott Walter (University Librarian, DePaul University; Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Chicago Collections) will discuss how collaborating in the development of new platforms for "discovery" of library resources and expertise has led to greater recognition of the library as a foundational resource for the campus community, and beyond.


* Introduction: Melancholize * Glossary: Affect, Emotion, Mood (Stimmung), Structure of Feeling * Modernism and Melancholia * a. Modernity and Loss * b. Melancholia's History * c. Freud on Melancholia: Shadow and Precipitate * d. Transference or Affects in Psychoanalysis * e. Walter Benjamin: Melancholy as Method * Affective Mapping * Reading into Henry James: Allegories of the Will to Know in The Turn of the Screw *"What a Mourning": Propaganda and Loss in W.E.B. Du Bois's The Souls of Black Folk * Andrei Platonov's Revolutionary Melancholia: Friendship and Toska in Chevengur * Notes * Acknowledgments * Index


ABSTRACT A helicopter logging operation was studied to evaluate some parameters which affect load factors. Estimates of log weights had considerable error. Estimates of lift capacity appeared to be accurate and the weights of limbs and trim on the logs were negligible, as were the incremental forces required to break the logs free of the ground. Readings from the helicopter's load indicator were precise but biased.


This report presents the results of the second phase of a program to develop innovative concepts for locomotive crew egress following a crash that damages the cab. The roof-mounted hatch system was fabricated as a working prototype and installed in a full-scale mockup of a toppled locomotive. Usability testing with experienced train crew members and emergency responders demonstrated the system's usability. Crew members exited the cab in under 20 seconds when uninjured. Two secondary egress systems ere also designed and fabricated. A windshield that can be removed from the cab interior employs double looped cutting wires to sever the window gasket, thus allowing the glazing to be pushed out. A proof-of-concept prototype as installed and tested in the locomotive mockup. A removable door hinge, the other secondary egress system, employs a lever-actuated mechanism that releases the hinge leaf from the door, allowing a jammed door to be removed and allowing the crew to escape the cab. Easily removable hinge pins provide a means for emergency response personnel to easily remove the door from the exterior. A training video for emergency responders explains the structure and features of a locomotive and suggests techniques for removing crewmembers from the cab following a crash.


The paper proposed an immune algorithm based on the mechanism exhibited in biological immune clone selection and the immune network theory. The algorithm eliminates antigen by clone selection and mutation, accumulates knowledge by selection of antibody memory cells which inspired by the immune network theory, and realizes immune homeostasis. The function of antibody memory cells is immune surveillance. The self-adaptation of antibody is realized by the immune mutation mechanism, which makes the algorithm self-learning and self-adaptive. The results of an application study on the pattern recognition of heat furnaces shows that the algorithm has good abilities of pattern recognition and data compress.


This work describes experimental results of losses measurements in a 2G HTS coil carrying AC current. For the purposes of this article, AC current is a distorted sinusoidal current. One higher harmonic is added to the frequency of 50 Hz: the third (150 Hz) or the fifth (250 Hz) of different amplitude. Thus, a set of signals with different levels of harmonic distortion (THD) is formed. The losses are analyzed and compared for several THD's both by the current and by the amplitude values of the currents.


A high-resolution, quantitative-data approach was implemented at a large, urban industrial facility where trichloroethene (TCE) was used extensively as a cleaning solvent. The site was underlain by river deposits and sedimentary bedrock. Subtle facies changes resulted in solute concentrations that varied by orders of magnitude in distances of only centimeters (cm). This inherent complexity was the impetus for quantitative, high-resolution data to characterize site conditions and design, implement, and demonstrate the performance of the BOS 100 ® remedial program. Burgeoning technologies such as the Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) can be effective qualitative screening tools, but are ineffective for accurate injection design or performance monitoring, especially at sites where dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) is present. At this site, the high-resolution program consisted of analyzing 1,291 continuous soil samples from 186 borings and 5,515 groundwater samples from 1,349 monitoring wells. Pre-treatment data were used to calculate mass flux and mass discharge to develop an accurate conceptual site model (CSM); evaluate source and plume strength; and calculate injectate loadings. The benefit of the high-resolution data was to identify zones which transmitted the bulk of the contaminant mass. This insight was necessary to design and implement an effective and economical remedy. Post-treatment data were used to evaluate injectate distribution and to confirm the effectiveness of the BOS 100 ® program. INTRODUCTION A large quantity of TCE was stored and used at a manufacturing facility located in a major metropolitan area. Decades of tankage spills and product-line releases resulted in an approximately 230 square meter (m 2 ) DNAPL plume and an approximately 6,200 m 2 dissolved-phase plume (Figure 1). TCE in soil was observed at concentrations up to 54,450,000 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) and TCE in groundwater was observed at concentrations up to 1,280,000 micrograms per liter (μg/L). An extensive technical feasibility review was conducted to select an appropriate remedy. Biotic methods were dismissed because there was very little if any apparent natural biodegradation in the subsurface. Conventional abiotic methods, e.g., chemical oxidation or chemical reduction, were dismissed because of inherent deficiencies, e.g., solute mobilization, reagent depletion, and insufficient residence time. Instead, a carbon-based technology (BOS 100 ® ) was selected because typical deficiencies are not a factor and remediation is complete following a FIGURE 2. Matrix column. single application. Retreatment is only necessary if slurry distribution is insufficient, not because of rebound, i.e., back diffusion. In extremely heterogeneous settings such as this site quantitative, high-resolution data are needed to accurately characterize and map solute distribution in soil and groundwater. Data gathering does not stop at design, but is integral to the implementation phase as well. Successful injection programs need to be flexible and supported by robust performance monitoring that allows using "where you have been" to adjust for "where you need to go". Site Description. The site was underlain by river deposits and sedimentary bedrock (Figure 2). Impacted alluvium included approximately 5 meters (m) of interbedded granular and fine-grained deposits. Beneath the source area was approximately 15 m of wellgraded sands and gravels underlain by an aquitard of silt and silty clay where DNAPL pooled at the interface. Impacts did not extend into the underlying claystone bedrock. Solute transport was dictated primarily by physical properties of the DNAPL, (e.g., density) and by aquifer characteristics. Aquifer characteristics which had the biggest impact on site remediation were the anisotropy and heterogeneity caused by the variance in matrix density and grain size in the alluvial sands. Other challenges were caused by a very small gradient that resulted in solute distribution and flow direction being less predictable. Over the course of history, it did not take much to "tip the table one way or the other", so flow direction, hence, distribution patterns changed frequently. Remedial Technology. The selected remedy was in-situ treatment using an immiscible, activated carbon solid injectate, BOS 100 ® . Each carbon grain is impregnated with elemental iron (Figure 3) such that carbon adsorption properties are coupled with the dechlorination process of iron (a stepwise function that produces a variety of byproducts, i.e., "daughters"). Based on applicable half-cell reactions and associated Gibbs Free Energy of Reaction, the elemental iron serves as an electron donor (being oxidized in the process) and the aliphatic chloroethenes/chloroethanes serve as the principal electron acceptors. The final step is the generation of end-product hydrocarbons (ethene or ethane) which, due to very high vapor pressures and discretionary London dispersion forces, escape the matrix and allow for "fresh" contaminant to be adsorbed by the carbon catalyst. Deficiencies such as slow or incomplete treatment due to insufficient residence time are avoided in that the initial contaminant is sequestered in the BOS 100 ® (as are FIGURE 3. BOS 100 ® particle.


