Background The Paediatric Asthma Team previously ran faceto- face group clinics and when the Covid-19 meant that outpatient appointments moved to telephone and we wanted to see if Video Group Clinics were more time efficient for the clinicians and provided positive learning opportunities to parents managing wheeze. Objectives Our objective were to see if VGCs improved the following: For Patients . Allow families to learn from each others experiences . Allow more time for teaching and questions . Increase confidence of parents and children managing wheeze at home . Improve convenience by having No travel time and therefore reduce WNB rate For Clinicians . Improve time efficiency . Reduce repetition with teaching . Allow time to cover questions . Add variety in working week Methods . 2 hour training . Wrote and edited appointment letters and pre-clinic questionnaires . Developed a consent and confidentiality agreement specific to online groups . Information Governance permission to use Microsoft Teams . Called patients to get their email addresses to send out information pre clinic . Practice runs . Prepare Power Points on VIW/Asthma/Transition . With the initial high WNB rate we contacted the parents who DNA'd to get feedback and as a result changed our letter to email and forms online, provided a leaflet on discharge from the ward and increased the numbers we invited. . We tried different patient groups <5y new, >5y new, <5 fu, >5 new and transition clinic. . We kept a record all patients that were invited, those that attended, cancelled and DNA'd . Patients filled out an online feedback form Results . 11 clinics . Over 6 months (July-December 2020) . 62 patients booked . 31 patients attended . 8 cancelled . 23 WNB - 37% WNB rate VGC Negative: . Our administrator typically spends more time contacting parents before the clinic compared with a 1:1 VGC Positives: . Time efficient for clinician (1.5 hours for 4-8 patients vs 3.5 hours for 5 in individual face to face clinic). . More time for teaching/peer learning compared with a 1:1 appointment . Positive experience for the clinicians . Positive feedback: 'Much easier to attend than a walk in appointment' 'No travel was a bonus' 'It was really helpful to be in a group setting and hear experiences from other parents of kids with asthma.' 'I found it useful to hear other people's experiences and how they cope with some of the difficulties encountered.' 'The session was very well facilitated and space felt completely safe.' 'Also some of them asked relevant questions that i might not have thought of on my own' Helpful 'Thank you so much for all the support with my little princess, it was very helpful for me' Conclusions After the initial set up challenges we found the VGC worked best for follow up of 'new' patients with preschool wheeze requiring A+E or hospital admission;we found the time spent for education and recognising wheeze was hugely beneficial. We had consistent positive feedback from parents about the benefits of a group clinic and how much they learnt from peers, we also found it time efficient as a clinician. We will be continuing VGCs beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.


The effect of plasma polarization around a negatively charged dust particle is investigated with the help of Monte Carlo simulation of ion trajectories in the electric field of the dust particle and an external electric field. The induced dipole moment of such a system was estimated in a wide range of dust particle and plasma parameters. It is shown that the dipole moment is very large, and has a non‐monotonous dependence on the external electric field. For a small external electric field, it weakly depends on the charge of the dust particle. The dipole moment reduces with the decrease of ion mean free path (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Abstract : Different suspensions of the virus of Venezuelan encephalomyelitis of horses (VEE) were studied by the methods of negative staining and using an electron microscope. A suspension of uncloned wild virus contained 14% of 'giant' virions having a diameter of 120 millimicrons or more. In genetically pure lines isolated from the 'wild strain', no 'giant' virions were found. They appeared again in the virus progeny in the course of mixed infection of cell cultures with two or several clones of the virus differing in the make-up of genetic markers which in themselves contained and produced in the progeny only virions of the usual size of 60 to 95 millimicrons. The percentage of 'giant' virions (3.1 - 13.9) and the possibility of their formation depended upon the properties of interacting genomes. The origin of the 'giant' virions is explained by genetic interaction between genomes reproducing in one cell and differing from one another.


Factors affecting the magnitude of sawtooth crashes in soft x-ray (SXR) signals (I-SXR) have been studied using data from high-Theta (pinch parameter) discharges in the toroidal pinch experiment TP ...


Livestock health management is a major factor in the sustainability of cattle farms. However, health care for livestock by veterinarian costs lots of time and money. The purpose of this study was to develop an android IoT device for cow physiological health management through detection of cow temperature, heart rate and breathing rhythm. This device is built based on a microcontroller. By using the concept of IoT to send data, then the information generated on the device will be displayed directly to the android application. Three adult cows were measured using android IoT device compared to conventional measurement methods as controls. This procedure was carried out for morning (06:30-09:30 am), afternoon (11:00-01:00 pm) and evening (04:30-05:30 pm). Independent sample t-test was used to determine whether there were significant differences between Android IoT device and conventional measurement method. The results show that there is no significant difference between the two methods for temperature (t(58) = -0.191, p = 0.849) and heart rate (t(58) = -0.459, p = 0.648). Utilization of device makes it easy for cattle farmers to monitor cow health regularly at economical prices and provide remote information. Furthermore, this device needs to be tested on types of ruminants such as goats, sheep and buffaloes.


Bearingless motors offer viable alternative to active magnetic bearing rotors. However, using the same actuator surfaces for both torque and force production results in strongly coupled nonlinear systems. In order to control rotor levitation it is necessary to decouple force and torque production. This work presents force and flux analytical model mapping of bearingless motor with distributed windings in the rotor coordinates based on finite element analysis. In the model-based multi-input multi-output control, the electromagnetic actuator model was applied as inverse nonlinearity. The rigid mechanical rotor model was used as a plant for the control synthesis; while overall accurate system model was used for control verification. H∞ robust controller was synthesized and tested against imbalance and runout disturbances at variable speed. Unbalance force compensation was applied to reduce suspension losses and vibrations at higher speeds.


In this paper, we report our experiments on using the Numerai data set to build a financial machine learning model. Numerai [1] is an AI-run, crowd-sourced hedge fund company based in San Francisco. It hosts the Numerai Tournament, which claimes to be the hardest data science tournament in the world [1]. We trained our model and participated in Numerai tournament for four months. The results were promising.


'Shared services' is a misused and imprecise term. Often treated as a magic formula to improve efficiency, it covers a wide range of collaborative models. Frequently, it does not deliver the anticipated benefits due to over-optimism, lack of robust analysis, poor implementation and selecting the wrong model. This paper explores case studies of different shared services models, the lessons learned, the success factors and provides some tips on implementation. It also proposes a practical model to assess whether a shared services option is likely to deliver the objectives being sought and, if so, which is likely to be the best model. Finally, it points out that shared services can be cross sectoral and asks whether some higher and further educational institutions could find a business opportunity through taking over the running of local authority library services.


As the frequency of open adoptions of infants increases, furious debate continues between those who argue that open adoption is a grave mistake and those who assert that it is a long-overdue innovation. This article defines open adoption, summarizes the open adoption controversy, and presents a qualitative descriptive study of adoptive parents' reactions to the recent open adoptions of their infants. Findings indicate overwhelmingly positive feelings about open adoption and some issues and concerns unique to the open adoption experience. The article concludes that social workers involved in adoptions should move from their traditional stance in directing and defining the birthparent-adoptive parent relationship to one that facilitates greater individualization and self-determination among the members of the adoption triad.


We study infrared-light propagation and dynamical control of a tunable three-level system in a driven quantum-dot (QD) molecule by means of interdot tunnelling instead of a pumping laser. By numerically solving coupled Bloch–Maxwell equations, it is shown that under the resonant tunnelling condition, an interband (IB) infrared-light pulse acting as a 'signal' can propagate with transparency due to the strong tunnelling-induced coupling. However, when the applied bias voltage tilts the energy levels of the structure such that the levels of the different dots move out of resonance (i.e., the nonresonant tunnelling), with an increase of detuning ω12, the coupling efficiency of interdot tunnelling decreases considerably and the IB infrared-light pulse will be almost completely absorbed after a characteristic propagation length. This can work as an absorptive optical switch where a signal (IB infrared light) is fully controlled by the external bias voltage. Our calculations provide a guideline for the development of new types of nanoelectronic devices in the QD solid-state system, which is much more practical than that in an atomic system because of its flexible design and the controllable (tunable) interference strength.


Observers adjusted the frequency of an auditory click to match the apparent flicker rate of a sinusoidally modulated visual display. Matches made for binocularly viewed flicker were nearly twice those for monocularly viewed flicker but only at high rates of temporal modulation.


This article examines the spiritual dimension of jazz performance by looking at first-person accounts of improvising musicians and locating their experiential descriptions within a spiritual framework. The spiritual context is here defined as the realm of invisible processes that support and underpin the visible and auditory dimensions of improvised music. By collating evidence through first-person accounts, a series of themes emerge (wonderment, force, inspiration, letting go, happening, connection, being yourself, meaning and staying in the present), which, when seen as parts of a holistic process, can provide important components that are often missed in jazz education and jazz performance.


We present the electrochromic properties of dodecylbenzenesulfonate-doped poly(pyrrole). The galvanostatic synthesis on ITO electrodes produces homogeneous films which show a transmittance change from 80% to 40% at 700 nm when cycled in aqueous KC1 between -0.75 and 1.00 V (SCE). These films are stable to 3.5 X 103 potential redox steps from -0.6 to 0.4 V (SCE).


