A method based on the neural network for the forward kinematics solution of Stewart platform is studied. The training examples are obtained through the inverse kinematics, and then preprocessed. The final neural network includes six sub-networks, corresponding to the six degrees-of-freedom. Unfavorable error distributions in the network are improved through re-construction of the training examples. The simulation results show that the neural network operates well and provides the forward kinematics solution an error of 0.5° and 3 mm when the platform runs in its full range.


While the non-government colleges are developing rapidly, the conflicts between investors and principals are widespread and have become the severe sticking point to restrict the further development of non-governmental education. The conflicts between investors and principals are essentially the conflicts between education and commerce. They are relative. Once certain conditions are created, it is possible to change and ease up the conflicts.


If asset allocation is a bigger driver of returns than stock selection, then superannuation funds should take a close look at how to optimise its asset weightings. One fund manager thinks it has come close to the answer. David Rowley reports.


Purpose – The question over who "owns" and controls consumer data on the internet is emerging as an important issue as individuals increasingly share more of their personal information with marketers in return for services and benefits. This paper aims to examine how compensating consumers for their personal information affects their expectations for data ownership and privacy control. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct two online scenario-based experiments with a sample of adult consumers. The results were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. Findings – The findings show that receiving compensation, especially when it is a monetary reward, reduces consumer expectations for privacy protection. These effects depend on whether the information provided to marketers is perceived to be sensitive in nature. Originality/value – While a number of privacy studies have investigated the effects of compensation on encouraging self-disclosure on the internet, there is a lack ...


Introduced the safety evaluation method of the synthetic ammonia installment and summarized the significant dangerous source identification as well as the assessment method choices of the security present situation.It proposed that the problems of the installment could be found by the safety evaluation.Finally put forward reorganization measures to the hidden danger as well as safety control suggestions.


SYNOPSIS. Autoradiographic techniques are reviewed which have been recommended. for the localization of diffusible substances, such as steroid hormones. Advancement in techniques, including low temperature tissue sectioning, section freeze-drying, and dry-mounting of sections, led to the development of the dry-mount autoradiographic technique. This progress in technique has enabled the cellular and subcellular topotgraphic localization of steroid hormones in peripheral and central target tissues, including the identification of hormone target cells in the pituitary and mapping of hormone neurons in the brain. In the pituitary, tritiated estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid are concentrated and retained in nuclei of certain anterior lobe cells. In the brain, estrogens, androgens, and glucocorticoids are attracted by and concentrated in nuclei of certain neurons located mainly within the phylogenetically old periventricular brain. In view of the widespread distribution of sex steroids in different brain areas, the generally held concept of a topographically confined single or dual "sex center" is challenged. While estrogen and androgen neurons in the hypothalamus, in the preoptic-septal-parolfactory region, and in the amygdala overlap, or are even identical in part, glucocorticoid neurons are more heavily concentrated in the gyrus dentatus, hyppocampus, indusium griseum, dorsal nuclei septi lateralis and medialis, as well as in the piriform cortex and portions of the amygdala. It is conceptualized that the steroid hormone neurons are hypophysiotropic neurons, being involved in the neurosecretion of releasing factors, and that they represent sought for hormone "feedback" areas in the brain. This challenges the generally held view of the "hypophysiotrophic area" in the hypothalamus as the anatomical site where releasing factors are produced.


A new  series of biologically active variously substituted Schiff bases with general formula, R1N=CHR2.  were synthesized by the reaction of  differently substituted benzaldehyde  with second,aryl amines in dimethyl formamide by microwave synthesis.  Such compounds were characterized by different physico-chemical techniques like, melting point, elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR (1H). The free ligands and their metal complexes have been screened for their in vitro biological activities against bacteria, fungi and yeast.


Abstract A common need in all PVDF piezoelectric film devices is the attachment of durable electrical leads. Previously leads have been attached to already vacuum metallized polarized film by either mechanical means or by means of conducting adhesive or paint (e.g., silver-filled epoxy). Our new lead attachment techniques provide maximum mechanical stability, electrical power capacity, and overall durability; they include using staggered electrodes, a sputtered gold coating as the transducer electrode and conducting attachment path, and methods for soldering lead wires to the continuous gold coating or depositing gold over a cemented lead. Fabrication and performance characteristics of such PVDF transducers are discussed.


Background: Semantic memory processes have been well described in literature. However, the available findings are mostly
based on relatively young subjects and concrete word material (e.g. tree). Comparatively little information exists about semantic
memory for abstract words (e.g. mind) and possible age related changes in semantic retrieval. In this respect, we developed a
paradigm that is useful to investigate the implicit (i.e. attentionindependent) access to concrete and abstract semantic memory.
These processes were then compared between young and elderly healthy subjects. Methods: A well established tool for investigating
semantic memory processes is the semantic priming paradigm, which consists both of semantically unrelated and related
word pairs. In our behavioral task these noun-noun word pairs were further divided into concrete, abstract and matched pronounceable non-word conditions. With this premise, the young and elderly participants performed a lexical decision task: they
were asked to press a choice of two buttons as an indication for whether the word pair contained a non-word or not. In order to
minimize controlled (i.e. attention-dependent) retrieval strategies, a short stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) of 150ms was set.
Reaction time (RT) changes and accuracy to related and unrelated words (priming effect) in the abstract vs. concrete condition
(concreteness effect) were the dependent variables of interest. Results and Discussion: Statistical analysis confirmed both a
significant priming effect (i.e. shorter RTs in semantically related compared to unrelated words) and a concreteness effect (i.e. RT
decrease for concrete compared to abstract words) in the young and elderly subjects. There was no age difference in accuracy. The
only age effect was a commonly known general slowing in RT over all conditions. In conclusion, age is not a critical factor in the
implicit access to abstract and concrete semantic memory.


The presence of None-line-of-sight (NLOS) is one of the major challenging issues in time of arrival (TOA) based source localization, especially for the sparse anchor scenarios. Sparse anchors can reduce the system deployment cost, so this has become increasingly popular in the source location. However, fewer anchors bring new challenges to ensure localization precision and reliability, especially in NLOS environments. The maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is the most popular location estimator for its simplicity and efficiency, while it becomes extremely difficult to reliably identify the NLOS measurements when the redundant observations are not enough. In this study, we proposed an NLOS detection algorithm called misclosure check (MC) to overcome this issue, which intends to provide a more reliable location in the sparse anchor environment. The MC algorithm checks the misclosure of different triangles and then obtains the possible NLOS from these misclosures. By forming multiple misclosure conditions, the MC algorithm can identify NLOS measurements reliably, even in a sparse anchor environment. The performance of the MC algorithm is evaluated in a typical sparse anchor environment and the results indicate that the MC algorithm achieves promising NLOS identification capacity without abundant redundant measurements. The real data test also confirmed that the MC algorithm achieves better position precision than other three robust location estimators in an NLOS environment since it can correctly identify more NLOS measurements.