The present invention is to compensate for the birefringence of the at least one waveguide of the interferometer, a method and apparatus for compensating the polarization dependence frequency shift of the center frequency of the optical filter comprising the interferometer, at least one of the half-wave plate is inserted in the optical path of the interferometer, at least one waveguide (16, 17) is set to a specific temperature at a region located right above half-wave plate (11), the half-wave plate (11) the area on the right side of the is set to the first temperature T .The


【Objective】 An experiment was conducted to study the effects of different balance models of amino acids in the artery blood flow by infusing amino acids into the external pudendal artery on nutrient uptake in the mammary gland of dairy goats.【Method】 Three dairy goats at 2-3-year old of age with similar body weight and milk yield were intubated in the external pudendal artery and the abdominal subcutaneous vein,in this study.Different balance models of amino acids in the blood flow were made by infusing amino acids into the external pudendal artery.Arterio-venous plasma,at the start and the end of infusion,were collected to measure the changes of milk protein precursors(MPP),milk fat precursors(MFP) and milk lactose precursors(MLP) concentrations as well as nutrients uptake in the mammary gland.【Result】 The uptake of MPP and MFP in the mammary gland was step up after infusing amino acids into the external pudendal artery(P0.05).Compared with the control group,the uptake of MLP by the mammary gland was increased after infusing,but there was no significant difference in the ideal amino acids model group(P0.05),meanwhile the difference was significant in the balance model group(P0.05).The milk production and milk content of the dairy goats were significantly different in the two groups(P0.05) compared with the control group.【Conclusion】 Under the conditions of the experiment,the amino acids balance could change the uptake of milk components precursors in the mammary gland and in favor of the synthesis of milk.The uptake of milk components precursors in the mammary gland was optimum when the amino acid model was arrived at the ideal balance level(AABI=0.972).


Abstract Forming peer alliances to share and build knowledge is an important aspect of community arts practice, and these co-creation processes are increasingly being mediated by the Internet. This paper offers guidance for practitioners who are interested in better utilising the Internet The decision not to capitalise the word 'internet' in this paper is based on the consideration that digital networks that use the Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP, have become ubiquitous means of sending and receiving communications. to connect, share, and make new knowledge. It argues that new approaches are required to foster the organising activities that underpin online co-creation, building from the premise that people have become increasingly networked as individuals rather than in groups (Rainie & Wellman 2012: 6), and that these new ways of connecting enable new modes of peer-to-peer production and exchange. This position advocates that practitioners move beyond situating the Internet as a platform for dissemination and a tool for co-creating media, to embrace its knowledge collaboration potential. Drawing on a design experiment I developed to promote online knowledge co-creation, this paper suggests three development phases – developing connections, developing ideas, and developing agility – to ground six methods. They are: switching and routing, engaging in small trades of ideas with networked individuals; organising, co-ordinating networked individuals and their data; beta-release, offering 'beta' artifacts as knowledge trades; beta-testing, trialing and modifying other peoples 'beta' ideas; adapting, responding to technological disruption; and, reconfiguring, embracing opportunities offered by technological disruption. These approaches position knowledge co-creation as another capability of the community artist, along with co-creating art and media.


networks can be used to find people who share similar interests or people who have knowledge in a specific domain. One method to find people is based on search by specific information about people or search by specific keywords they use. This method is limited to the explicit information provided by people. The other method is based on ranking people by their popularity to suggest a list of popular people for a given interest area. However, this method hides people who provide valuable content but not so popular in the network. In this paper, we examine what people contribute rather than what they declare about themselves. The idea is that their value depends on what they contribute. We propose a method for identifying interest areas of people without relying on the explicit information declared by them. Moreover, by applying our model, we identify interest-specific microblogger communities and extract sets of relevant words related to different interest areas. KeywordsNetworks, User suggestion, Twitter, keyword co- occurrence, social network analysis, community extraction


After approximately eight months of formation discussion between a number of western utilities, a group of five companies defined a project scope, schedule and budget for assessing the prospects for electric power production using Nevada geothermal resources.