Study of onset of disorder in male patients of this hospital seems to establish two factors preliminary to schizophrenic psychoses. Firstly, the appearance of the disorder is late in a long series of subjectively difficult adjustive efforts. Secondly, it seems never to occur in those who have achieved if only for a short time a definitely satisfying adjustment to a sex object. We have not been successful in our effort to identify exactly the factors which cause milder maladjustive efforts to pass over into schizophrenia. Neither do we believe we are justified by accumulated facts, to stress the sex factor as of exclusive importance. Much more data is needed in regard to the onset of the malady; at this stage, however, there seems little reason to doubt that cultural distortions provided by the home are of prime importance. We have not seen maladjustment which was without a foundation of erroneous attitudes which parents or their equivalent had thrust upon the child. We have found all sorts of maladjustments in the history of patients who suffered the grave psychosis, but regardless of vicious influences subsequently encountered, the sufferer had acquired the tendency to such an illness while in the home situation. Interpersonal factors seem to be the effective elements in the psychiatry of schizophrenia. Objective manifestations of maladjustment are now divided among the three classes of psychoneurotic, psychopathic, and psychotic. The static implications of current teaching is unfortunate. The medical man in general envisages schizophrenia as a strange entity which befalls the predisposed. Teaching should emphasize the dynamic view of these situations.


Reasons for vibration of the fractionator in delayed coker at SINOPEC Jinan Company were analyzed based on test run results,and some mitigation measures were taken.On inspection of relevant equipment in unit overhaul,serious coking was found in the oil gas line from coke drum to the fractionator.Main reasons for coking include inferior quality of feedstock,increased salt content in coker feed and increased linear velocity in oil gas line,and the basic reason for vibration of fractionator is the variation of gas flow rate in oil gas line resulted by coking.The vibration of fractionator was eliminated by decoking the oil gas line.


Chemical compositions and related total antioxidant capacities of nine spice essential oils were analyzed. To enable a compariso n of their relative antioxidant potentials, essential oils were extract ed by hydrodistillation from selected spice plants and their chemical compositio ns were determined by the GC-MS system . Antioxidant effectiveness was examined by 2,2'-diph enyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Based on their antioxidant capacity, nine spice essential oils can be sorted i n descending order: Thymus laevigatus > Lavandula pubescens (Taiz) >Plectranthus barbatus > Lavandula pubescens (Ibb) > Nepeta deflersiana (Taiz ) > Nepeta deflersiana ( Sana'a ) > Origanum majorana > Teucrium yemensis > Mentha x piperita > Stachys yemensis .


With these works I am exploring the boundaries of contemporary image-making and oil painting, beginning with traditional paint application approaches such as grisailles, glazes, and scumbles, and ending with materials such as plaster, spray paint, and various chemicals. These images come from various mass media sources such as Google, The New York Times, and CNN. In making these paintings I have created and destroyed several times over the images that compose them in order to emulate the actual world of unknowing and falsehoods. Most importantly, I intend for these works to expand the overall vocabulary of painting and reestablish the grandeur that painters of the past could not do without. These works explore painterly approaches to image generation and appropriation and reference contemporary events, historic events, and literature. They stand to bridge the divide between the present and history and between history and memory. Overall they are an expression of the possibility of the painting in our world today.


This study aimed to investigate the water dissipation pattern from peanut pods under natural drying conditions after harvest. The Shandong peanut Luhua 22 was used to examine the effects of varying moisture content, bulk density, and porosity on the relative permittivity of the peanut at a signal frequency of 5.8 GHz. The peanut dielectric constant, porosity, and bulk density were used as inputs and peanut kernel moisture as outputs. Support vector regression (SVR), extreme learning machine (ELM), sparrow search algorithm-support vector regression (SSA-SVR), and sparrow search algorithm-extreme learning machine (SSA-ELM) were used to create a prediction model of peanut kernel moisture content. The results show that the water content of peanut kernels decreased in a fast and then slow manner throughout the drying process and that the water content of kernels was stable at 5–8% at the end of drying. The relative permittivity of peanut kernels increased with an increase in the water content and bulk density but decreased with an increase in porosity. The developed SVR, ELM, SSA-SVR, and SSA-ELM water-content prediction models were validated and analyzed in this study, with the model test set coefficients of determination of 0.936, 0.949,0.984, and 0.994, respectively. In comparison to SVR, ELM, and SSA-SVR, the SSA-ELM root mean square error was reduced by 0.0080, 0.0060, and 0.0012, respectively. According to the findings, the ELM neural network model, which is based on the optimization of the SSA, has an improved prediction accuracy. This prediction model provides a theoretical foundation for the variations in peanut seed moisture content during the natural drying process after harvesting peanuts in Shandong, which will be useful for future peanut storage and transportation.


The objective of the study was to find out the effect of the exercise on pulse rate of nonsportsmen of Sirsa. For the study a total of 50 non-sports man 25 for control group and 25 for experimental group were selected as the subjects. The age of the subject was range between 30-40 years. The subjects were performed physical fitness programme in gym. The schedule was decided for five days exercise, day oneendurance, day two-agility, day three-flexibility, day fourth-strength, day fifth-speed. Subjects 'everyday performed warming up and limbering down before and after the workout of 25-35 minutes. The 30 days subjects (experimental group) assembled in the gym at morning for 5 days per weeks of six weeks for total 45-60 minutes. Control group was not exposed to physical fitness programme. The results indicate that there was significant difference in the initial means and the final means of the exercise after training programme was found to be effective on pulse rate for experimental group.


The installation of cables above ground, mainly out of doors on hooks on posts, is a construction which has been extensively employed with lead-sheathed power cables, and some of them have developed sheath fractures, shown by compound leakage, as a result of flexing in service caused by expansion and contraction with changes of temperature.While electrical failures due to this cause have been few, the desirability of eliminating or minimizing such sheath fractures, with the resultant loss of compound and eventual possibility of the entrance of moisture, needs no emphasis.The design of such installations, in order to achieve this purpose, has apparently never received the attention which it merits in view of the large capital value involved.The behaviour of cables installed in this way is examined theoretically and by reference to service installations, and the conclusion is reached that the length between supports is the most important factor; normal practice has been to make this too short.A method is developed for determining for each cable what the minimum length should be, and other features of installation design are dealt with.Aluminium-sheathed cables erected similarly are also discussed.The conclusions are the author's responsibility, and intended to give a lead to the industry in establishing much-needed recognized standards.


There is a growing awareness among practitioners and scholars regarding the importance of Relationship Marketing and its advantages in the supply chain management context. This is particularly appropriate for Reverse Logistics (RL) activities, which are characterized by several relationships between different stakeholders and the firm. Drawing on multiple theoretical approaches, we propose that RL programs result from the combination of external, organizational, and individual factors. We emphasize the role of trust and commitment as key influential elements on the RL systems implementation and their subsequent performance.


Along with the development of economy and the aggravation of competition,the traditional education mode,which takes the employment as ultimate target,is facing the unprecedented challenge.The graduates for economics and management are becoming more difficult to get employed.As a new education idea,the entrepreneurship education embodies the connotation of quality education and emphasizes the education innovation on the cultivation of student innovative ability.This study discusses the "Two-in-One" education mode for economics and management talent training from the aspects of faculty construction,the curriculum system establishment,the teaching methods,practice activities,and examination or evaluation,which combines the employment-oriented education with innovation-oriented education.


In the present investigation, 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) treatment at 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm (mg/kg feed) to 3-day-old T. lalius, significantly produced highest masculinization than the control. At the highest dose (200 ppm) of MT produced maximum male percentage (85.32%). Indirect feminization also observed through crossing between sex reversal males with ordinary female. The GSI and histological examination showed the appearance of suppressed atretic oocytes. The hormonal profiling clearly revealed that, the MT treatment induced stress and produce the cortisol, which actively involved in the testosterone production and estradiol reduction.


Huge storage space of images data, videos data and other multimedia contents are required with fast development of multimedia technology. Content retrieval and customization are also required by users. The traditional multimedia teaching system based on campus network without content retrieval is difficult to increasing system capacity and to deploy new applications. More important, it is difficult to implement the unified management of the multimedia resources on the traditional multi-media teaching system. To solve these problems, a multimedia teaching system based on the cloud platform is proposed,which realizing huge multimedia data storage space, processing high-performance multimedia content, providing customer-oriented retrieval,and implementing the unified management of the multimedia resources.


The etiologic agent of type D (delta) hepatitis is a defective hepatotropic RNA virus hepatitis D virus (HDV) dependent on obligatory helper functions provided by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).' Since 1977 when it was originally de~cribed,~ major advances in the understanding of the biology of this peculiar virus have been achie~ed.~.~ Clinical studies have likewise shed light on the features of delta hepatitis, and we have learned more about how and when this disease is spread.$ The data indicate that HDV is invariably pathogenic, replicates only in hosts who have a concomitant HBV infection, and may represent the culprit of severe acute and chronic hepatitis that convert asymptomatic or healthy individuals, carriers of the HBsAg, into seriously ill patients.