For presenting graphics on small, moveable tactile displays such as those that resemble computer mice, word labels can be as important as the diagram itself. In addition, the ability to present Braille with these displays offers an alternative for accessing full pages of Braille with a cost effective system. In this work, we consider the inherent difficulties arising from presenting Braille on these displays and propose algorithms to circumvent these problems. Lastly, we present preliminary results from individuals who are visually impaired that suggests the promise of this approach.


The engine that was chosen to be developed and modified is Yamaha LC 135 Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) 4-valve 4-stroke 135cc liquid-cooled engine. The engine selection is based on the specification, rule and regulation in UTeM Formula Varsity 2012 (FV 2012). The engine performance is determined by engine operating characteristics. The engine air flow affects the filtration, intake and exhaust systems. The heat from the engine rejected to the surrounding through the active cooling system which has radiator and fan. The selection of the engine is based on weighted decision matrix which consists of reliability, operating and maintenance cost, fuel consumption and weight. The score of the matrix is formulated based on relative weighted factor among the selections. It been compared between Yamaha LC 135 Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) 4-valve 4-stroke 135cc liquid-cooled engine, Honda Wave 125 X Air Cooled, 4 Cycle Engine Overhead Camshaft (OHC) and Suzuki Shogun RR 4 stroke air cooled Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC). The modification is applied to the engine through the simulation and tuning of Capacitor Discharge Ignition (CDI).


The geology of the western Carolina terrane comprises zoned mafic-ultramafic intrusive complexes intruding a volcanic pile of basalts and basaltic andesites; this package is interpreted to represent an episode of intra-arc rifting prior to regional metamorphism and foliation formation. New U-Pb zircon ages from the Mean Crossroads complex in northwestern South Carolina along the central Piedmont suture confirm relative ages obtained by detailed mapping. Two foliated meta-diorites yield U-Pb dates of 580 Ma, interpreted to be crystallization ages. A foliated meta-quartz diorite yields a U-Pb date of 535 Ma interpreted to be a crystallization age. These ages are broadly contemporary with those inferred by other workers for the Battleground Formation in the type locality of the Kings Mountain belt. An undeformed, unmetamorphosed diorite intruding these metamorphosed zoned complex intrusives also yields an age of 535 Ma. Hence the authors believe that intra-arc rifting and regional metamorphism both occurred c. 535 Ma. While petrographic and Ar-Ar studies support subsequent regional metamorphic overprint(s), or at least static recrystallization and/or uplift through hornblende-biotite-muscovite blocking temperatures for Ar in mid- to late-Paleozoic time, the 535 Ma, undeformed, unmetamorphosed intrusive suggest late Precambrian regional metamorphism and deformation was the event responsible for regional greenschist-lower amphibolitemore » facies metamorphism and foliation formation in this area of the Piedmont. This seems to contradict correlations with middle Ordovician fabric elements in the eastern Piedmont as well as the idea that this metamorphism and fabric development are related to presumed early Paleozoic accretion of the Carolina arc to Laurentia. They have also dated a foliated megacrystic granite that cuts the central Piedmont suture (325 Ma, U-Pb zircon), and the Bald Rock granite (326 Ma, U-Pb zircon).« less


Twisted nematic liquid crystal displays (TN-LCD) are being widely adopted for personal computers. Figure 1 shows the transmittance -voltage (T-V) characteristics for the normally - white mode of a first minimum TN display. Here the polarizer transmission axis is parallel to the liquid crystal (LC) alignment direction on the adjacent substrates (e-mode TN-LCD). Figure 2 shows the viewing angles. In the lower azimuth view, the T-V curve oscillates, causing gray scale image inversion. In the upper azimuth view, the transmittance at an intermediate voltage is high and the gray scale image washes out. In the right and left azimuth view, the T-V curve is almost the same as a normal view, giving a clear gray scale image. The symmetry of viewing characteristics has been investigated 1), and light propagation in the normal direction has been calculated using a Poincare sphere2. Light propagation for oblique viewing had not yet been examined. We investigated this using a Poincare sphere.


In order to keep the elevator works safely and placidly,one of the key factors is the tracks of elevator should keep linearity and identical to plumb line.In this paper,a new auto-checking system for the track of elevator which is based on adaxial interference Laser and CCD video is introduced.By using of this system,we can guide the installation or check the track of elevator quickly,automatically and high accurately.


In this paper a generalization of a theorem of Garrett and Stanojevic [61 has been obtained. 1. A sequence {a"} is said to be convex if A2 an > 0, where Man = Aan Aana+ I and Aan = an -a+ 1. It is said to be quasi-convex if 00 , (n + 1)IA2anI oo, (ii) there exist numbers An such that An I and E An 0 and all n > no(a). An equivalent definition is that n an for same f8 > 0. 0 A sequence {an} is said to satisfy condition S' if (i) an = 0(1), n oo, (ii) there exist numbers An such that {A)} is a quasi-monotone sequence and X1=A,n< oo, (iii) IAan I < An for all n. It is clear that the condition S' is weaker than the condition S. 2. Let 00 2 ao + E an cos nx be a trigonometric series. (2.1) Received by the editors December 1, 1977. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 42A20, 42A32.


The first interventions on the buildings of the ducal palace of Sassuolo go back to 1981 when restorations of the ducal fishpond and the buildings called Paggeria Nuova began. Interventions of recovery and consolidation of the main facade, along with restoration of the decorative and pictorial apparatus of the grand staircase and the monumental rooms, have been carried out more recently. The work of new color in defining the facade, based on strictly historical criteria, allowed restorers to recover what was left of the very thin plasters of the 18th-century phase. They were in most cases preserved along the surfaces of the pilaster strips and on the string-course cornices and the frameworks of windows. The false balustrade of the attic along with the clock of the central covered roof terrace have been consolidated and retouched with paint. Restoration of the grand staircase of honor has been almost completed. The 17th-century coloring has been restored by eliminating the paint used in the 19th-20th century.


The nation is grieving after the sudden passing of cricketer Phillip Hughes. For a local man in Albany, the tragedy has dredged up memories of a similar game, 68 years ago.


The construction industry (CI) is the main driver of sustainable development (SD) and economic expansion in society. Industrialized building systems (IBS) promote productivity and improves quality on construction sites. The purpose of this study is to investigate ways of improving the use of IBS in the SACI. For this study, data was collected using primary and secondary sources of data collection. The study adopted a quantitative research approach with data gathered from the respondents within SACI. The findings revealed that the most significant ways of improving IBS use in SACI are government incentives towards IBS supporting projects, specialized training for IBS contractors, and improving the educational curriculum to include IBS methods. Construction waste is a by-product of construction demolition and renovation and has caused adverse effects on the environment. Therefore, one of the way to mitigate such environmental hazards is to use IBS. This study will contribute greatly to sustainable construction delivery in South Africa, socio-economic growth and will aid fast delivery of construction projects in terms of cost, time, and quality. Also, construction waste hazards causing harm to the environment can be reduced with the correct implementation of IBS in society. CCS CONCEPTS • Applied engineering • medium relevance


As the rapid development of information industry in our country,the requirement of computer talents for society becomes more and more.Liaoning province is no exception.In order to cultivate higher vocational talents in computer major for adapting to the demand of economic development in Liaoning province,higher vocational colleges should establish and perfect module talents' training teaching mode,and implement talents' training teaching mode with the cooperation between colleges and enterprises.It should develop its order mode under regional economic environment to construct the practical training mode of "post-task".