This paper describes the design of a BJT phase-locked loop (PLL) for /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ fractional-N frequency synthesis applications. Implemented in a 0.8 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology, the PLL can operate up to 1.6 GHz, while consuming 225 mW of power from a single -2 V supply. The LC-tuned negative-resistance variable-frequency oscillator is integrated on the same chip. A low-voltage current-mode logic circuit configuration is used to minimize phase jitter and achieve low-voltage operation. Die size is 4300/spl times/4000 /spl mu/m/sup 2/.


ABSTRACT When dissolved in ethyl oleate secondary ozonide, both C60 and C70 fullerenes undergo a series of epoxidation reactions. The pseudofirst-order kinetic rate constants of this process were determined spectrophotometrically at various temperatures and the activation energy for C60 epoxidation through ethyl oleate ozonide was found at 25.9 kcal/mol. Furthermore, C60 was found more reactive than C70 with the ozonide. The kinetics rate constants of C60 epoxidation with ethyl oleate ozonide were compared with the C60 photo-oxidation and auto-oxidation determined in pure ethyl oleate. The epoxidation of fullerenes starts from the homolysis of the peroxide group of the 1,2,4-trioxolane ring of ethyl oleate secondary ozonide. Thus, it is suggested that fullerenes have a potential as decomposition agents of secondary ozonides in some technological applications.


Elevated intraluminal pressure of rabbit small bowel induces a decrease of tissue pO2 of the bowel wall dependent on the applied pressure. After decompression local pO2 exceeds the initial pO2 values. While the i.v. application of 25 microgram/kg glucagon is not able to improve local oxygen supply of the distended bowel, local pO2 increases considerably after infusion of 7.5 ml/kg dextran 40. Decompression by operation or intestinal tube as well as application of dextran 40 are recommended in the treatment of ileus.


Ion migration is a crucial factor influencing the stability of perovskite solar cells. Insertion of an interfacial layer between the electron‐transporting layer and the cathode is shown to be an effective way to enhance the performance of devices. However, exploring more effective interfacial materials to block ion migration and thus enhance the device stability is still needed. Herein, a series of 8‐hydroxyquinoline metal complexes are employed as cathode interfacial layers (CILs) in inverted planar perovskite solar cells. The devices with CILs exhibit better performance, stability, and reproducibility than the control device without CILs. The introduction of the CILs forms a better energy match between the [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester layer and the cathode, reduces the contact resistance, accelerates the charge transfer, and suppresses non‐radiative recombination. Moreover, the CILs protect the device from moisture and block the ion diffusions, which is beneficial for device stability. After optimization, the best power conversion efficiency of 20.6% is obtained by using 8‐hydroxyquinoline aluminum (Alq3) as a CIL, and the efficiency remains 85% of its initial value after 800 h continuous illumination.


In non-Hermitian crystals showing the non-Hermitian skin effect, ordinary Bloch band theory and Bloch topological invariants fail to correctly predict energy spectra, topological boundary states, and symmetry breaking phase transitions in systems with open boundaries. Recently, it has been shown that a correct description requires to extend Bloch band theory into complex plane. A still open question is whether non-Hermitian skin effect and non-Bloch symmetry-breaking phase transitions can be probed by real-space wave dynamics far from edges, which is entirely governed by ordinary Bloch bands. Here it is shown that the Lyapunov exponent in the long-time behavior of bulk wave dynamics can reveal rather generally non-Bloch symmetry breaking phase transitions and the existence of the non-Hermitian skin effect.


The understanding of surgical gesture, by means of measuring apparatus, can play a key role for a possible evaluation of the surgical performance and the human factors characterizing it. To this aim a neural network classification algorithm can be helpful, since combines good generalization performances along with a parsimonious architecture when dealing with high dimensional classification problems. So, here it is presented and proposed the development of an innovation in surgical training system, as a fundamental objective support for training of novice surgeons.


This study investigates how individual and organizational contexts affect strategic decision makers' interpretation and adoption of potential organizational innovations. Results indicate positive s...


A case report of a 33-year-old woman with atypical bipolar disorder, autistic disorder, profound mental retardation and a chromosomal anomaly is presented. This patient is behaviourally similar to a patient reported by Akuffo et al. (1986), who apparently did not have a chromosomal investigation. The chromosomal anomaly and similarities between the two patients are discussed.


9 The paper reports on part of an extensive experimental campaign aimed at studying the 10 influence of operative conditions on the fluidization behaviour of industrial reactive powders. 11 The fluidization behaviour of two different types of rutile particles, namely a synthetic and a 12 natural rutile, was investigated at temperatures ranging from ambient up to 500 °C. Their 13 fluidization quality was also characterised through the bed collapse test, which provides a 14 sensitive and discriminating methodology for the assessment of 15 responses between low and high-temperature operation. The results obtained from the 16 fundamental fluidization tests and bed collapse technique were linked to the rheological 17 analysis of the flow properties of the materials. The comparison underpinned the relative role 18 of the interparticle forces and the hydrodynamic forces on the flow behaviour of the particles 19 at process conditions.