Small environmental disturbances accumulating over a long period of time may cause a regime shift in marine ecosystems, particularly in sensitive oligotrophic waters. Pearl oyster aquaculture, which has a 50 yr history in Australia, has been regarded as an anthropogenic activity with low environmental risk. To assess the long-term environmental effects of pearl oyster farming, sediment cores taken in Cygnet Bay, Western Australia, were used to reconstruct environmental processes covering an approximately 90 yr period. Biogeochemical parameters in sediment cores from inside and outside a pearl farming area displayed contrasting characteristics over time. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen, biogenic silica (BSi), and fine-grained sediment at the farming site displayed significant increases with the expansion of oyster stocking. In contrast, only small variations in response to climatic signals (rainfall and temperature) occurred over time in the cores outside the farm. The variation in the C:N ratio, delta C-13 and delta N-15 ranges over time suggested that increased organic matter was mainly contributed by autochthonous sources rather than terrestrial input. The sequential t-test for a regime shift detected approximately 2-to 3-fold increases in organic matter, 1-to 5-fold increases in silt proportion and 2-to 5-fold increases in BSi concentrations after pearl oyster farming, in contrast to the control site. The rapid development of modern long-line culture since the late 1980s is presumed to have been the dominant driver of environmental changes in sediments. The results provide insight into the magnitude of environmental change which can occur over decades as a result of even minimal anthropogenic activity.


Composite seals are a significant means to protect bearings. This paper examines three methods in which composite seals meet this challenge.


We report the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to generate images of the remaining dentin and pulp chamber of in vitro human teeth. Bidimensional images of remaining dentin and of the pulp chamber were obtained parallel to the long axis of the teeth, by two OCT systems operating around 1280 and 850 nm, and compared to tomography images using the i-CAT(R) Cone Beam Volumetric Tomography system as the gold standard. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the OCT technique; furthermore, the wavelength close to 1280 nm presented greater penetration depth in the dentine than 850 nm, as expected from scattering and absorption coefficients. The OCT technique has great potential to be used on clinical practice, preventing accidental exposure of the pulp and promoting preventive restoration treatment.


The non-local theory solution of two collinear mode-I permeable cracks in a magnetoelectroelastic composite material plane was investigated using the generalized Almansi's theorem and the Schmidt method. The problem was formulated through Fourier transform into two pairs of dual integral equations, in which the unknown variables are the jumps in displacements across the crack surfaces. To solve the dual integral equations, the displacement jumps across the crack surfaces were directly expanded as a series of Jacobi polynomials. Numerical examples were provided to show the effects of crack length, the distance between two collinear cracks and the lattice parameter on the stress field, the electric displacement field and the magnetic flux field near the crack tips. Unlike the classical elasticity solutions, it is found that no stress, electric displacement or magnetic flux singularities are present at the crack tips in a magnetoelectroelastic composite material plane. The non-local elastic solutions yield a finite hoop stress at the crack tip, thus allowing us to use the maximum stress as a fracture criterion.


Agrowing body of evidence indicates that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops from a complex process that includes genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure. Regardless of whether it is the cause or the consequence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), NAFLD often co-occurs with one or more MetS-associated phenotypes. There is also robust evidence in support of NAFLD and MetS sharing common pathogenic mechanisms. Nevertheless, with the exception of the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 gene— which illustrates an unexpected opposite association between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease, although it can be suspected—no compelling report demonstrating that NAFLD and MetS share a common genetic background presently exists. In this issue, Cui et al. show not only that steatosis and fibrosis potentially share the same predisposing genes but also that these conditions have a significant shared gene effect with metabolic risk factors, the latter being a truly remarkable finding. These interesting results prompt several reflections.


Doping is an efficient way to open the zero band gap of graphene. The control of the dopant domain size allows us to tailor the electronic structure and the properties of the graphene. We have stud ...


The invention provides a method and a system for using a duty ratio to adjust a peak value frequency. An example system controller comprises a first controller terminal and a second controller terminal, wherein the first controller terminal is configured to output driving signals to a switch so as to influence a current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter, the driving signals are associated with an on-off cycle including a switched-on time period and a switched-off time period, and the on-off cycle is corresponding to an on-off frequency; the second controller terminal is configured to receive feedback signals associated with an output voltage which is related to a secondary winding of the power converter, and the secondary winding is coupled to the primary winding; andthe first controller terminal is further configured to output a driving signal so as to switch on the switch in the switched-on time period and output a driving signal so as to switch off the switch in the switched-off time period. The duty ratio is obtained through dividing switch switched-on duration by on-off cycle duration. The system controller is configured in a manner that one or more values are set for the on-off frequency and each of the one or more values is lower than or equal to a frequency upper limit.


To the four-LU hyperchaotic system In cases where the parameters are known nonlinear feedback control of a chaotic system synchronization.Then the unknown parameters,using the adaptive method,the synchronization of chaotic systems.Lyapunov function selection,the validity of this method is proved theoretically,finally synchronized to the system using Matlab simulation.Simulation results show that this method is fast and efficient synchronization.


In this project we apply and develop seismic exploration technology in a complex fault zone. We use tomographic velocity parameterizations to build a complex 3D model using the GOCAD software and merge a variety of models obtained on different seismic scales into one best fitting subsurface model. The model area is located along the San Andreas Fault (SAF) which is one of the global locations destined for drilling into an active fault zone. The proposed well through the SAF at Parkfield (Zoback et al. (1998)) will, together with a three dimensional image of the seismogenic zone, lead to insights into the physical and chemical properties of fracture zones. We use 3D finite difference techniques to compute full wave form responses of realistic extent in the model and simulate a variety of experiments, such as 3D surface seismics, VSP recordings, cross well recordings and downhole sources. Conclusions from our modeling will currently flow directly into the planning of seismic acquisitions proposed by Klemperer et al. (1998) in the target area. Potential processing algorithms can be tested on their ability to image complex structure. By modeling the physical properties of the fault zone itself, 4D seismic monitoring experiments can be simulated.


This essay aims to characterize the way Marsilio Ficino thought about the relationship of philosophical reason and religious belief, and to situate his view in the spectrum of theological positions on human reason's power to cognize the divine nature and divine will. Its wider goal is to show the significance of Ficinian Platonism in the history of theology. My contention, in brief, is that Ficino is conservative and Augustinian in his theological method, but that some of his conclusions, especially on the subject of Christianity's place in the family of world religions, represent radical innovations in the history of Christian theology. I shall also discuss his theory of the sources of religious knowledge, arguing that, while indebted to Iamblichus and late ancient Platonism, it too is an innovative approach which looks forward to Romantic theories of religious experience as a precognitive source for Christian theology. The principal sources interrogated here will be Ficino's Platonic Theology (1469-1474) and De doctrina christiana (1473/74), both of which were clearly part of the same project of theological renewal. 1


Study on modeling and algorithm for smart scheduling on household appliances including electric vehicles(EVs) is done in this paper. First EV is seen as a large appliance to participate in smart scheduling, and a preliminary scheduling is made. Then, based on the preliminary scheduling, a rescheduling is done considering the EVs' discharging role. Further, model and algorithm for the two-stage scheduling are proposed, and simulation is given. Numerical examples show that EV can not only be used as a house appliance for charging, but also can be seen as a special energy source for discharging to participate in household scheduling so that the peak load could be reduced and electric cost could be decreased.


The Ramachandran map was derived by treating atoms as hard spheres and restricting allowed conformations so as to avoid steric overlap between non-bonded atoms. The high packing density characteristic of most solids and reflected in individual protein molecules can be anticipated in terms of hard sphere atoms. The constraints of high packing density and avoidance of steric overlap have been used to develop algorithms which attempt to predict sets of sequences consistent with a given protein main-chain architecture. However hard sphere models cannot predict the energetics of specific interactions within the protein-aqueous solvent system. Accurate and detailed measurements of such interactions coupled with high resolution structural information are essential in understanding the relationship between protein sequence and structure. We describe some recent results of such studies in the ribonuclease-S system.


This paper adopts a new approach to estimating the conditional probability distribution of asset returns. It is evident that the exact conditional mean or variance is inherently unobservable for time series. In practice, the popular way is to derive from different models such as GARCH by assuming distributions such as normal, student t, or skewed t. Thus the accuracy of forecast strongly depends on the assumption of distribution. The new method avoids the need to assume any distribution by using a neural network (NN) to estimate the potentially nonlinear relationship between VaR (Value at Risk) and returns. Our results show that the forecast from neural network outperforms traditional GARCH models.


More than any other institution, political theorists have set their sights on Congress. Canonical models of universalism, majority party control, and the median voter all generate clear and competing predictions about the relative influence that members of Congress wield in the legislative process. To date, though, empirical scholars have not examined the ability of these theories to explain one of the most fundamental functions of Congress—namely, how to allot programs (and their attendant monies) across districts. Using the most comprehensive dataset ever assembled on the geographic distribution of federal outlays, this paper subjects these three theories to a series of critical tests. We find very little support for any them, suggesting that our conventional understandings of legislative bargaining are, at best, incomplete. Some of the oldest and most respected models in political science attempt to account for—in Harold Lasswell's (1935) classic formulation—"who gets what, when, and how." The workhorse models of distributive politics—which emphasize universalism, the median voter, and party control—all generate clear predictions about the relative influence that different individuals wield in a legislative process. So doing, they provide cogent accounts of the ability of these individuals to direct federal benefits to their home districts. Curiously, few empirical tests of these models actually address Lasswell's edict. For the most part, tests are based upon roll call votes, bill sponsorships, restrictive rules, and committee assignments, all elements of the legislative process. Few scholars have examined whether these theories adequately explain basic patterns in legislative outputs. Though they have thoroughly examined the ability of these theories to explain the internal workings of Congress, scholars have yet to systematically consider whether these theories account for the production of different legislative outcomes. Though theories of distributive politics generate reasonably clear predictions about members' influence over a wide range of legislative outcomes—co-sponsorships, symbolic resolutions, foreign policy enactments, and regionally and nationally focused legislation—many of these outcomes are not easily linked with specific districts; and those that are tend not to permit comparisons across districts. This paper, therefore, focuses on the dollars that flow from the federal government to congressional districts around the country. In addition to capturing elements of these other outcomes, federal spending offers the added benefits of being readily quantifiable, geographically tracked, and highly salient to the electoral fortunes of individual members. Our investigations draw upon the most complete dataset of federal outlays ever assembled, tracking all non-defense federal outlays to every congressional district over a 20 year period. These outlays aggregate spending across literally thousands of different federal programs, yielding a comprehensive measure of every elected legislator's ability to direct federal benefits to his or her home district. The basic patterns of spending, however, bear little relationship with the canonical theories of distributive politics. The vast majority of tests yield null results. The few positive findings that are observed, meanwhile, cannot be easily explained by the theories, as conventionally understood. The remainder of the paper unfolds as follows. First, we briefly review the three canonical theories of distributive politics and then summarize the existing empirical tests of them. We then describe our data sources and the nature of the analyses to be conducted. Subsequently, we provide the results of those analyses, and we then conclude.