We compare new high-resolution inverse-photoemission spectra of the unoccupied surface states on Cu(001) with a first-principles calculation of the same surface. This theoretical calculation includes the asymtotic long-range image potential. The commonly observed image state is found to correspond to the n = 1 member of the Rydberg series of states derived from the image potential, i.e., the wave function has a single extremum beyond the crystal edge characteristic of the hydrogenic n = 1 state. Agreement between theory and experiment for all states is excellent. The experimentally determined binding energies and effective masses are 0.62 eV and 0.98m/sub e/ for the n = 1 image state and 0.8 eV (with respect to E/sub F/) and 0.4m/sub e/ for the n = 0 surface resonance. The results indicate that surface corrugation effects are negligible.


Female football players are described as slow, ridiculous, childish and physically weak. They are described as either ugly and lesbian or beautiful and sexy and thus worth watching. They know absolutely nothing about technique, they can't kick the ball properly, and they have no football intelligence. They are so extremely poor players, it is too annoying to watch. A top women's football team may be easily beaten by a 15 year-old boys' team.


Part 5 looks at discourses of multilingualism from a critical perspective, including linguistic landscapes, and Part 6 offers conclusions and new directions for study. Throughout the book, there are interesting and engaging quizzes and activities for students which are based on teaching experiences of the two authors. My particular favourite is the introductory quiz on page 9 which would be an excellent way to begin a course on the topic of multilingualism or linguistic diversity. The reference and further reading lists are similarly useful and engaging as they are helpfully divided into topic areas at the end of each chapter. Perhaps the book would have benefitted from the inclusion of more Asian and African perspectives and case studies, as it covers an impressive range of global contexts but the focus is often on either Europe or English-speaking countries, and it would be interesting to learn about multilingualism elsewhere which does not include English. However, overall I found this a thorough, engaging and appropriately critical introduction to multilingualism which reaffirms its place as a central topic in the study of linguistics.


Advanced information systems are becoming a critical factor for hospitals to meet internal needs and external demands. This article reviews the current approaches for usage of hospital information systems, and presents the results of a 1983 survey which examines the actual state of use in an urban area. Data show that most of the hospitals have a management information system with a few planning management science and decision support capability. However, there seems to be a lag between examples in the literature and common practice.


This paper describes a pen-interface for correcting digital documents. By using conventional gestures, the human corrector annotates directly the digital document on a display tablet with an electronic stylus. As the document is immediately updated by an interactive editor this provides direct visual feedback that the correction has been carried out.


This paper presents new findings on partial discharge (PD) phenomena under high-repetition nanosecond pulsed voltages, essential for the insulation design of electrical motors fed by silicon carbide (SiC) inverters with high-switching frequencies. Here, a twisted pair sample simulating the turn-to-turn insulation of a random-wound motor coil winding was subjected to high-repetition nanosecond pulsed voltages generated by a SiC inverter-based pulse generator. In this experiment, the rise time at a pulsed voltage of 1.5 kV is 23 ns, the pulse width is 500 ns, and the pulsed repetition frequency (PRF) ranges from 60 pps to 1 Mpps. In this PRF range, the partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) was found to be almost constant. Meanwhile, the repetitive partial discharge inception voltage (RPDIV) significantly reduced when the PRF exceeded several tens of kpps. Under high PRF conditions, the high-density ions produced by the preceding PD remain in the gap space between enameled wires during the pulse-off period and contribute significantly to the initiation of subsequent PD. The resulting increase in the probability of PD occurrence reduces the RPDIV. Unlike previous reports, this study clarified the difference in the frequency characteristics between PDIV and RPDIV, providing valuable reference data for the insulation design of SiC inverter-fed motors. Based on the obtained results, we propose revising the IEC60034-18-41 standard, which verifies a PD-free system, to incorporate the effect of the pulsed voltage waveform of SiC inverters.


NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeats containing receptors) are pattern recognition receptors, evolutionarily conserved across plants and animals (1). NLRs, initiate immune response against specific damage and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs/PAMPs) (2). NLRs also contribute to the function and regulation of multiple innate immune signaling pathways (3) ( Figure 1 ). NLRC3, the newly characterized NLR family member is preferentially expressed in immune cells. NLRC3 performs various innate immune functions such as regulation of several inflammatory signaling pathways (4).


Abstract This special issue examines how relationships between research and policy in environmental and sustainability education (ESE) can be strengthened. Our contribution draws on three cases from outside the ESE space to analyse policymakers' perspectives on using evidence to inform decision-making, and to show that government-based policymakers develop 'policy narratives' which influence their evidence use. We also illustrate how government departmental systems and processes lead policymakers to develop 'evidence narratives' which help them make sense of what evidence to use and how to use it in the policy development process. At its core, such work involves negotiating three normative positions around evidence, concerning: fidelity to science, democratic representation, and cost-effective use of public money. In light of this, we suggest that where policy narratives and evidence narratives interact should be interpreted as a key site for empirically investigating evidence-informed policymaking activities. Developing a detailed awareness of what policymakers do on a daily basis, and discerning how organisational systems and processes influence particular demands for evidence and how it is used, will foster a better understanding of the relationships between research and policy.


Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS)and provide the reference for making early diagnosis and reducing misdiagnosis.Mehtods Epidemiological and clinical data from 110 patients with HFRS were retrospectively analyzed.Results The misdiagnosis rate was 42.7%(47/110).High peak period of seasonal distribution was from December to the next May.The average thrombocyte count in patients with bleeding manifestations was 42.77±23.64)×109/L,and that of patients without bleeding manifestations was 76.59±66.34)×109/L,showing significant difference between the two groups(t=3.894,P0.01).Conclusion Obvious organic damage was accompanied with HFRS,involving hemopoietic system,kidney,liver,heart and lung.Thrombocytopenia is the main factor resulting in bleeding manifestations.


Based on frost heave and frost boil disease mechanism analyses of embankment in permafrost regions,a new synthetical embankment with permeable geotextile,block stone interlayer and waterproof geotextile is proposed,whose anti-frost heave and boil effect is investigated by a model test.The results show that,compared with common embankment,the new synthetical anti-frost heave and boil embankment can decrease its temperature and have good cooling effect whether the air temperature is high or not.Moreover,it can decrease water content effectively;and the decrease ratio of water content is increasing with period increasing.These properties are advantageous to prevent frost heave and boil diseases from occurring and developing.What's more,the new synthetical anti-frost heave and boil embankment is easily constructed and its cost is also low.Therefore,it has extensive application prospects.