Abstract:  Surveys were carried out in 2001 in brassica‐producing areas of Ethiopia to determine the geographic distribution and severity of diamondback moth (DBM) and occurrence of indigenous parasitoids. Principal component analysis was used to analyse the importance of nine parameters – DBM density, parasitism by different parasitoid species (Oomyzus sokolowskii, Diadegma spp., Apanteles sp. and overall parasitism), cropping systems, pesticide use, frequency of pesticide application and altitude. A total of 194 brassica fields in 13 different areas were visited. Principal component analysis showed that the first two of the nine principal components (largely DBM density and pesticide use) accounted for 70% of the variation in the data set. Higher DBM numbers were associated with pesticide usage and higher overall parasitism with intercropping. Eight parasitoid species were recorded of which three species were important both in distribution and level of parasitism. These include Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hym., Eulophidae), Diadegma spp. (Hym., Ichneumonidae) and Apanteles sp. (Hym., Braconidae). Overall parasitism ranged from 3.6% to 79.5% with big differences between areas. Apanteles sp. and Diadegma spp. were largely confined to the south‐western part of Ethiopia where insecticide use is minimal. Oomyzus sokolowskii is mainly distributed in areas of the Rift Valley and northern Ethiopia with relatively heavy insecticide use. This study indicated a huge impact of repeated insecticide treatment and agronomic practices on DBM severity and its parasitoids.


This paper presents a miniature 50 mm3 inertial measurement unit (IMU) implemented using a folded microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) process. The approach is based on wafer-level fabrication of high aspect-ratio single-axis sensors interconnected by flexible hinges and folded into a 3-D configuration, like a silicon Origami [1]. Two different materials for flexible hinges have been explored, including photo-definable polyimide and parylene-C. We report, for the first time, an IMU prototype with seven operational sensors: three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, and a prototype of a reference clock. This paper concludes with the results of experimental characterization of inertial sensors demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed approach for a compact IMU. [2016-0267]


The aim of this study was to determine if spirits consumption is more harmful than consuming milder beverage types in Sweden, using monthly survey data for the period 2005–2009. Logistic regression modeling was performed to estimate the association between different beverages and harmful drinking, controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic factors. There was no support for the idea that spirits consumption is characterized by more harmful drinking patterns and consuming strong beer, in particular, was a better predictor of heavy drinking and harm. It also appeared that people who include spirits, strong beer, and cider/alcopops in their consumption pattern more often had harmful drinking patterns and experiences of alcohol-related problems. The present findings suggest that strong beer is the most problematic alcoholic beverage in Sweden, but also that patterns combining several beverage types are also good measures of harmful drinking, particularly patterns including strong beer, cider/alcopops, and spirits.


>> Orthopaedic surgeons are currently estimated as the fourth highest opioid prescribers across all medical specialties. Preliminary research aimed at quantifying postoperative opioid utilization and prescribing patterns indicates that orthopaedic surgeons are inadvertently overprescribing opioids in the postoperative period.>> Preoperative history gathering and communication are vital to a successful postoperative pain experience. Patient education on surgical intervention, prescription opioid misuse risk factors (smoking, preoperative prescription opioid use, and so forth), and maintenance of preoperative opioid naiveté can aid a patient in avoiding prescription opioid misuse.>> Multimodal analgesia, in addition to a patient-centered prescription opioid regimen, is needed to address diverse pain pathways, to mitigate postoperative pain, and to minimize opioid utilization.>> Use of prescription opioid universal precautions, standardized opioid taper regimens, tamper-resistant opioid formulations, and rapid cessation of opioid use in the postoperative period are strategies that can aid in monitoring and ensuring a successful and safe discontinuation of prescription opioid use following orthopaedic surgery.>> Pain inherent in many orthopaedic surgical interventions, current limitations in effective analgesic treatment modalities, and growing awareness of the extensive adverse effects and nontherapeutic uses of opioids make strategies for postoperative pain control a highly complex problem that requires physicians to adopt patient and/or technique-specific approaches.


The solubility of reactants and products were studied in scCO2,and the results showed that the toluene had a high solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide,and toluene-CO2 system could form single phase under the reaction condition.The solubility of benzyl alcohol,benzaldehyde,and benzoic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide reduced with the polarity enhanced.The synthesis of benzaldehyde could be realized in higher selectivity due to the different solubility of the oxidation products.Furthermore,the effect of reaction time,pressure,temperature,and the molar ratio of toluene and oxygen on the reaction selectivity were also studied.


The stress distribution in the Si channel regions of silicon-germanium (SiGe) source/drain p-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor of various widths and dummy lengths was studied using ANSYS simulations. The drain current enhancement is dominated by the compressive stress along the transport direction. Stress perpendicular to the channel was found to have the least effect on the drain current in wide-width devices. However, this stress component cannot be neglected in narrower devices. The tensile stress along the vertical direction contributes to the drain current enhancement in wide devices but can be neglected when the width is very small. The impact of channel width and dummy length effects on improvements in device performance such as the drive current gain was also analyzed.


The invention discloses a PP-based flame-retardant wood-plastic composite board and a preparation method thereof. The PP-based flame-retardant wood-plastic composite board is composed of, by weight, 25-45 parts of PP, 45-70 parts of wood powder, 0.5-1.5 parts of coupling agent, 0.1-0.5 part of antioxidant, 0.1-0.5 part of lubricant, 0.2-1.0 part of dispesant and 0.5-3 parts of flame retardant. The preparation method includes following steps: fully mixing PP, the wood powder, the coupling agent, the antioxidant, the lubricant, the dispersant and the flame retardant; forming the wood-plastic composite board through extrusion or hot pressing. The PP-based flame-retardant wood-plastic composite board has dual properties of wood and PP plastic and has good flame-retardant effect.