A. The 5.5-year-old Nefeli after suffering an incomplete spinal cord injury Th10 by medical malpractice. B. Nefeli after eight months of conventional children rehabilitation in Switzerland (Affoltern). Sticks and orthosis were needed.


This article discusses the role of start-up entrepreneurship for regional growth and development in Germany. Entrepreneurship in general can be a key factor for technology-based regional development, in particular. However, not every region provides the necessary entrepreneurial framework conditions. According to Maryann Feldman, there is clear evidence that entrepreneurship is a predominantly "regional event." Regional factors affect entrepreneurial activity in German regions, too, and the regional environment influences the prospects of start-ups (their growth and survival rates). A short introduction is followed by a description of the regional distribution of entrepreneurial activities in Germany based largely on pooled data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Then the determinants of start-up activity and success are discussed, with particular focus on regional determinants. The following section addresses the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and regional economic growth. Finally, options for policy-makers at the national, regional and local levels are discussed in the light of the great popularity entrepreneurship policies have enjoyed in Germany for some years.


A delayed coincidence technique has been used to measure the radiative lifetimes of the v′=2, 3, and 4 levels of the A 2Πu State of N2+. The data closely follows the simple theory for collisional deactivation. The lifetimes, extrapolated to zero pressure, are 9.4± 1, 9.5± 1, and 8.9± 1 μ sec for the v′=2, 3, and 4 levels, respectively.


The reproductive system of the female red kangaroo consists of paired ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uteri. The uteri open on separate papillae into the anterior vaginal sinus. An incomplete septum divides the right and left halves of the vaginal culs-de-sac at the first oestrus. Size changes in the parts of the reproductive system of females in the immature, oestrous, post-oestrous, luteal, post-luteal, pro-oestrous, and quiescent stages of the reproductive cycle are described and illustrated, and measurements of the various parts are presented in tabular form. A Graaffian follicle of 5-6 mm diameter is present in one ovary at oestrus. At this stage there is mitotic proliferation in the uterine epithelia and cornified cells are found in the epithelia of the posterior parts of the vaginal complex. Mitotic proliferation continues in the uterine epithelia after oestrus. During the luteal phase a corpus luteum of 6-8 rnm diameter is present, the uterine glands are well developed with high columnar epithelium and basally situated nuclei, and mitoses do not occur in the uterine epithelia. Regression of the hteal phase is followed by pro-oestrus in both pregnant and non-pregnant females.


The invention provides a liquid crystal display device and a method for improving picture flash and image persistence. The device comprises a liquid crystal panel with N pixels, and a video controller capable of controlling display content of the liquid crystal panel; and the video controller displays a normal picture in modes that p is equal to n-m, p is equal to n+m and p is equal to n (n is more than m), and makes the normal picture reciprocate between p, n p and n pixels.


As the FABC document Asian Christian Perspectives on Harmony states: "Young in its zest for life, ancient in its heritage, Asia is like a vast ocean where currents, undercurrents and cross-currents are constantly interacting above depths that remain calm. For in Asia we find a plurality of cultures and religions, churches and sects, types of societies and models of economic practices, variations of technologies, arts, sciences, philosophies and theologies in a diversity of races and languages". All these have contributed to the complexities of life in Asia. Here one can observe the search for harmony, which appears "to constitute in a certain sense the intellectual and affective, religious and artistic, personal and societal soul of both persons and institutions in Asia". Faced with socio-economic, cultural, and religious pluralism, which is without doubt the hallmarks of Asia more than of any other continent, the Asian bishops and theologians, especially in the documents of the Federation


Ahead of the International Dialogue for State and Peacebuilding in Washington DC, LSE alumna Katharina Neureiter argues that the New Deal for Peace could make development aspirations a reality


Transport is tourism's largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In the United Kingdom (UK) domestic tourism is dominated by car. The UK government is committed to an 80% decrease in carbon emissions by 2050 and to growing the tourism industry simultaneously. Previous research by the authors explores the potential conflicts between these transport and tourism policy objectives. This paper develops this further by identifying and evaluating practical policies in place by the National Trust (NT). One obvious approach is to achieve a modal switch away from the car to a more sustainable public transport. The paper uses a large sample of visitors to National Trust properties to measure modal share, identify the factors which have the greatest impact on modal choice and assess the effectiveness of NT policies to achieve modal shift. The paper concludes with a discussion outlining the need for a coordinated, integrated approach to tourism mobility, highlighting the limitations arising from stakeholders operating in isolation.


A die handle oiling system for use with a cutting die head comprising a tubular handle having a sealed base end, a sealed tip end adapted for holding a cutting die head thereon, an air cavity for holding air formed therein adjacent to the base end, a plunger cavity for holding oil formed therein adjacent to the tip end and in communication with the air cavity, an inlet valve extended from the air cavity for allowing air to be disposed therein, a pressure release valve extended from the air cavity for allowing air to be released therefrom, a sealable filling bore extended from the plunger cavity for allowing oil to be disposed therein, and an oil outlet extended from the plunger for allowing oil to be released therefrom; a plunger slidably disposed within the plunger cavity; an oil hose coupled to the oil outlet; and an actuatable air pump coupled to the inlet valve for filling the air cavity with air; whereby when the air pump is actuated, air pressure builds in the air cavity and forces the plunger towards the tip end of the handle for allowing oil to be released through the oil hose.


Data-driven black-box surrogate models are widely used in research related to buildings energy efficiency. They are based on machine learning techniques, learn from available data, and act as a replacement for or an addition to complex and computationally intensive knowledge-based models. Surrogate models can predict energy demand, indoor air temperature, or occupants behavior, explore search space in optimization problems, learn control rules, etc. This paper analyzes surrogate models that classify building retrofit measures directly according to the global cost. In addition, they quantify the importance of each variable for the classification process. The models are based on random forest classifiers, which are fast and powerful ensemble learners. They can be applied to effectively reduce search spaces when optimizing energy renovation measures or to rapidly identify projects that deserve financial support. This approach is applied to two residential buildings and three scenarios of price development. The training process uses a small share of retrofit options assessed with standard calculations of the heating and cooling demands, as well as the global cost. The results show very high classification performance, even when the models are trained with small and imbalanced training sets. The obtained recall, precision, and F-score values are mostly above 95%, except for extremely small training sets.


Quantum state tomography is a fundamental tool in quantum information processing. It allows us to estimate the state of a quantum system by measuring different observables on many identically prepared copies of the system. This is, in general, a very time-consuming task that requires a large number of measurements. There are, however, systems in which the data acquisition can be done more efficiently. In fact, an ensemble of quantum systems can be prepared and manipulated by external fields while being continuously and collectively probed, producing enough information to estimate its state. This provides a basis for continuous measurement quantum tomography. In this protocol, an ensemble of identically prepared systems is collectively probed and controlled in a time-dependent manner to create an informationally complete continuous measurement record. The measurement history is then inverted to determine the state at the initial time. We use two different estimation methods: maximum likelihood and compressed sensing. The general formalism is applied to the case of reconstruction of the quantum state encoded in the magnetic sub-levels of a large-spin alkali atom, ${}^{133}$Cs. We apply this protocol to the case of reconstruction of states in the full 16-dimensional electronic-ground subspace ($F=3 \oplus F=4$), controlled by microwaves and radio-frequency magnetic fields. We present an experimental demonstration of continuous measurement quantum tomography in an ensemble of cold cesium atoms with full control of its 16-dimensional Hilbert space. We show the exquisite level of control achieved in the lab and the excellent agreement between the theory discussed in this dissertation and the experimental results. This allows us to achieve fidelities >95% for low complexity quantum states, and >92% for arbitrary random states, which is a formidable accomplishment for a space of this size.


A method and apparatus for automatically searching a desired track position or one or a plurality of recording regions on an information recording medium which comprises pre-recorded tracks pre-recorded with an information signal and unrecorded tracks. The search is carried out based on the existence and non-existence of a reproduced radio frequency (RF) signal which is reproduced from the information recording medium.


This paper surveys recent development in bootstrap methods and the modifications needed for their applicability in time series models. The paper discusses some guidelines for empirical researchers in econometric analysis of time series. Different sampling schemes for bootstrap data generation and different forms of bootstrap test statistics are discussed. The paper also discusses the applicability of direct bootstrapping of data in dynamic models and cointegrating regression models. It is argued that bootstrapping residuals is the preferable approach. The bootstrap procedures covered include the recursive bootstrap, the moving block bootstrap and the stationary bootstrap.