DyFeO3 exhibits a weak ferromagnetism (TNFe ∼ 645 K) that disappears below a spin-reorientation (Morin) transition at TSRFe ∼ 50 K. It is also known that applied magnetic field induces ferroelectricity at the magnetic ordering temperature of Dy ions (TNDy ∼ 4.5 K). Here, we show that the ferroelectricity exists in the weak ferromagnetic state (TSRFe <T <TN,C) without applying a magnetic field, indicating the crucial role of weak ferromagnetism in inducing ferroelectricity. 57Fe Mössbauer studies show that a hyperfine field (Bhf) deviates from the mean-field–like behaviour that is observed in the weak ferromagnetic state and decreases below the onset of the spin-reorientation transition (80 K), implying that the Bhf above TSR had an additional contribution from Dy ions due to the induced magnetization by the weak ferromagnetic moment of the Fe sublattice and below TSR this contribution decreases due to collinear ordering of the Fe sublattice. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of magnetic interactions between Dy(4f) and Fe(3d) and their correlation with ferroelectricity in the weak ferromagnetic state of DyFeO3.


Deep neural networks are widely known to be vulnerable to adversarial examples, especially showing significantly poor performance on adversarial examples generated under the white-box setting. However, all white-box attack methods rely heavily on the target model and quickly get stuck in local optima, resulting in poor adversarial transferability. The momentum-based methods and their variants are proposed to escape the local optima for better transferability. In this work, we notice that the transferability of adversarial examples generated by iterative fast gradient sign method (I-FGSM) exhibits a decreasing trend when increasing the number of iterations. Motivated by this find-ing, we argue that the information of adversarial perturbations near the benign sample, especially the direction, ben-efit more on the transferability. Thus, we propose a novel strategy, which uses the S cheduled step size and the D ual example (SD), to fully utilize the adversarial information near the benign sample. Our proposed strategy can be easily integrated with existing adversarial attack methods for better adversarial transferability. Empirical evaluations on the standard ImageNet dataset demonstrate that our proposed method can significantly enhance the transferability of existing adversarial attacks.


This paper presents the analysis of the STATCOM using multilevel inverter in three phase configuration. The main goal of STATCOM based on multilevel inverter is used to eliminate the injection transformer. While using multilevel inverter the voltage can be boosted to a high level and total harmonic distortion is reduced. This paper presents the important topologies of multilevel inverter like diode-clamped (neutral-point clamped), capacitor clamped and cascaded H-bridge with separate dc sources. It also presents the most relevant sinusoidal pulse width modulation method for this family. Simulation and comparison of the multilevel inverter with SPWM switching is done using MATLAB/SIMULINK.


Based on quantum statistical mechanics we show that the SU(3) color singlet ensemble of a quark-gluon gas exhibits a Z(3) symmetry through the normaized character in fundamental representation and also becomes equivalent, within a stationary point approximation, to the ensemble given by Polyakov Loop. Also Polyakov Loop gauge potential is obtained by considering spatial gluons along with the invariant Haar measure at each space point. The probability of the normalized character in SU(3) vis-a-vis Polyakov Loop is found to be maximum at a particular value exhibiting a strong color correlation. This clearly indicates a transition from a color correlated to uncorrelated phase or vise-versa. When quarks are included to the gauge fields, a metastable state appears in the temperature range 145 T(MeV) 170 due to the explicit Z(3) symmetry breaking in the quark-gluon system. Beyond T 170 MeV the metastable state disappears and stable domains appear. At low temperature a dynamical recombination of ionized Z(3) color charges to a color singlet Z(3) confined phase is evident along with a confining background that originates due to circulation of two virtual spatial gluons but with conjugate Z(3) phases in a closed loop. We also discuss other possible consequences of the center domains in the color deconfined phase at high temperature.


This letter studies if and to which extent COVID-19 epidemics can be controlled by authorities taking decisions on public health measures on the basis of daily reports of swab test results, active cases and total cases. A suitably simplified process model is derived to support the controllability analysis, highlighting the presence of very significant time delay; the model is validated with data from several outbreaks. The analysis shows that suppression strategies can be effective if strong enough and enacted early on. It also shows how mitigation strategies can fail because of the combination of delay, unstable dynamics, and uncertainty in the feedback loop; approximate conditions based on the theory of limitation of linear control are given for feedback control to be feasible.


Fruits and vegetables are the major sources of biologically active compounds, and carotenoids and tocopherols constitute important groups in human diets. Bioavailability is a critical feature in the assessment of the role of micronutrients in human health, and the approaches to this issue include in vitro and in vivo methods. Our aim was to evaluate the bioavailability of carotenoids and tocopherols present in broccoli and to compare in vitro and in vivo approaches. Fourteen apparently healthy volunteers consumed 200 g broccoli once a day for seven days. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and after intervention to determine changes in lutein, β-carotene, and Α- and γ-tocopherol as relevant phytochemicals provided with this vegetable. Broccoli also was subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion to assess changes related to preabsorptive processes. Analytes in serum and at each phase of the digestion were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. During the intervention, the amounts supplied dally ranged from 2.4 to 3.1 mg lutein, 1.4 to 1.8 mg β-carotene, 4.5 to 6.8 mg Α-tocopherol, and 0.8 to 1.8 mg γ-tocopherol. Significant changes in serum in both men and women were observed only for lutein, whereas for γ-tocopherol a significant change was detected in women. No changes were observed for Α-tocopherol, β-carotene, retinol, the Α-tocopherol-to-cholesterol ratio, or serum lipids. Using the in vitro model, more than 75% of lutein, β-carotene, γ-tocopherol, and Α-tocopherol remained at the duodenal phase, whereas Incorporation Into the supernatants accounted for <20% of the initial content in food. Regular consumption of broccoli at dietary levels increased serum concentrations of lutein and γ-tocopherol without affecting Α-tocopherol or β-carotene status in serum. The behavior of these phytochemicals under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions does not fully explain the changes observed in vivo.


As part of its continued studies of psoriasis, this second part of the Continuing Medical Education in Dermatology segment of the Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia introduces biological immunomodulators. Also known as "biologics", these drugs act on the immunopathogenetic steps of psoriasis by changing its features and progression. This paper also reviews some of the immunologic aspects of psoriasis.


AIMS
Approximately 75% of bladder cancer (BC) cases present as non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC). In patients with high-risk NMIBC, the mainstay treatment is intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), with immediate radical cystectomy (RC) as an alternative treatment option. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cost-utility of BCG versus RC in patients with high-risk NMIBC from the UK healthcare payer perspective.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A six-state Markov model was developed that covered controlled disease, recurrence, progression to muscle-invasive BC, metastatic disease, and death. The model included adverse events of BCG and RC and monitoring and palliative care. Drug costs were obtained from the British National Formulary. Intravesical delivery, RC, and monitoring costs were sourced from the National Tariff Payment System and the literature. Utility data were obtained from the literature. Analyses were run over a 30-year time horizon, with future costs and effects discounted at 3.5% per annum. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS
The base case analysis comparing BCG with RC showed that BCG would increase life expectancy by 0.88 years versus RC, from 7.74 to 8.62 years . BCG resulted in an increase of 0.76 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) versus RC, from 5.63 to 6.39 QALYs. Patients incurred lower lifetime costs if treated with BCG (£47,753) than with RC (£64,264). Cost savings were mainly driven by the lower cost of BCG versus RC, and palliative care costs. Sensitivity analyses showed that results were robust to assumptions.