Today, citizens can access a lot of environmental information online, but two-way electronic interaction still is not very common. The common practice of environmental information systems is one-way flow of information usually establishing public access to internet-based applications is a limited paradigm. This paper is based on a first usability test of how blogging and mobile weblogging of official and user-created environmental information performs as a two-way communication tool for environmental information exchange. With the future possibilities of mobile devices, mobile weblogging will bring new opportunities for two-way environmental information exchange between citizens and public administrations. 1. From Information to Communication Sharing environmental information between citizens and public environmental administrations is an instrument to enable participation and learning, based on twoway communication. People know the local environmental situation, and their values and perceptions must be an integral part of any environmental information exchange. Unfortunately environmental administrations often forget communication because they think the environmental terms and scientific facts presented in environmental information systems are convincing in themselves. But in seeking to change individual behaviour and knowledge, these so called facts and environmental data are insufficient. Two-way communication allows the user to communicate with the administrative content developer or other users. But again, it is important to create valuable information content through the use of two-way communication tools. The integration of traditional public information services into e-government applications has given increased attention to more community-based approaches of eparticipation (Storch 2003b). 1 Dr. Harry Storch, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, Chair of Environmental Planning, Karl-Marx Str. 17, D-03044 Cottbus, Germany. Email: email@example.com EnviroInfo 2004 (Geneva) Sh@ring – EnviroInfo 2004 Copyright © Editions du Tricorne 2004. ISBN: 28 29 30 275-3


The purpose of this study is to identify the types of representation used in the middle school mathematics textbooks and to establish associations among representation types. This research is a qualitative research and document analysis method is used to analyze the representation types in secondary school mathematics textbooks. In this study, mathematics textbooks were examined by considering verbal, algebraic, model, table, graphic and real life representations. In the study, the activities in the textbooks, prepared by the MoNE commission and used in the academic year of 2015-2016, the solutions given in the book and the questions to be solved were analyzed. During the coding process of the data, two researchers working independently were involved. According to research findings, the transition between representations in textbooks was mostly realized among algebraic, verbal, model and open representations. It is striking that the other pairings remain at very low rates.


To some extent we can not find expected market reaction,which should be logically consistent to the financial performance,to the announcement of annual report in some Chinese listed companies.Somebody concludes that it is due to the investors'ignorance of the information of performance.Is this conclusion true?Since nobody knows the SARS event in details until the Chinese government announced the truth on April 20.This provides us with a good opportunity to test whether the market reaction to an announcement with full information is rational.Put SARS as matching event,we argue that the release in advance should play an important role in the explanation on the reaction to annual report.


Betweenness centrality is a widely used network measure in social network analysis. There are many algorithms for calculating or approximating this measure, but most of these algorithms assume that all network information is known. Therefore, since we can obtain little information for online social networks because of security and privacy concerns, we must consider a crawling-based algorithm. Herein, we propose a new crawling-based algorithm for estimating the top-k nodes with the highest betweenness centrality in online social networks. The proposed algorithm approximates the ego betweenness centrality of the nodes sampled via a random walk and approximates the top-k nodes with the highest betweenness centrality in a graph as the top-k nodes with the highest approximated ego betweenness centrality in the sampled nodes. This algorithm makes the same number of requests to an application programming interface as existing algorithms because we reuse sampled nodes for approximation. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can estimate the top-k nodes of real social networks more accurately than existing methods when sample size is very small.


In the article, the author has analyzed some myths, controversies and inaccuracies concerning the genesis, course and results of the armed expedition by Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha Pasha against Vienna in 1683. Some of them came into existence almost immediately after the victory at Vienna John III Sobieski, others were created or retained for various reasons later, especially in the Polish literature of the subject. One of the main purposes of the article is also the analysis of the media and film image of the Battle of Vienna. The article is an attempt to answer some research questions and some hypotheses on the basis of such written sources as the Turkish chronicles and the available literature of the subject.


The main task is the terraforming of the planet Mars. Nowadays it is a very important task, because there are a lot of problems on the planet Earth, which deals with the exhaustion of natural resources. The solution is in the colonizing, buil- ding and transport formation on the planet Mars . The observations on planet Mars perform Mars exploration rover, they give possibility for scientist to make a research of planet. After researching with a help of NASA devices, scientist could develop different ideas about constructions and transport inventions, such as underground shelters and caves, adobe-brick surface structures, earth-bag constructions. Transport devices are the major item in developing such complex system. The example of such devices is roadheader, which will be able to construct needed habitations. Terraforming is a huge and difficult process, which requires many efforts and time.


Significance Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a common plasma enzyme, has been known for decades but its real physiological roles are just beginning to emerge. Although BChE eliminates the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, it is not vital for locomotion, cognition, or other cholinergic functions. Nevertheless, we now find that circulating BChE has a large impact on aggressive behavior in mice that is attributable to its ability to inactivate ghrelin, a peptide hormone involved in hunger, feeding, and stress. A key observation was decreased fighting among group-housed male mice overexpressing BChE after viral gene transfer. In contrast, BChE knockout mice exhibited increased fighting. These effects mirrored changes in plasma levels of active ghrelin. Controlling them might offer therapeutic potential for certain behavioral disorders. Ongoing mouse studies of a proposed therapy for cocaine abuse based on viral gene transfer of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) mutated for accelerated cocaine hydrolysis have yielded surprising effects on aggression. Further investigation has linked these effects to a reduction in circulating ghrelin, driven by BChE at levels ∼100-fold above normal. Tests with human BChE showed ready ghrelin hydrolysis at physiologic concentrations, and multiple low-mass molecular dynamics simulations revealed that ghrelin's first five residues fit sterically and electrostatically into BChE's active site. Consistent with in vitro results, male BALB/c mice with high plasma BChE after gene transfer exhibited sharply reduced plasma ghrelin. Unexpectedly, such animals fought less, both spontaneously and in a resident/intruder provocation model. One mutant BChE was found to be deficient in ghrelin hydrolysis. BALB/c mice transduced with this variant retained normal plasma ghrelin levels and did not differ from untreated controls in the aggression model. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice with BChE gene deletion exhibited increased ghrelin and fought more readily than wild-type animals. Collectively, these findings indicate that BChE-catalyzed ghrelin hydrolysis influences mouse aggression and social stress, with potential implications for humans.