Introduction : Cervical spondylosis ( Greevasthamba ) is a degenerative condition with pain in cervical region as a major symptom. In modern science condition is usually treated with analgesic, corticosteroids, surgical decompression, traction etc. which not contribute much promising results. But in Ayurveda several methods like Snehana , Upanaha , Agnikarma , Raktamokshana and Panchakarma etc. are specified in management of pain. Case presentation : A male patient aged 42 years admitted CARIN-MSD, IPD with pain in the neck region since 2 months, which was also radiating to the right upper limb along with numbness up to the tip of fingers. Cervical active range of motions were painful during flexion, extension and lateral rotation. Spurling test and lhermitte's sign were positive. Along with the support of X- ray and MRI investigations the patient was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis due to chronic postural strain. Management and Outcome: Patient was treated with Agnikarma and Snehapana , the pain score over visual analogue scale and NPQ percentage before treatment was Nine and 87.5 % respectively while after intervention it was reduced to Two and 33.33 % within seven days. Conclusion: In acute painful stage of cervical spondylosis Agnikarma and Snehapana can play a major role in management of pain.


The impact of the financial collapse of 2008 and early 2009 continues to reverberate through the wealth management industry. Advisors seem to spend as much time defending their firms or their industry as actually managing client wealth. In addition, the events of 2008 shook long-practiced investment paradigms. Many of the historical keys to long-term investment success seemed to fail us, right when we needed them most. Finally, much of the wealth management industry charges its clients on a percent of assets under management (AUM) basis. With the markets crashing and clients moving to cash, advisors saw revenues fall dramatically, putting their practices at risk and leaving them working harder for less money. As the markets recover and investors put money back into riskier assets, however, the migration of clients to new advisors should be immense. Disruptive markets frequently are the best times for advisors to grow their practices--if they embrace the new realities of what clients want and expect from them. WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED Wealth management remains in a "post-product, post-service" state of evolution. Competing solely on the quality of products offered or service delivered is insufficient to differentiate a firm in the face of a changing industry and increased client scrutiny. Successful firms need to move their business models beyond simply products and service and deliver a differentiated client experience. Think about Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Mercedes-Benz, Ritz-Carlton, and Starbuck's Coffee. These firms all offer high-quality products and services. What sets them apart, however, is that they all deliver a differentiated client experience that allows them to charge premium prices for largely commoditized products and enjoy intense client loyalty and advocacy. Successful wealth management firms must strive to do the same. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In delivering a competitive wealth management experience, firms must: * Offer a differentiated investment platform; * Provide clients with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, not simply data and information; * Deliver a client-centric service model; * Employ a "credentialized" professional staff; * Implement an advice-oriented business model; and * Engage in affinity-based client segmentation. Let us examine three of these issues in detail. Delivering a differentiated investment platform The foundations of delivering a differentiated investment platform are: An Integrated Wealth Management solution that incorporates thoughtful asset allocation, appropriate asset location and objectives-based portfolio construction incorporating the lessons of behavioral finance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tax-Effective Investment Portfolios that employ the appropriate integration of investment philosophy, asset strategies employed, and active tax management of the portfolio. Employing an Endowment Model, or Core / Satellite investment philosophy: The "Endowment Model" fell on hard times in 2008, when many of the most renowned advocates of this approach (Yale, Harvard, etc.) suffered crippling losses within their portfolios. The primary culprit to the abysmal performance, however, was the significant holdings in private equity (PE)--a truly illiquid asset class. While individual investors clearly invest in private equity and other illiquid assets, few have the time horizon or appetite for illiquidity to invest as heavily into these asset classes as the endowments. It is inappropriate to denounce the endowment model as actually employed by most high-net-worth (HNW) investors, for whom "endowment model" means: * Broad diversification; * Intelligent use of active vs. passive investment strategies; * A prudent use of alternative investments determined by personal liquidity constraints; * A long-term time horizon; and * Investment discipline through full market cycles. …


The light emitting module (150) emits light through the light exit window (104), and includes a substrate (110), a solid state light emitters (154, 158) and a portion of the diffuse reflection layer (102). A substrate (110) having facing the light exit window (104) of the light-reflecting surface (112). Light-reflecting surface (112) with light reflected by the light reflective surface of the substrate and the projection amount of the reflection coefficient defined by the ratio between the amount of light on the light reflective surface Rbase. Solid state light emitters (154, 158) emitting a first color range (114) of light, comprising a top surface (152, 158), and a light reflected by a solid state light emitters (154, 156) in an amount of solid state light emitters and a projection solid state light emitters of the reflection coefficient defined by the ratio between the amount of light (1154,156) a top surface (152,158) R_SSL. DSSL maximum linear dimension of the top surface defining at least one solid state light emitters (106) of the top surface from one point on the top surface of the at least one solid state light emitters (152, 158) to the at least one solid state light emitters (152, 158) another point on the longest distance along a straight line. The light exit window (104) comprises at least a portion of the partially diffuse reflection layer (102). ΡSSL area ratio defined as the ratio between the solid state light emitter area of the light-reflecting surface of the substrate and the top surface area of the at least one solid state light emitter. Having a gap distance h is present in the top surface of the at least one solid state light emitter (154, 156) is (152, 158) and a portion of the diffuse reflection layer (102). If, for 0 0.25,0.1 • dSSL≤h≤2 • dSSL and if the value of the base Rbase reflection coefficient greater than 70% and greater than the solid state light reflectance R_SSL, the light emitting module to obtain relatively efficient.


Functional magnetic resonance imaging, in particular the BOLD-fMRI technique, plays a dominant role in human brain mapping studies, mostly because of its non-invasiveness and relatively high spatio-temporal resolution. The main goal of fMRI data analysis has been to reveal the distributed patterns of brain areas involved in specific functions, by applying a variety of statistical methods with model-based or data-driven approaches. In the last years, several studies have taken a different approach, where the direction of analysis is reversed in order to probe whether fMRI signals can be used to predict perceptual or cognitive states. In this study we test the feasibility of predicting the perceived pain intensity in healthy volunteers, based on fMRI signals collected during an experimental pain paradigm lasting several minutes. In particular, we introduce a methodological approach based on new regularization learning algorithms for regression problems.


years ago?the most distinguished English gynaecologist of that time could say that he had then seen only one case of tubal disease in all his life! I don't suppose that any gynaecologist could now be found who does not recognise the Fallopian tube as one of the most frequent sources, if not actually the most frequent source, of pelvic disease. And this is simply what should be expected from the anatomical relations and from the embryological history of the tube. Embryologically, the tube is part of the uterus, and consists of the same structures; anatomically, it is continuous with it, and its cavity leads directly into the peritoneal cavity, so that disease


The invention belongs to the technical field of textile production processes and particularly relates to a production method of long-term soft and fluffy and hydroscopic and fast dry looped fabric. The production method includes the steps of spinning, warping, sizing, weaving and dyeing and finishing treatment. During weaving, low-hot-water-shrinkage yarn and high-hot-water-shrinkage yarn are adopted as looped yarn, and weaving is carried out according to a specific yarn arrangement sequence. The looped fabric has the advantages of being soft after being washed multiple times and being hydroscopic and fast dry and low in hair, the drying time is 5 min or longer shorter than that of a towel of the same weight, and the pile retention is smaller than 0.5%. The limitation of raw material use is broken through, it is unnecessary to use superfine fiber yarn or superfine fiber filaments, and the product quality of the looped fabric can be remarkably improved. The product structure range to which the technical method is applicable is wider, and no double-hair structure is needed; the manufactured towel is better in style, and loops are smoother. A splitting process (dacron alkali peeling process) is not adopted, dyeing energy consumption is effectively reduced, and meanwhile environmental pollution caused by the splitting process is reduced.


A simple and reliable digital control system of SRM (Switched Reluctance Motor) was put forward in the paper, in which the CCC (Current Cut Control) is used as main control module and the APC (Angel Position Control) is used as auxiliary control module. Dual width of electric current cut technology in CCC was adopted. It definitely reduces wave motion of torque in slow speed regions. Application of break angle to APC reduces torque in current feedback. Preliminary experiment proves that the system satisfies running requirement with load.


state-to-state conflicts. Where the central govern ment occupies a significant part o f a state's terri tory over the wishes o f the local population, many issues may arise that are at the heart o f the inter national law o f belligerent occupation, including: expulsion o f local inhabitants and resettlement by members o f the dominant national group; deten tion, internment, and collective punishment o f local inhabitants; deprivation and neglect o f the needs o f the local population; exploitation o f local resources for the benefit o f the national govern ment and economy; and termination or restriction o f local autonomy, local law, and local cultural life. The conflicts in Kurdistan, in Kosovo prior to the NATO intervention, and in southern Sudan are examples that come readily to mind. International humanitarian law relating to such noninternational conflicts is rapidly developing and expanding by customary practice and accep tance, particularly with respect to the conduct o f hostilities and the protection o f victims,10 and any pertinent human rights obligations (to the extent they are not validly derogated) will also, o f course, apply. Beyond these elements o f international humanitarian and human rights law, to what extent (if at all) are any o f the norms relating to bel ligerent occupation now part o f conventional or customary law in such conflicts, and to what extent should they be? If not practical or accept able as law, to what extent should such norms be carried out as a matter o f policy in order to pro mote the resolution o f the conflict and peaceful reconciliation? Finally, the current book was written before the recent incidents involving the attempt o f foreignflag ships to enter Gaza in disregard o f the Israeli blockade. Dinstein's position is that Gaza remains occupied territory, notwithstanding the Israeli withdrawal, because o f the significant control retained by Israel, including its restrictions on entrance or exit to the territory, and its ability and propensity to send military forces back into the territory to deal with threats to Israeli security. He


OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of ultrasound as diagnostic tool for diaphragmatic myoclonus
BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic myoclonus is a rare disease of repetitive involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. Previous reports with electromyography demonstrated distractibility with hand-tapping tasks, suggesting that the movements are under some degree of volitional control.
DESIGN/METHODS: We report the diagnostic utility of ultrasonography for diaphragmatic myoclonus in an 82-year-old woman with sudden-onset of abdominal up-and-down excursions, associated with anxiety and hyperventilation. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Physical exam revealed an anxious woman with abdominal and chest-wall excursions that appeared to have entrainability with hand tapping tasks. During exam, she also developed sudden-onset new right leg tremor that was entrainable, distractible and susceptible to suggestion. Ultrasound imaging clearly delineated the diaphragm as the source of her abdominal movements. We were able to demonstrate entrainability of the diaphragm to left hand tapping to a prescribed rhythm set by examiner. We confirm previous findings that diaphragmatic myoclonus is under some degree of volitional control, as evidenced by distractibility and entrainability demonstrated on real-time video with ultrasonography. This case may add to the evidence that at least some cases of diaphragmatic myoclonus are functional. We recommend the use of ultrasound as a noninvasive, convenient diagnostic tool for diaphragmatic myoclonus.
Study Supported by: The authors are employees of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Work presented here is part of their official duties. Disclosure: Dr. Ramos has received research support from BCN Peptides. I am the Principal Investigator on a clinical trial for which NIH receives support through a Clinical Trials Agreement with Allergan, Inc. Dr. Lungu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hallett has received personal compensation for activities with Neurotoxin Institute, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Wiley-Blackwell, and Springer.


The most important goal of education is improving the quality of teaching. There are severalmodern teaching methods that can be used in teaching and learning. These methods are focused on students ́active work. In our research we have studied theoretical along with practical grounds of some of thesemethods. The effectiveness, motivation and problems of these methods were broadly described and verifiedin the survey. Outcomes of this reasearch are discussed in this paper. In our research several interactiveteaching methods were explored. We have concluded that: interactive teaching methods can help us to teachEnglish for understanding; it is necessary to change the role and position of the teacher in the classroom;the English language teacher in the 21st century have to be a classroom manager; the teacher has to be anexpert not only in English language, but also in pedagogical science; traditional teaching methods are noteffective; the goal of the innitiative is to apply new methods based on the constructivist learning theory.The research results have witnessed that the learning and teaching process is more effective, when studentscan construct their knowledge by their own.We have described the method of physical response (total-physical response). In the frame of our researchwe have outlined main features and rules of communicative approach. Methods and techniques within thecommunicative approach were presented as well.The novelty of the paper on the actual issue related to the introduction of modern methodology in theeducational process is characterized by the description of some methods, such as: contextual method, theintegrative method, role play, chainstory, the method of interval repetitions, Mueller's method, expressmethod оf Ilona Davydova, Pimsler's method, Methods of Dmitry Petrov, Elijah Frank's Method. Moreover,the practical significance of the research is supported with the group of seven creative assignments that canbe actively used in the English teaching process with various topics.


Globalization has facilitated cross-border exchanges of goods and services, but it has also led to the growth of transnational criminal networks and illicit activities such as drug trafficking. To counter international crimes, various cooperative efforts have emerged; however, these lack a universal performance measurement framework. This systematic review examines 23 relevant articles out of 57, aiming to propose a model for assessing international cooperation effectiveness in combating illicit drug trafficking. The study identifies six key areas for enhancing cooperation: Effective Strategies, Local and International Collaboration, Communication, Mutual Legal Assistance, Transnational Crime Rate, and Knowledge Sharing. The influence of globalization and global governance on tackling drug trafficking is also highlighted. The developed model serves as a practical and theoretical tool for academics and practitioners involved in evaluating and improving international cooperation.


A new method, fast Fourier transform, is presented to calculate ion velocity distribution by analyzing electromagnetic radiation signal from plasma. This method is based on a dipole model that does not require the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium. To understand the discharge evolution, the ion velocity distribution is calculated in different oscillation cycles. Results show that the ion velocity distribution deviates from Maxwell distribution over time. The ion velocity and relative ion number fluctuate regularly with time.


Despite recent advances in understanding neuron-astrocyte signaling, little is known about astrocytic modulation of neuronal activity at the population level, particularly in disease or following injury. We used high-speed calcium imaging of mixed cortical cultures in vitro to determine how population activity changes after disruption of signaling and mechanical injury. We constructed a multilayer network model of neuron-astrocyte connectivity, which captured unique topology and response behavior not evident from analysis of single cell type networks. mGluR5 inhibition decreased neuronal, but not astrocytic, activity and functional connectivity following traumatic injury, and also altered higher-order topological properties of multilayer networks. Comparison of spatial and functional community structure revealed that astrocyte segments of the same cell often belong to separate functional communities based on neural connectivity. Our findings demonstrate the utility of multilayer network models for characterizing the multiscale connectivity of two distinct but functionally dependent cell populations.


Colletotrichum gleosporioides is known as the causal agent of anthracnose disease of Carica papaya in Malaysia. Economic losses are mostly reported during postharvest where the disease incidence and severity was recorded as 90-98 % and 25-38 % respectively. Colletotrichum sp. were isolated from lesions of infected C. papay that showing the typical anthracnose disease symptoms. Three types of fungal cultures were obtained and identified as Colletotrichum sp., Fusarium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. One of the fungal obtained that was confirmed to be C. gleosporioides is based on morphological characteristics on PDA and  Koch's Postulate has confirmed C. gleosporioides as causal agent of papaya antracnose disease. The pathogen under study varied in its ability to grow under different environmental conditions. However, isolate preferred temperature range of 20°C to 30°C for the growth on PDA media. C. gloeosporioides isolates grew well at pH values within range of pH 6 to pH 7. Four bacterial strains, UniSZA-MKB10, UniZA-BK4, UniSZA-BK3 and UniSZA-DA, were tested in this study and proved to have antifungal properties against C. gloeosporioides . Dual culture assay, double layer and double plate method were conducted to test their metabolites as well as diffusible and volatiles antibiotic compound of bacteria. Out of four, three bacterial were found to show inhibition ability with MKB10 showed highest percentage of inhibition on radial growth with 62.08 ± 3.64% PIRG as well as produced greater diffusible and volatiles substances that significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides with PIRG of 85.48 ± 1.53 % and 31.03 ± 2.56 % respectively, and followed by UniSZA-DA. Culture filtrate of BK4 also showed highest significance effect towards inhibition of spore germination where the germ tube produced is the shortest (0.9055 µm)


Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic performance and value of MRI in breast diseases.Methods:Fifty patients with suspected breast lesions underwent MRI scan with non-enhancement sequences and dynamic contrast enhancement sequence.All results were verified by pathologic evaluation or by up to two-year follow up.Results:There were 16 patients with carcinomas,24 patients with various benign lesions,and 10 patients without abnormal findings.Based on non-enhancement and dynamic enhancement sequences,the sensitivity and specificity for MRI were 94% and 82%.On MRI images,the shape and extent of breast lesions can be clearly defined.Conclusion:MRI has relatively high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of breast diaeases.Diagnosis should be made based on non-enhancement and dynamic enhancement images.


In this paper, I look into the stress system of Modern Hebrew, offering new data from the intonational phonology. I examine the distribution of High tones at the phrasal level, and show that it is best understood in terms of trochaic foot structure. The analysis supports the proposal made in Hayes (1995), that finalstress languages are trochaic. The traditional analysis of tone, in terms of Autosegmental theory, is shown to be less satisfactory or insightful.


Background: Pre-exhausting a synergist prior to a compound exercise has been shown to alter the firing patterns in the muscles during the exercise. Pre-exhausting a muscle is done by exercising a m ...


Thin SiCx films, fabricated in a two‐source sputtering apparatus, are analyzed with Auger electron spectroscopy in combination with inert gas (Ne) sputtering. The compositional depth profiles and local bonding properties of the films are the object of the analysis. Different aspects of the application of Auger electron spectroscopy and sputtering to SiC are critically evaluated. These include the chemical information available from the structure of the Auger spectral lines from C and Si, and the effects of ion bombardment, i.e., preferential sputtering, radiation induced diffusion and segregation, as well as disorder. The samples all contain cubic (polycrystalline) SiC( β‐SiC). The films are found to be homogeneous in the bulk, with a thin layer at the surface strongly enriched in carbon. A film with a high percentage of Si was found to be inhomogeneous, and to have a significant amount of SiO2 formed at the surface during storage and handling in a room ambient. The films with higher surface concentration...