LIMITATIONS
The evidence base informing efficacy estimates of BCG is heterogeneous as different BCG administration schedules were reported in the literature, while incidence and cost data on some BCG-associated adverse events were sparse.

CONCLUSIONS
Intravesical BCG led to increased QALY and reduced costs versus RC for patients with high-risk NMIBC from the UK healthcare payer perspective.


The train station in Catania, Sicily: a point of arrival and departure, of reconnection and separation. As I walk out of the station, I encounter a mythical event, a large fountain depicting the Abduction of Persephone: the God of the Underworld, arrogant and majestic on his chariot, and Persephone, powerless in her attempts to resist his violence. She is torn away forever from her world: every return will become a reminder of impending separation. Summer 1997: As I prepare to return to Italy for the first time after 5 years, I consider taking the train from Rome to Sicily, to ease back into familiar places from which I have become estranged. I anticipate with trepidation the euphoria of the encounter with the geography of the island: black rocks sprouting from the sea; the blueness of water welded with that of the sky. I will ignore the warning: VIETATO SPORGERSI DAL FINESTRINO— "Do not lean out of the window." I need the rough caress of the


This thesis reveals the difference of the methods and ideas of early childhood education between China and U.S.A, and it also analyzes the difference from the cultural angle. On the basis of the analysis, the author introspects on the practice of children's maths education according to the cultural difference, and he thinks that the present educational reform on maths should absorb some active elements from western educational ideas while, at the same time, keeping the cultural characteristics of our own and this is a long and complicated process.


Aim . Evaluate of the efficacy and safety of microsurgical callosotomy in the early postoperative period, taking into account the features of the vascularization of the corpus callosum in the surgical treatment of severe symptomatic epilepsy. Material and methods. In study were enrolled 13 children with drug-resistant epilepsy aged from 2 t 16 years (mean 7.3 ± 2.8 years) who underwent callosotomy. At the time of the surgery frequency of seizures was 20.3 ± 9.8 per day, 11 from 13 (84.6%) had repeated status epilepticus. Six (46.2%) had one-stage total callosotomy and 7 (53.8%) underwent anterior callosotomy. Postoperative follow-up was from 8 to 30 moths (mean - 16.7 ± 3.6 months). Results . After surgery 4 (30.8%) were seizure-free (Engel scale – 1), 5 (38.5%) had rare short auras (Engel scale – 2), in 3 (23.0%) cases the seizure frequency significantly reduced – over 80%. In 1 (7.7) child who had Rasmussen encephalitis secondary generalised seizures were stopped but partial motor fits persist (Engel scale – 4). Conclusion . Callosotomy is effective and safe methods of treatment severe epilepsy. Positive outcome is caused by establishing the correct indications for surgery and application of modern microsurgical equipment, taking into account topographic and anatomic features of the blood supply of the corpus callosum.


In order to compete the effective management of the supply chain is critical. Supply chain management has been defined as "the management of upstream and downstream relationships with suppliers, distributors and customers to achieve greater customer value-added at less total cost." The key factors that need to be focused on are building relationships and creating value. When this is achieved organisations become more agile and responsive, however for many organisations this is an illusive goal.


Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of the therapy of butylphthalide combined fasudil for acute cerebral infarction.Methods: 120 patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into three groups: conventional treatment group,fasudil group and butylphthalide combined fasudil group(n = 40).Respectively,14 days before and after treatment,28 days after treatment,Neural function defect were tested by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) and blood testing for hs-CRP levels were assessed.The dynamic changes before and after treatment in NIHSS total score and hs-CRP levels were observed,as well as the adverse reactions during treatment.Results: NIHSS total score and hs-CRP levels of all the patients have declined,moreover,among the three groups,the fall was most significant in butylphthalide combined fasudil group(P 0.05).Conclusion: Butylphthalide combined fasudil therapy could effectively improve the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction as well as reduce inflammation.It is a safe and effective treatment options for acute cerebral infarction.


In this study, a tunable continuous‐variable (CV) triple‐mode entanglement scheme generated by cascading a spontaneous parametric four‐wave and a sum‐frequency four‐wave mixing process is proposed. The entanglement feature of the triple‐mode is demonstrated by using a sufficient inseparability criterion. It is confirmed that the triple‐mode CV entanglement property, including the degree of violation of the sufficient inseparability criterion and the entanglement range in the frequency domain, can be modulated dynamically by modifying the nonlinear susceptibility and optical parameters. In particular, the intensity of the pumping field affects the modulation of the degree of entanglement, and the splitting of the entanglement spectrum comes from electromagnetically induced transparency. Although changing the relative detuning between the Stokes and anti‐Stokes fields can increase the entanglement degree of the triple‐mode, it results in the expansion of the entanglement range in frequency as well. Furthermore, although nonlinear susceptibility directly improves the degree of triple‐mode CV entanglement, optical detuning related nonlinear dispersion has an indirect effect as well. Such an optical triple‐mode CV entanglement with tunable properties can find applications in all‐optical quantum communication and pave the way for the generation and manipulation of multichannel quantum networks.


The proof of principle for a new technique to determine the laser beam spatial profile on a surface was demonstrated. The technique proposed herein involves the use of a target surface with a back surface mounted array of thermocouples to obtain temperature history data of the back surface. These data provide input to a one-dimensional transient space marching inverse conduction code to solve the inverse problem and determine the absorbed flux and temperature conditions at the front surface. The packaged code allows for temperature dependent thermophysical properties of the material. The results of this technique are compared, in a qualitative sense, with the spatial beam profile derived using staring array infrared cameras viewing a diagnostic scatter plate. These two different measurement methods yielded consistent results. In addition, an absorbed temporal beam profile and total integrated absorbed energy for the surface were calculated.


Background: Teaching the undergraduate physiotherapy students is an important role of physiotherapy educators and it's like investing in future of this profession. Optimal learning environments consider how students learn and utilize various teaching methods to tailor curriculum delivery to match specified student learning preferences. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out the preferred learning styles amongst the outstanding students. Study Design: This was a questionnaire based survey study. Methods: A total of 12 outstanding students with rank one to three from I, II, III& IV year undergraduate Physiotherapy classes completed the VARK Questionnaire after their results. The VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic ) -questionnaire contains 13 multiple-choice- questions with four possibilities to select an answer. Each possibility represents one of the four modes of perception. But, one can select more than one answer for each question, which is necessary for the identification of the poly modal modes of perception and learning. The students' register numbers and names were used in the study and no blinding was practiced. All these participating rank holder students completed and returned back the questionnaire in approximately 10-15 minutes period of time. We analyzed their learning styles by putting the data at http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index Results: Unimodal learning styles were observed in 41.66(5/12) students and multimodal learning style was preferred by 58.34% (7/12) and 33.33(4/12) students showed preference for kinaesthetic learning style indicating a crucial role for kinaesthetic learning along with other multimodal learning preferences like visual, auditory, reading, writing and kinaesthetic learning. Conclusion: The top rank undergraduate physiotherapy students had a higher preference for multimodal learning.