Abstract : How should the joint force optimize the planning and execution of close air support (CAS)? Previous studies have examined CAS from the perspective of service- and platform-specific procedures. This thesis examines how the joint force, as a cohesive whole, can more optimally deliver lethal firepower against any adversary. Using institutional analysis, three clusters of perverse incentives that hinder joint cohesion are examined. These clusters include the following: (1) the perverse incentives arising from rules of engagement intended to address the conduct of operations amongst the population, (2) the lack of interoperability arising from the multiplicity of service-specific platforms, and (3) the significant difference between training and real-world execution of CAS. This study reasons that institutions (which include rules, doctrine, practices, standard operating procedures, etc.) within each cluster generate unintended, path-dependent effects deleterious to cohesive joint air support. The thesis then proposes a new approach to CAS that mitigates these threats and fosters joint cohesion.


Self‐critical perfectionistic personality features have been shown to influence the onset and perpetuation of pain symptoms. However, no study to date has investigated whether these personality features are associated with treatment response in chronic pain.


The unmanned vehicle should take notice of its location and recognize circumstance around the place itself for enabling tele operation of unmaned vehicle. During the operation, it is a serious control strategy that the vehicle can detect obstacles and avoid collision on the road. For these abilities, we designed sensor fusion system, which is comprised by four main unmaned vehicle parts: front & side sensor system and acceleration & brake control system for longitudinal motion control, vision system for keeping the lane and steering control system for the lateral motion control.
In this study, mechanical and electronic parts are implemented to operate unmaned vehicle as a integrated system, which includes vehicle driving DC motor, another DC motor for brake actuator system, step motor for steering control and all of them are controlled by one processor. A laser range finder is used to detect for long distance of front side. And ultra-sensors are
used for detecting close-distance of lateral side. Algorithm for operating each control parts is developed and AICC logic is applied and enhanced experimentally.


ABSTRACT
 Critical scholars have critiqued workplace health promotion (WHP) discourses for extending managerial influence on workers' lives, shifting health responsibilities to workers, and disregarding occupational health and safety (OHS) and other structural issues. This essay promotes a worker-centered framework for workplace health, featuring (1) the holistic integration of WHP, OHS, and wellness as well as economic, environmental, and consumer health, (2) substantive worker voice, and (3) structural mechanisms to support worker interests. A case study of five Equitable Food Initiative (EFI)-certified farms demonstrates how these features can be enacted in practice. EFI is a multi-stakeholder, third-party verification and consumer labeling initiative aimed at improving farm working conditions, promoting food safety and environmental stewardship, and boosting business outcomes. Although EFI was not designed as a traditional OHS or WHP initiative, the certified farms in this study model an integrated and participatory approach to employee well-being that also encompasses fenceline communities and consumers.


Over the past decades, both agriculture and power systems have faced serious problems, such as the power supply shortage in agriculture, and difficulties of clean energy consumption in the power system. To address and overcome these issues, this paper proposes an idea to combine smart agriculture and clean energy consumption, use surplus clean energy to supply agriculture production, and utilize smart agriculture to support power system with clean energy penetration. A comprehensive review has been conducted to first depict the roadmap of coupling a agriculture-clean energy system, analyze their feasibilities and advantages. The recent technologies and bottlenecks are summarized and evaluated for the development of a combined system consisting of smart agriculture production and clean energy consumption. Several case studies are introduced to explore the mutual benefits of agriculture-clean energy systems in both the energy and food industries.


Application performance measurement and evaluation has developed much more slowly than its sister fields of system performance evaluation and software developments. Progress has been impeded by a shortage of measurement tools designed specifically for programmers, and inadequate detail in the output of existing tools for diagnosing performance problems. The authors propose features that would correct these deficiencies and offer a tool called PILOT to support the claim that a tool embodying those features can be built and would be well received by the software community.<<ETX>>


3D printing refers to the processes in which materials joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object. A machine that allows this process is known as a 3D printer. It has several components. The major components of a 3D printer are frame, Head movement mechanics, (Stepper) Motors, The print head/extruder, Firmware, 3D Software, etc. In this research, it was attempted to describe the design and construction process of a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer with the help of a traditional 3D printer. The 3D printer was used to print different-designed parts of our targeted 3D printer designed by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. After the construction and firmware installation, four different prints of different sizes were done and the resulting outputs were analyzed.


In the digital TV front-end platform,the system monitoring component of the planning and construction of the building in the entire platform is becoming increasingly important.Digital TV broadcasting platform to monitor the quality of supervision is divided into the broadcast channel monitoring and monitoring of data streams broadcast three parts.In this paper,Haimen digital TV front-end platform characteristics,Haimen digital TV broadcasting platform to monitor the front part of the planning and design content was introduced,the front-end platform for digital television to provide a reference.


This work details a preliminary analytical and experimental investigation of a new class of resonant, single input - single output (SISO) microsensors, which are capable of detecting multiple analytes. The key feature of these sensors is that they exploit vibration localization in a set of N microbeams, coupled indirectly through a common shuttle mass, to allow for the detection of N distinct resonance shifts (induced by the presence of up to N distinct analytes) using solely the shuttle mass' response. The work includes a brief overview of the proposed sensor design, the formulation and subsequent analysis of a representative lumpedmass model of the sensor, and details of a recently-completed simulated mass detection experiment, which verified the feasibility of the proposed sensor design. Where appropriate, practical design issues, essential to sensor development, are described.