Scanning electron microscope studies have been conducted on the operculum of sporangia of Trichia crateriformis and its structure has been compared with that of other operculate Myxomycetes. The operculum of T. crateriformis consists of a single layer of sporelike bodies that have cell walls ornamented with warty excresences similar to those of the spores. It adjoins the membranous peridium of the sporangium in a transition region which constitutes the dehiscence zone. In other taxa with operculate sporophores examined the operculum is membranous and has a structure generally similar to that of its associated peridium. The type of operculum in T. crateriformis may be unique for the Myxomycetes. Several species of Myxomycetes form sporangia furnished with a well-defined operculum. Species exhibiting this characteristic are Metatrichia vesparium (Batsch) Nann-Brem., certain species of Craterium and Licea, Perichaena depressa Libert, and Trichia crateriformis Martin. During the course of some scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies of types of authenticated specimens of taxa in the Trichiaceae, we observed that the operculum of the sporangium of T. crateriformis is strikingly different in structure from that of its contiguous peridial wall. The T. crateriformis operculum was noted to consist of discrete spore-like units with ornamented wall surfaces similar to those of the spores. A report on this apparently unique type of operculum structure is presented in this communication.


Abstract  Carbon and noble gas isotope analyses are reported for bubbling gas samples from the Tengchong volcanic geothermal area near the Indo‐Eurasian suture zone. All samples contain a resolvable component of mantle‐derived 3He. Occurrence of mantle‐derived 3He coincides with surface volcanism. However, 3He occurs over a larger geographic area than do surface volcanics. δ13C values for CO2 and CH4 vary from −33.4 ‰ to 1.6 ‰ and from −52.8 ‰ to −2.8 ‰, respectively. He and C isotope systematics indicate that CO2 and CH4 in the CO2‐rich gases originated predominantly from magmatic component mixed with crustal CO2 produced from carbonate. However, breakdown of organic matter and near‐surface processes accounts for the CH4 and CO2 in N2‐rich gases. 3He/4He ratio distribution pattern suggests that mantle‐derived He and heat sources of high‐temperature system in central Tengchong originate from a hidden magma reservoir at subsurface. CO2‐rich gases with the highest 3He/4He ratio (5.2 Ra) may be representative of the Tengchong magmatic component. Compared with MORB, this relative low 3He/4He ratio could be fully attributed to either deep crustal contamination, or radioactive aging, or past contamination of the local mantle by U‐ and Th‐rich subducted crustal material. However, a combination of low 3He/4He, high radiogenic 4He/40Ar ratio and identical CO2/3He and δ13CO2 relative to MORB may suggest addition of prior subductedd crsustal material (ca 1%–2%) to the MORB reservoir around 1.3 Ga ago, which is essentially compatible with the LIL‐elements, and Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotopes of volcanic rocks.


Properties of yoghurt extremely depend on the application of heat treatment to milk prior to manufacture. After heating the milk, denatured whey protein and casein makes complexes which dramatically improve the yoghurt texture such as firmness and water holding capacity etc. The formation of complexes, micelle bound or soluble whey protein/k-casein complexes, and their localization between casein micelles and serum depends on the physical properties (heat treatment, pH, compositions) of milk. We review the formation of these complexes and their effect on the physical, rheological and microstructural properties of acid milk gels. In order to investigate the interactions of denatured whey protein-casein, the formation of covalent and non-covalent bond namely thiol/disulphide, hydrophobic and electrostatic etc. are reviewed, with the emphasis on acid gelation and final yoghurt texture. This review summarizes the different factors and interactions on the formation of the micelle bound complexes or soluble denatured whey protein/k-casein complexes in heated milk and how these complexes affect the yoghurt properties. This information could be fundamental knowledge for developing a desirable yoghurt texture, may have potential interest for future research.


The building block computing system can build several systems by stacking small chips with inductive coupling wireless chip-to-chip connection TCI (Through Chip Interface). TCI IP (Intellectual Property) was developed by using the Renesas 65nm SOTB process, and several family chips have been developed with the IP. Although all of the chips worked alone without problems, when they were stacked to construct a system, problems were found on some combinations of chips that TCI did not work as designed. This paper analyzes the resistances of power grid of chips with IPs from their layout to investigate the reason of the problems. Then, the voltage drop is estimated with the model built from the real chip evaluation. The analysis results appeared that in some chips, the resistances of the power grid are more than double of the target value, and because of the voltage drop, the supply voltage given to the IP of the largest chip SMTT is about the half of given to the power pad. Although it comes from the limitation of the I/O pads for chip stacking and fixed location of TCI IPs, we must take special care of the design of the transmitter power grid.


The effects of the compounds and concentrations of nitrogenous electron acceptor, the ratio of electron donor/electron acceptor (C/N), and the complexity of electron donor on the emission of during wastewater denitrification were quantitatively investigated in this study. The higher and concentrations, the more emission was observed. has strong effect on emission as it emitted morc than , 50 mg/L of -N gave the highest conversion (9.3%) and yield (9.8%) of while -N (50 mg/L) gave 5.6% conversion and 11.0% yield. Lower C/N ratio decreases nitrogen removal efficiency, but it increases the conversion of because of the incomplete denitrification by the limited organic carbon. When real domestic wastewater is used as the electron donor of the denitrification, emission is reduced to 1/10 of the emission when single carbon (acetate) is used. It is thought that multiple carbon source utilizes many denitrification pathways and it seems to be helpful for the reduction of emission.


Most of the geomorphic work performed in the Izas basin is used to change its shape, and only a small part of the material moved is exported from it. Mass wasting is very active on the hillslopes, but is disconnected from the drainage network and its work cannot be expressed in terms of sediment yield. The drainage system itself, including the pipe network, is usually the main source of the sediment that it transports, but this is primarily coarse material produced by cutting gorges and which is partially accumulated in depressions. Intense summer rainstorms are able to partially integrate the efficient sediment yielding hillslope and the fluvial processes, but their role is uncertain, because we do not know the recurrence interval of such storms. Under these conditions, chemical weathering and dissolved transport seem to be the most effective mechanism for export of material from the basin.


Leaf nutrients have an important role in governing the trees growth and development of trees and are sources of nutrients for ruminants in forest. The present paper makes a synthesis of two earlier studies undertaken on macro and micronutrients of 1) 37 woody species and 2) 44 medicinal plants used traditionally of Northeastern Mexico. In the both the studies we estimated the contents of six nutrients in the leaves, three macronutrients (P, Mg, K, protein, C, N, C/N and three micronutrients (Cu, Fe, ZN) both for woody species and medicinal plants. A large variability exists in nutrient contents in woody species and medicinal plants. The species selected for the highest macronutrients and micronutrients may be utilized for confirming their physiological efficiency and probable better growth and productivity as well as good sources of macro and micronutrients for grazing wild animals. Similar to the results of woody trees, medicinal plants also exhibited a wider variability in macro and micronutrients. Based on the analysis of macro and micro nutrients the following species Phalaris canariensis, Eruca sativa, Ocimum basilicum, Tragia ramosa, Mentha piperita, Mimosa malacophylla, Acalypha monostachya, Salvia hispanica, Tillandsia usenoides, Letsea glauscens, Tagetes lucida, Erygium heterophylla, Dyssodia setifolia, Nicotiana glauca, Ruta graveolens, Olea europea, Equisetum hyemale, Rosamrinus officinalis are selected containing a majority of each of these nutrients.


Background Reineckia carnea (RC), a perennial evergreen herb which belongs to Reineckia Kunth (Liliaceae), can be used for clearing the lungs and relieving cough, reducing phlegm and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airway and lung inflammation and increased secretion of airway mucus. Therefore, RC has the potential to treat COPD. Methods NR8383 cells were cultured and treated with various concentrations of RC (100 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 100 ng/mL, and 10 ng/mL). Cell viability and levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the cell culture supernatant or rat serum were analyzed using CCK-8 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to mock, COPD model, RC (0.67 g/kg, 1.35 g/kg, and 2.7 g/kg), and ambroxol (5.4 mg/kg) groups. Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses were used to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression levels of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Results The results showed that Reineckia carnea (RC) extract (RCE) inhibited the proliferation of NR8383 cells and suppressed the production of IL-1β, PGE2, and COX-2 in NR8383 cells. Moreover, RCE decreased the levels of IL-1β, PGE2, and COX-2 in the serum of rats with COPD and alleviated the expression of TLR4 and MUC5AC induced by COPD in rat lung tissue. Conclusion RCE alleviated COPD by inhibiting the expression of COPD-induced inflammatory cytokines and MUC5AC in rats.


A method is described for ensuring continuity of service of a portable navigation device (10) in the event of insufficient reception of GNSS satellite signals, wherein the user provides the portable navigation device (10) with first data relating to the current position of the device (10) through data input means (115), and wherein the personal navigation device (10), in order to calculate its own position, uses said first data entered by the user and second data coming from localization tools (105,110,127,170,180,190) associated with the portable navigation device (10) and not using GNSS satellite signals.


Aims: Heart failure is one of the most important and prevalent diseases, and still one of the major problemsof health care systems in spite of the medical advances. Today, the promotion of the quality of life in heart failure patients is one of the objectives of the nursing care programs. In this line, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partnership care model on the quality of life in patients with heart failure. Methods: In the present clinical trial in 2010, 90 patients with heart failure hospitalized in Kerman University of Medical Sciences affiliated coronary care units were selected using accessible-sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups of 45 participants each as the experimental and the control groups. To evaluate the quality of lifeas adependent variable, the standard quality-of-life questionnaire for heart failure patients, including 22 questions on the three major dimensions of the quality of life (physical, mental and socioeconomic), was applied. The intervention was implemented during three months according to the partnership care model in the experimental group. Data were analyzed bySPSS 18 software using descriptive statistics, independent and paired t-tests and the variance analysis. Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean quality of life (from 60.11±10.7 to 35.43±8.6 in the experimental and 45.63±7.3 to 57.42±11.9 in the control group), as well asthe associated dimensions including the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic aspects (P<0.05). Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated a significant improvement in the mean quality of life scores in all the three dimensions in the experimentalcompared to the control group; the application of the mentioned model is, therefore, recommended for the care and treatment of patients with heart failure.