As demand for online network services continues to grow, service providers are looking to meet this need and avail themselves of business opportunities. However, despite strong growth in demand, providers continue to have difficulty achieving profitability, customer churn remains high, and network performance continues to draw complaints. We suggest that strategic business planning for network services would benefit from a systems thinking approach that analyzes thefeedback effects present in the underlying business process. These feedback loops can be complex and have significant impact on business performance. For instance, while the size of a provider's customer base depends on price and network performance, network performance is itself dependent on the size of the customer base. In this paper, we develop a planning model that represents thesefeedback effects using the finite difference equations methodology of systems dynamics. The model is validated by showing its fit with essential characteristics of the underlying problem domain, and by showing its ability to replicate observed reference mode behaviors. Simulations are then carried out under a variety of scenarios to examine issues important to service providers. Among other findings, the simulations suggest that (a) under flat-rate pricing, lowering price to increase customer base can hurt profitabilityas well as network performance; (b) under usage-based pricing, lowering price need not necessarily lead to a larger customer base; and © in addition to price, the customers' threshold of tolerance for performance degradation plays a significant role in balancing market share with profitability. We briefly present a prototype decision support system based on the systems thinking approach, and suggest ways in which it could be used to help business planning for network services.


In network management, the networks are modelled using managed objects, but there is a gap in GDMO (the semi-formal language for managed objects specification) :behaviours are defined using natural language. Since experiments using classical FDTs haven't been sufficiently satisfactory, this paper argues the idea of extending GDMO for formalizing managed objects behaviour and shows feasibility by defining a new template: the notification behaviour template. As a language is not well defined without formal semantics, formal semantics in Z of this template is also presented in this paper.


Based on an analysis of the characteristics of drilling fluid for seafloor natural gas hydrate bearing sediments drilling,and to ensure the safety of drilling in this strata,the work applied the natural gas hydrate simulating mini drilling experimental system and conducted the inhibition experiments of polyalcohol drilling fluid,and low temperature rheological property of polyalcohol drilling fluid test as well.The author put forward that it is necessary to choose proper drilling fluid agents to ensure a good low temperature behavior of drilling fluid and the capability to inhibit the gas hydrate effectively.


A spectrophotometric method for determining microgram quantities of uranium in concentrated hydrochloric acid is given. The method is based on the absorbance of a chloride complex of uranium at 24l6 m mu . Beer's law is obeved in the uranium concentration range of less than 1 to 60 ppm. Interfering ions are removed by one or more extractions of the uranium into ethyl acetate using aluminum nitrate as a salting agent. The extent of interference of 55 ionic species after a single extraction is tabulated. The absorption spectra of uranium(VI) in concentrated hydrochloric, sulfuric, perchloric, and acetic acids are given. (auth)


Aerosol optical depth from different satellite sensors are widely used to estimate surface PM2.5 concentrations. However, these products generally have coarse resolutions, limiting the ability to evaluate PM2.5 concentrations in urban regions where the human activities are relatively high. This study first develops an ensemble machine learning approach to produce PM2.5 concentrations with an extremely high spatial resolution of 250 m, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) measurements of top-of-atmosphere reflectance and related meteorological variables. The Yangtze River Delta region, with one of the highest levels of PM2.5 pollution in China, is the study region chosen. The model shows a very high and stable performance with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.90, a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 12.0 μg/m3, a mean prediction error (MPE) of 7.8 μg/m3, and a mean relative prediction error (RPE) 16.9% for samplebased cross validation. The model can accurately capture the distribution patterns and magnitudes of PM2.5 concentrations over the study region for seasonal mean, daily variations, and different levels of air pollution. The very high resolution of the model has the advantage of capturing the uneven spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations at small spatial scales and identifying small areas with very high PM2.5 concentrations, offering a possible approach for locating the sources of PM2.5 emissions. In general, the model developed here estimates very well PM2.5 concentrations at a very high spatial resolution, providing detailed information, useful for air-pollution-related studies, as well as pollution monitoring and evaluation by governments, especially in urban and urban-center areas.


By Nili Pearlmutter May 6, 2011 Standards are a key component of any teacher development program, but here at DeLeT, where we prepare teachers for Jewish day schools, they are far more than just a set of benchmarks: They provide us with a road map to assess each developing teacher's progress along a number of continua. Standards are useful at any stage in a teacher's career development, but here I demonstrate with a real-world example how we use them in practice with teachers at the pre-service level: DeLeT graduate students who are earning the MAT degree to prepare for careers in Jewish day schools. Our full set of standards and an overview of the DeLeT curriculum are available on our website.


Background  The safety of topical therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD), a common and morbid disease, has recently been the focus of increased scrutiny, adding confusion as how best to manage these patients.


Computer-based virtual simulation is being widely used for the purposes of education and skills training. These include special needs education to sophisticate teaching aids in high schools and universities for the delivery of medical and scientific education. This project investigates the issues in the development of virtual learning environments (VLEs) in the teaching of biology to students in a university Life Sciences department, focussing on a laboratory experiment in an immunology module. To explore the potential of VLE in learning concepts, principles, and laboratory skills from experiential of virtual experimental exercise, this paper discusses the process of the development of VLE as a self-learning package. A set of design strategies is proposed to guide the design of VLE. An important feature of the VLE is to employ virtual tutoring agents to scaffold the learning process in order to ensure the important learning tasks are tackled. The virtual agents monitor the student's actions and provide advice in the learning process once a mistake of sequential procedures occurs. The students can carry out non-sequential procedures in their own way. Formative evaluation studies were iteratively carried out with the target students to improve the design of VLE. The evaluation results show that the participants were satisfied with the VLE.


This paper was prepared as the basis for a class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. It may be appropriate for public affairs, business and public policy, and/or crisis management courses at the undergraduate or graduate level. In conjunction with this case, it may be useful to use the framework for crisis management developed by Dr Ian I. Mitroff, the Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. This best practice model is discussed in 'Managing Crises Before They Happen', which Mitroff published in 2001 with Gus Anagnos, Vice President of Comprehensive Crisis Management.

This case leads the audience through the Ford–Firestone tyre crisis from 1997—when Ford began to learn of a problem with Firestone tyres on its popular Explorer sport-utility vehicle—up until the summer of 2001, just after Ford recalled 13 million Firestone tyres and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration cleared Ford of further investigation into potential defects in the Explorer.