In the past decade, legislators and regulators fully or partially deregulated eight major industries. The deregulation of natural gas, depository banking, and telephone services in particular had profound effects on low-income households. This paper examines these impacts and the reaction of consumers, consumer advocates, and public policymakers. It finds many parallels in related economic, psychological, and political developments resulting from deregulation of the three industries. It also suggests implications for research on economic deregulation, low-income consumers, and the consumer movement.


We have developed a simple method to produce large colloidal crystal films for a like-charged particles system, where particle arrays with single-crystalline-like characteristics are made by a flow-induced process. A poly-crystalline suspension was charged in a flat capillary and processed by strong shear flow. Optical characterizations for the uniform samples indicate that almost all the capillary space (several square centimeters wide and 0.1mm thick) is filled with a single-domain crystal with a fixed crystallographic orientation determined by the cell geometry. The single-domain crystal can be fixed in a self-standing hydro-gel film by polymerizing gelation agents added in the suspension. Upon gelation, the optical quality was found to be well preserved. We also show tunable characteristics of the gelled crystals in some different aspects. They can be contracted by changing the composition of the solvent. The stop-band width can be effectively expanded by adjusting the fabrication condition. These transformations can be made as single domains that should be advantageous to application purposes.


We consider the problem of testing for a difference in means between clusters of observations identified via k-means clustering. In this setting, classical hypothesis tests lead to an inflated Type I error rate. To overcome this problem, we take a selective inference approach. We propose a finite-sample p-value that controls the selective Type I error for a test of the difference in means between a pair of clusters obtained using k-means clustering, and show that it can be efficiently computed. We apply our proposal in simulation, and on hand-written digits data and single-cell RNA-sequencing data.


Taking advantage of the 2014 issue of the Povcalnet data and building on earlier works, this paper provides an anatomy of growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and compares it with that of the developing world (including or excluding SSA) during the three decades between the early 1980s and the early 2010s. We examined both the impact of the pattern of growth on poverty and inequality (the growth–inequality–poverty (G–I–P) nexus); and the less studied reverse causal chain emanating from poverty to subsequent inequality and growth (the poverty–inequality–growth (P–I–G) nexus). For the G–I–P nexus, we found that poverty reduction is becoming more responsive to income growth and improvement in inequality in SSA in the post-2007 years; though the responsiveness remains smaller in SSA than in the developing world (with or without SSA) throughout the three decades examined. For the P–I–G nexus, we found that SSA again differs from the rest of the developing world in that SSA countries with the highest initial poverty incidence appeared to grow subsequently faster—leading to poverty convergence; while the developing world (with or without SSA) experienced a lack of poverty convergence during the same time period. We hypothesise that the main cause of poverty convergence in SSA during 1978–2007 might be due to anti-poverty interventions by governments and foreign public and private aid inversely proportional to the depth of poverty.


This review depicts our submission to the WMT20 shared news translation task. WMT is the conference to assess the level of machine translation capabilities of organizations in the word. We participated in one language pair and two language directions, from Russian to English and from English to Russian. We used official training data, 102 million parallel corpora and 10 million monolingual corpora. Our baseline systems are Transformer models trained with the Sockeye sequence modeling toolkit, supplemented by bi-text data filtering schemes, back-translations, reordering and other related processing methods. The BLEU value of our translation result from Russian to English is 35.7, ranking 5th, while from English to Russian is 39.8, ranking 2th.


[From the Introduction]. In this paper, I will focus on two voluntary agreements in the European Union, the EU eco-label and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). These voluntary agreements are interesting as they both attempt to facilitate the exchange of information between producers and consumers. The premise of the programs is that the parties, once informed, will use the information to make decisions that will improve the environment. Thus, there are two key steps. First, the voluntary agreements focus on the provision of information. Second, but equally important, the programs rely on the ability of the agents to use the information. Section two introduces the important role that information plays in a market economy. While both producers and consumers are integral in determining the market outcome, the two programs are geared toward different parties. The EU eco-label focuses on consumers as the impetus that will lead to change while the EMAS program places attention on producers. Sections three and four, then, discuss the information provisions of the EU eco-label and EMAS programs. Section five concludes with lessons to be learned from the two programs.


From the perspective of communication,this article makes an analysis of humour on the literature communication of Zhuang Zi which stated from two dimensions namely: building witty literary artistic communication of images and anecdotes created unique to persuade the situation.It is expected that the theoretical evidence might be examined by the humour of this unique color microscope.


With the continuous growth of express demand, the impact of its fluctuations is becoming more and more significant. The traditional H&S networks cannot respond intelligently to the demand changes. Therefore, a new network design method combining information and automation needs to be developed urgently. This paper considers a multi-hub version and proposes a hybrid network to dynamically design the hubs' locations and the straight connections between nodes. A mixed integer linear programming model is formulated, and a two-stage genetic algorithm is developed to solve the small and large-scale instances of the hybrid H&S network design problem. The MILP and heuristic algorithm are tested on instances provided by an express delivery giant from China. Experimental results verify the effectiveness and economy of the hybrid H&S network and the ability of the proposed heuristic algorithm to quickly find the approximate optimal solution.


The article contains some considerations on influence of Wittgenstein's Problem of Rule-Following to Social Theories, especially as it is analyzed in the text of K.A. Rodin. I consider "skeptical decision" of S. Kripke, and demonstrate that in some new situation's theory of G. Baker and P. Hacker are preferable.