This project discusses about the popular statistical spam filtering process: naive Bayes classification. A fairly famous way of implementing the naive Bayes method in spam filtering by Paul Graham is explored and a adjustment of this method from Tim Peter is evaluated based on applications on real data. Two solutions to the problem of unknown tokens are also tested on the sample emails. The last part of the project shows how the Bayesian noise reduction algorithm can improve the accuracy of the naive Bayes classification.


Objective To explore the panoramic vascular imaging of autologous arteriovenous fistula dysfunction with multi- slice spiral CT angiography and to discuss its clinical application. Methods A total of32 hemodialysis patients with autologous arteriovenous fistula dysfunction were enrolled in this study. Multi-slice spiral CT scanning of dialysis passage was performed in all patients. Panoramic vascular imaging was obtained by using multi- planar reconstruction, curved- planar reconstruction, maximum intensity projection,volume rendering and vascular automatic bone- elimination techniques. The results were analyzed. Results The upper limb vessels on the diseased side and their relationship with the surrounding structures were clearly displayed in all patients, based on which the responsible vessels caused autogenous arteriovenous fistula dysfunction were determined. Different proper means of intervention were adopted for each patient. Surgical re- establishment of dialysis passage was carried out in 30 patients, and non- surgical treatment was employed in 2 patients in order to improve hemodialysis flow. Conclusion Panoramic vascular imaging with multi- slice spiral CT angiography can well display the responsible vessels caused autogenous arteriovenous fistula dysfunction, which is very helpful in guiding the clinical selection of the treatment.


Abstract Varying rainfall intensity during rainfall events is a common phenomenon, but little information is available concerning its effects on soil erosion processes. Five simulated rainstorm patterns (even, rising, falling, rising-falling, and falling-rising patterns), each with a different rainfall intensity pattern but with the same average rainfall intensity and total rainfall amount, were designed to quantify how rainstorm patterns affect runoff and sediment yield processes. The five rainstorm patterns were subjected to two slope gradients (5° and 10°) and two surface treatments that entailed the presence or absence of raindrop impact, in which the absence was simulated by placing nylon nets over soil pans. Results showed not only the total runoff but also each stage of runoff rate for a given rainfall intensity exhibited no significant differences among rainstorm patterns. However, soil loss from varying-intensity rainstorms was 1.13 to 5.17 times greater than that from even-intensity rainstorm, and the rising pattern was associated with the greatest soil loss. Moreover, each stage of soil loss by unit runoff for a given rainfall intensity was significantly different among rainstorm patterns. The variation in sediment regime and runoff hydraulic characteristic explained those. For sediment regime, in the presence of raindrop impact, for the rising pattern, soil detachment capacity was the dominant factor controlling soil loss, and for the other four patterns, runoff transport capacity was an important control on soil transfer, but it played different roles in soil loss under different patterns; in the absence of raindrop impact, the differences in sediment regime mainly reflected in transport capacity among storm patterns. With respect to flow hydraulic characteristics, the key hydraulic parameter (the parameter that had the greatest influence on soil loss) from varying-intensity rainstorms increased on average by 4.70% to 70.53% relative to those from even-intensity rainstorms.


A parametric equation of state was derived for water vapor in the critical region. It is valid for pressures ranging from 3000 to 4000 psia, specific volumes from 0.8 V/sub c/ to 2 V/sub c/ and temperatures from saturation to 752 deg . The equation satisfies the following boundary conditions at the critical point, ( partial delta P/ partial delta V)/sub Tc/ = ( partial delta / sup 2/P/ partial delta V /sup 2/)/sub Tc/ = 0, ( partial delta P/ partial delta T)/sub Vc/ = (dP/sub s//dT)/sub Tc/, and ( partial delta /sup 2/P/ partial delta T/sup 2/)/sub Vc/ = 0. The maximum derivation between computed and measured values of pressure of three parts in one thousand coincides approximately with the over-all uncertainty in P-V-T measurements. By utilizing certain concepts in Clausius Theorem of the Virial ' the size of water molecule was estimated as 2.61 A from P-V-T data. This is in fair agreements with other estimated values which ranged from two to five Angstroms. (auth)


The empirical study shows that international trade has positive effect on the increase of employment.The empirical result of different period also shows that the employment effect of total trade is declining while the effect of foreign-capital enterprises is increasing along with the time,which mainly due to the processing trade.In the end,the paper gives some suggestions.


The Benchmark SuperCritical Wing (BSCW) wind tunnel model served as a semi-blind test case for the 2012 AIAA Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop (AePW). The geometry of the BSCW is simple but the flow field is complex and challenging. The BSCW has moderate separation, buffeting and oscillating shock motion. The result from the first AePW shows that CFD modeling based on RANS is insufficient for accurate physical modeling of this moderately separated flow. This paper presents initial CFD results from using a more suited turbulence resolving hybrid RANS-LES method. The result shows important qualitative improvements with respect to the physical modeling of the flow.


The Gorkha earthquake in 2015 was a recent large-scale earthquake that caused severe damage to many historic masonry buildings in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The authors conducted a visual inspection survey of seismically damaged buildings after the earthquake in the historic town district of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. The first part of this paper reports the distribution of the historic masonry buildings for each damage level in the surveyed area. A concentrating zone of severely-damaged buildings was explicitly found in the damage-level distribution map. Almost half of all the surveyed buildings were severely damaged during the earthquake, and most of these were historic masonry townhouse buildings. In the second part, the ambient vibration characteristics of the conventional historic masonry buildings in Bhaktapur are investigated. Typical dwelling houses in a historic town district in Nepal, which generally formed terraced houses built around a courtyard, were targeted for the measurement. Thus, the influence of adjacent buildings, which makes it difficult to identify the predominant natural frequencies from building vibration measurements, was also observed. Microtremor measurements using two accelerometers were conducted at 11 historic masonry buildings to investigate the discrimination degree for identifying the predominant natural frequency of conventional townhouse buildings. The estimated primary natural frequencies of these buildings were compared with the results of the screening model analysis. The advantages of using the proposed screening model analysis to improve the uncertainty of the first natural frequency identification by the microtremor measurement are discussed. Additional measurements of the microtremors at 4 of the 11 measured buildings were conducted using a different location combination of the two acceleration sensors. The sensors were placed between two different floors, and the transfer functions of each floor were investigated to observe the predominant vibration components on the floors in the entire building. Moreover, the coherence values observing the in-plane correlation of the floor responses were also analyzed for the dataset measured at two points separated on the same floor. Finally, an effective method for measuring the microtremors is discussed to improve the assessment of the vibration characteristics of conventional historic masonry buildings in Nepal.


My earlier investigations in the field of diseases of the bones led me to approach the problem of otosclerosis from the standpoint of bone pathology. I have now arrived at the following conclusion : Otosclerosis represents a definite pathologic bone picture and from the features peculiar to this picture certain conclusions can be drawn as to its experimental reproduction. "BONE PICTURE" What, in General, Does the Term "Bone Picture" Designate?— The normal bone is a conglomeration of single elements. Each of these elements represents a definite stage of the development of bone in respect to its phylogenesis and ontogenesis. These phases, arranged according to the time of their appearance, result in an ascending scale. Thus, this series represents all the stages in the development of bony tissue (fig. 1). Five "time phases" may be distinguished morphologically: 1. The fundamental stage, i. e., the mesenchymal tissue. 2. The stage of


Because of the perceived advantages and the promotion of Web-based learning environments (WBLEs) by commercial interests as well as educational technologists, knowing how to develop and implement WBLEs will probably not be a choice, but a necessity for most educators and trainers in the future. However, many instructors still don't understand the most effective strategies for designing and implementing effective WBLEs even though numerous studies have demonstrated that the success or failure of online learning depends largely on the quality of interaction within those learning environments. Indeed, it has been said learning is impossible without meaningful cognitive interaction. However, this kind of interaction does not occur by itself. The primary goal of this paper is to explore the importance and characteristics of meaningful interaction in online learning, especially in asynchronous contexts. A secondary goal of this paper is to present several pragmatic strategies for improving meaningful interactions in WBLEs on the basis of a review of relevant research literature.


The construction of a mechanism for social disputes mediation is the essential component of constructing the law-based government.The interests partition and the disputes increase give impetus to the formation and development of the process of legalization and the mediation mechanism of diversified disputes.The mechanism for disputes mediation was established in a short-term aging,hence,the remedy channels are few and good connection is lacking among different mechanisms for disputes mediation.This phenomenon is in urgent need of improvement.Constructing diversified,open,specialized,high-efficient and well connecting mechanism for disputes mediation,and cultivating various ways of self-mediation of disputes in society are the requirements of effective mediation of disputes.If a radical treatment to the disputes from the origin is needed,the rational governance structure and social system must be constructed.


A method of accumulating accreditation includes locating evaluations from different sources relating to at least one entity and accumulating evaluations associated with the at least one entity to create an accreditation associated with the at least one entity.