The case addresses potential causes of the tyre problem, how Ford handled the crisis from a corporate public affairs perspective and, tangentially, how Firestone handled the issue. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications


migration. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, England. BLEM, C. R. 1980. The energetics of migration, p. 175-224. In S. A. Gauthreaux [ed.], Animal migration, orientation and navigation. Academic Press, New York. CHAN, K. In press. Winter body mass and overnight energetics of a southern temperate passerine. Auk. CHAN, K., AND P. SurroN. 1993. Migratory behaviour of silvereyes returning to Tasmania from southern Victoria. Corella 17:41-42. DOBUSH, G. R., C. D. ANKNEY, AND D. G. KREMENTZ. 1985. The effect of apparatus, extraction time, and solvent type on lipid extractions of Snow Geese. Can. J. Zool. 63:1917-20. GAUTHREAUX, S. A. JR. 1991. The flight behaviour of migrating birds in changing wind fields: radar and visual analyses. Amer. Zool. 31:187-204. KING, J. R., AND D. S. FARNER. 1965. Studies of fat deposition in migratory birds. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 131:422-440. MEES, G. F. 1974. The migration of the Tasmanian race of the silvereye. Aust. Bird Bander 12:51-4. MOORE, F., AND P. KERLINGER. 1991. Nocturnality, long-distance migration, and ecological barriers. Acta XX Congr. Intern. Ornithol. (1990):11221129. PENNYCUICK, C. J. 1969. The mechanics of bird migration. Ibis 111:525-556. RIDPATH, M. G., AND R. E. MOREAU. 1966. The birds of Tasmania: ecology and evolution. Ibis 108:348393.


Aim To develop a flow of landscape of Yan′an City following ecological principles,with cultural characteristics,meeting functional requirements,with complete construction system,distinct landscape areas and explicit management strategies.Methods The present research is directed by the Scientific Development Outlook and the important thought of constructing a harmonious society,following the principles of landscape continuity,adjusting measures to local conditions,and integrating the principles of pattern optimization,function,landscape,cultural and ecological conditions.It is intended to investigate the design plans of construction system of the road positioning,road signs,road advertising,roadside green landscape,urban square landscape,and road section planning in urban areas of Yan′an City.Results Through locating the roads in areas of the city,road signs system,road,advertising system,road landscape,urban square landscape and pianning the road:then butl ding the space system of the Yan′an Cit y′sroadlandscape.Conclusion With the construction of the beautiful landscape of the roads,the cultural and spiritual essence of Yan′an City can be cultivated to be naturally elegant,highly efficient and orderly,and full of care and love.


1. Durability assessment of composite structures 2. Review of mechanics of composite materials 3. Damage in composite materials 4. Micro damage mechanics 5. Macro damage mechanics 6. Damage progression 7. Damage mechanisms and fatigue-life diagrams 8. Future directions Index.


Modernization of the GPS system that is currently underway will require future GPS antennas to operate at three separate frequency bands centered around 1176 MHz (L5 band), 1227 MHz (L2 band), and 1575 MHz (L1 band). A compact, low‐profile, right‐hand circularly polarized (RHCP), four‐element antenna array of trap‐loaded inverted L elements, capable of providing good gain coverage at all three frequency bands over the required bandwidth, is described in this paper. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 35–37, 2003


This paper presents an integer linear programming (ILP) technique to partition and schedule Synchronous Data Flow (SDF) graphs onto heterogeneous execution architectures. Our ILP formulation gives a partition and schedule for SDF graphs, which provide the optimal execution time. We incorporate new methods of exploiting stateless data-parallelism on a heterogeneous architecture. We quantitatively show that our ILP formulation performs better compared to the current state of the art heuristic techniques available, distributing SDF graphs. In fact, our ILP formulation gives an execution boost ranging from 15% to 70% for heterogeneous architectures. Finally, in this paper we also explore a new optimization technique based on actor granularity, which further improves the overall throughput of the SDF graph.


Purpose: To determine the incidence of recurrent tube insertion in our region and to study the effect of adenoidectomy in concurrent with 1st tube insertion surgery on the outcome in our target population. Methods: Retrospective medical chart review was performedfor all children between the age of 6 mo-12 years, who underwent tympanostomy tube insertion due to otitis media 2014 at a referral hospital; Otolaryngology specialized center at King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Information regarding initial and repeated tympanostomy tube placement from the medical records. Because of incomplete records for at risk children (children at risk for otitis media with effusion due to presence of bronchial asthma, Down's syndrome, cleft palate, craniofacial malformation), all at risk children were excluded from our analysis. To study the effect of age and gender on the need for repeated sets of tube insertion, our population was divided in two groups as follow: Group A (children from 6mo to 4years; n= 131) and Group B (children form 4 years and 12 years; n= 232). To study the effect of adenoidectomy in concurrence with first set of tube insertion; our population was divided further into two groups: group I (tube insertion + adenoidectomy) and group II (tube insertion alone). Results: Three hundred and sixty three children were included in this study. Forty six (12.7%) of the 363 children who underwent initial tympanostomy tube insertion subsequently required another set of tubes insertion as follows: thirty one (8.5%) children required two sets of tube insertion, fourteen (3.9%) required three sets, one child (0.3%) required four sets. Age and gender showed a non significant difference between the two groups, group A and group B(Chi-square =0.73, P = 0.24; Chi-square = 0.28, P= 0.35 respectively). A total of 208 out of 363 patients underwent adenoidectomy in concurrent with the first set of tube insertion. One eighty seven (89.9%) of them required only one set; 21(10.1%) required more than one set. The remaining 155 patients underwent tubes insertion alone, without adenoidectomy. One thirty (83.9%) of them required only one set; 25(16.1%) required more than one set. There were no significant difference between the two groups, group I and group II, in regard to both the need for repeated use and the frequency of tube usage (chi-square = 2.91, 4.71, P = 0.087, 0.195 respectively) Conclusions: In our region, repeated use of tympanostomy tube insertion for otitis media with effusion carry a considerable incidence. Adenoidectomy performed at the fist set of tube insertion does not show a significant effect on the risk of repeated tube insertion. In as well as potential risk factors for otitis media were extracted addition, age (at the first tube insertion) and gender have no clear role on the need for repeated tube usage.


Objective To assess the courses of evidence-based medicine among graduate students. Methods A sample of 118 graduate students who took the course were surveyed twice by using the same self-designed questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the course.Pre-post comparison was conducted to measure the impact. Results The students were able to grasp the most of the contents of the course,and reshaped their opinions on evidence-based medicine,with which,a positive impact on their medical practice was expected. Conclusion The course of evidence-based medicine for graduate students has resulted in a positive consequence.


wherein: R2 is a hydrogen or alkyl having one to five carbon atoms, R3 is alkyl having one to five carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl or phenyl, or R2 and R3 together form a fiveto eight membered ring optionally containing also other het eroatoms and/or fused with another ring, preferably phenyl, naphthyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, pyridyl, py razolyl, R is hydrogen or alkyl having one to four carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, alkoxy having one to four carbon atoms or alkyl having one to four carbons, R6 is hydrogen, alkyl having one to four carbon atoms or phenyl, m=0, 1 or 2, and n=0, 1 or 2.