The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) is an intrinsic glycoprotein that mediates the active accumulation of iodide into thyroid follicular cells, a fundamental step for the biosynthesis of iodinated hormones T4 and T3. The driving force for I transport is the transmembrane Na gradient maintained by the ouabain-sensitive Na/K ATPase. A major step toward NIS characterization has been made by cloning the rat and human forms. The human NIS is a 643-residue polypeptide with three N-glycosylation sites, and was proposed as a protein with 13 transmembrane segments. The maturation, localization, and activity of NIS are regulated by thyrotropin (TSH), presumably by post-translational modifications. NIS plays a key role in several thyroid diseases such as thyroid cancer, thyrotoxicosis, and congenital hypothyroidism. Furthermore, the ability of NIS to take up iodide has provided the basis for cytoreductive gene strategy and cancer treatment with radioiodide. Although many efforts have been made to characterize NIS at a molecular level, little is known concerning its structure, the origin of halogen selectivity, and the post-translational mechanisms responsible for NIS trafficking and function. New inhibitors of NIS function were recently discovered by high-throughput screening. These small organic molecules have opened new perspectives for the treatment of some thyroid dysfunctions such as Graves' disease and toxic nodules. Several anions such as ClO4 , SCN , BF4 , PF6 , ReO4 , and TcO4 (but not Cl and F ) are also known to inhibit NIS-mediated iodide uptake. Today it is well established that these anions alter NIS function because they share chemical attributes with iodide such as size and univalency. None of these anions are of pharmacological use because it is believed that chemical manipulations would abolish their activity. We aimed at taking advantage of the properties of these inorganic molecules to develop new mixed organic–inorganic inhibitors of NIS function. Among these anions, BF4 has retained our attention for several reasons. BF4 is transported by NIS, and the levels of accumulation are similar to that of I . Iodide uptake is efficiently and competitively inhibited by BF4 (IC50=10 – 10 m). BF4 is neither readily metabolized nor very toxic. 8a,9] We speculated that the replacement of one fluoride atom of BF4 by an organic moiety would not be deleterious to its biological activity. It can also be expected that the presence of an organic element may provide new bonding possibilities and enhance the binding strength of such compounds. Organotrifluoroborates may fulfill these criteria. They were discovered in the 1960s and have been used as reagents in a wide variety of reactions, particularly palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. To the best of our knowledge, none have been reported with biological activity. We evaluated the inhibition potency of 20 potassium organotrifluoroborates (Figure 1) on radioiodide uptake (RAIU) in a


In this study, the formation of thin-film barrier coatings based on a highly conductive Bi1.60Er0.4O3 (EDB) solid electrolyte on supporting Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC) electrolyte substrates was implemented for the first time using electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The electrokinetic properties of EDB-based suspensions in a non-aqueous dispersion medium of isopropanol modified with small additions of polyethyleneimine (PEI, 0.26 g/L) and acetylacetone (0.15 g/L), as well as in a mixed isopropanol/acetylacetone (70/30 vol.%) medium, were studied. The dependences of the thickness of the EDB coatings on voltage and deposition time were obtained using deposition on a model Ni foil electrode. Preliminary synthesis of a conductive polypyrrole (PPy) polymer film was used to create surface conductivity on non-conductive SDC substrates. The efficiency of using a modified dispersion medium based on isopropanol to obtain a continuous EDB coating 12 μm thick, sintered at a temperature of 850 °C for 5 h, is shown. The microstructure and morphology of the surface of the EDB coating were studied. A Pt/SDC/EDB/Pt cell was used to characterize the coating's conductivity. The EPD method is shown to be promising for the formation of barrier coatings based on doped bismuth oxide. The developed method can be used for creating cathode barrier layers in SOFC technology.


A method for re-gasification of LNG (liquefied natural gas, LNG) by heating the liquefied natural gas by means of a heat rejecting heat carrier medium in a heat exchanger, wherein the cooled during the heating of the liquefied natural gas heat transfer medium is used in a gas turbine process.


Cloud is a boon to the generation which provides services that can reduce the overhead in maintenance and computational complexities. Scheduling the user's job in the cloud resources plays an important role for the better performance. Task scheduling is an NP-hard problem, since it may have more than one solution to fit in. In this paper a hybrid algorithm is proposed by the amalgamation of artificial bee colony Algorithm and particle swarm optimisation named as ABPS algorithm. The proposed ABPS algorithm optimises the task scheduling on the cloud environment by providing minimised makespan, cost, and maximised resource utilisation and to balance the load. The proposed ABPS algorithm compared with ABC and PSO algorithm have been simulated in the CloudSim simulation tool. The proposed ABPS algorithm based on makespan outperforms ABC and PSO algorithms by 22.07% and 28.12%, respectively, also when compared with cost outperforms ABC and PSO algorithms by 32.41% and 44.49% respectively. ABPS algorithm based on resource utilisation outperforms ABC and PSO algorithms by 49.37% and 48.88% respectively and based on degree of imbalance outperforms ABC and PSO algorithms by 16.21% and 20.51% respectively.


When numerically analyzing mixing in polymer processes, there are several difficulties that the engineer will encounter; such as moving boundaries, complex geometries and non-linear material behavior. The Boundary Element Method (BEM), as a technique which requires only boundaries (surfaces) to be meshed, is ideal to simulate problems with moving boundaries and complex geometries. However, the introduction of non-linear material behavior requires domain information. This study applies the Monte Carlo technique to integrate the domain and keep the boundary-only discretization. Results show the influence of non-linear effects, such as shear-thinning viscosity, when characterizing mixing in polymer processing equipment.