This paper presents the design, implementation, and field measurements of a prototype marine-current power generation system (MCPGS) for capturing energy from marine current. The studied prototype MCPGS employs the flowing marine-current energy near the Cross-Sea Bridge, Peng-Hu Island, Taiwan. The design of the prototype MCPGS has to meet the practical marine-current flowing conditions and the severe environmental conditions in the ocean of Peng-Hu Island. The designed MCPGS unit consists of a three-blade marine-current turbine, a gearbox, a three-phase permanent-magnet generator, and a power converter that is used for converting generated energy to be stored in the battery. Field measured results for the studied MCPGS under different practical marine-current speeds in Peng-Hu Island are performed and analyzed.


A major issue for deploying wireless sensor networks (WSN) in scenario with obstacles is how to determine the transmission power levels (TPLs) for the sensor nodes that support the desired network connectivity while minimizing overall power consumption. In such scenarios, an effective TPL control needs to consider the phenomena of propagation barriers and multipath interference since they significantly increase the power consumption. In this work, we present a novel technique for TPL control that estimates for each sensor node's transmitter used within a given scenario how many other sensor nodes it will reach when applying a selected TPL. To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach, we simulated the radio propagation of a WSN for two different indoor scenarios of multiple rooms. Our results showed that our technique selected TPLs that resulted in considerable time and energy savings for the WSN, while identifying TPLs that could overcome the existing propagation barriers.


Sununary : Babesia peircei was extracted from nucleated erythrocytes of naturally infected Jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) from South Africo (SA). Babesia peircei glycoprotein·enriched fractions were obto ined by conca navalin A-Sepharose affinity column chromatogrophy and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylam ide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). At least 14 protein bonds (9, 11, 13, 20, 22, 23, 24, 43, 62, 90, 120, 204, and 205 kDa) were observed, wi th the major protein at 25 kDa. Blood samples of 191 adult S. demersus were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assoy (ELISA) utilizing B. peircei glycoprotein-enriched frac tions to detect anti-B. peircei IgG. The somples origino ted from three groups of free-ranging penguins (n = 1 10), 1 group of penguins (n = 66) which were rescued after offshore oil-spill con tominations and rehabilitated ot the South Africon Notional Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), and the final group from SANCCOB-res ident penguins (n = 151. The overall B. peircei seroprevalence was 65 %, and the mean seroposi tivity ranged from 60 to 71 % among the five penguin groups. The ELISA appecred to be specific for B. peircei IgG as tested against Haemoproleus columbae IgG and avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum, ond P. elongalum) IgG. Toxoplasmo gondii antibody (Ab) were detected by the d irect agglutination test using killed T. gondii tachyzoi tes. All birds were selonegative for T. gonda Ab. The lock of T. gondij-positive penguins wos due to the appropria te sonitary conditions and antiToxoplasma prevention procedures utilized by the SANCCOB.


ZnTe films were prepared by close spaced-sublimation (CSS) method. The effects of substrate temperature on ZnTe films were investigated. The results showed cubic structure with strong (111) texture for all the films. Films with higher crystalline quality and larger grain size were obtained at higher substrate temperature. A red-shift of the optical bandgap and reduction of resistivity were observed with increasing substrate temperature.


Ordered intermetallic phase PtBi2 nanoparticles with an average particle size of 4.1 ± 1.7 nm were synthesized at ambient conditions in an aqueous solution by co-reducing H2PtCl6 and Bi(NO3)3 with NaBH4 in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent. The produced PtBi2 nanoparticle catalyst, which has some distinguishable properties from Pt or Pt-based disordered catalysts, displays a strong electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction with a methanol-tolerant property. The methods, such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and cyclic voltammetry, were employed for catalyst structure and activity characterization.


Publishers' details for: Civil Rights in Peril: The Targeting of Arabs and Muslims; Elaine C. Hagopian (ed); Haymarket and Pluto, Chicago and London, 2004, ISBN 0745322646. Includes references.


This paper defines quality as being skewed when the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) between quantity and quality differs from the marginal rate of transformation (MRT). Two classic analyses in the economics literature are reassessed in the light of this definition: (i) the model of monopoly with uniform pricing presented by Spence (1975) and Sheshinski (1976) (ii) the model of nonlinear price discrimination (equivalently vertical differentiation) of Maskin and Riley (1984). Conditions are found for the existence and direction of the skeweness in quality in the former model and in an extended version of the latter model.


Introduction: Pterion is a small area within the temporal fossa which contains the junction of the frontal, greater wing of sphenoid, parietal and temporal sutures. It usually lies 4 cm above the midpoint of the superior border of zygomatic arch and 3.5 cm behind the fronto-zygomatic suture, and marks the anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery and Sylvian point of the brain. Material and Methods: The present study was carried out on 55 dry skull bones. Both the sides of skulls were studied for the types and position of the pterion. The types of the pterion were noted by looking at the articulation pattern. The measurements were taken from the zygomatico-frontal suture to the center point of pterion (ZF-P) and midpoint of superior border of zygomatic arch to centre of pterion (ZA – P). Result: The four different types of pterion were found. The most common type is the sphenoparietal (74.54%), and the least common type is stellate (3.63%). The pterion was commonly located 32.06 mm posterior to the zygomaticofrontal suture and 36.87 mm superior to the zygomatic arch. Conclusion: The knowledge of various types of pterion and its location is very important for clinicians and also helpful to the anatomists, anthropologist and forensic medicine.


A system for acoustic analysis of continuous speech is being developed as part of Lincoln Laboratory's effort in speech understanding. The acoustic system presently consists of two stages: the first produces a preliminary segmentation of the speech, as well as a gross classification of these segments into several acoustic categories; the second produces a finer classification intended to meet the needs of subsequent linguistic analysis. The current design and performance of the acoustic analysis system is outlined. This description is intended primarily as an interim report, since the system is being actively extended and refined. The first‐stage segmentation and segment classification yields the following categories: vowel‐like sound; volume dip within vowel‐like sound; fricative‐like sound; silence or voice bar; and burst. These categories are produced by a decision tree based upon energy measurements in selected frequency bands, derivatives, and ratios of these measurements, a voicing detector, and a f...


Metal chelates of Fe(III),Mn(III) and V(III) with schiff bases have been synthesized by the condensation of 5-nitrobenzaldehyde with hydrazinecarboxamide/thiosemicarbazidehydrochloride and characterized by using physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The ligands NBALHC and NBALTSC were found to behave in neutral bidentate (N,O/S)manner. The complexes formed by these ligands have been found to have octahedral / square-pyramidal stereochemistry. The ligands and their respective complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity.


Background Thymosin β4, its sulfoxide, and thymosin β10 were detected in whole saliva of human pre-term newborns by reversed-phase high performance chromatography coupled to electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry. Methodology/Principal Findings Despite high inter-individual variability, concentration of β-thymosins increases with an inversely proportional trend to postmenstrual age (PMA: gestational age plus chronological age after birth) reaching a value more than twenty times higher than in adult whole saliva at 190 days (27 weeks) of PMA (thymosin β4 concentration: more than 2.0 µmol/L versus 0.1 µmol/L). On the other hand, the ratio between thymosin β4 and thymosin β10 exhibits a constant value of about 4 along all the range of PMA (190–550 days of PMA) examined. In order to investigate thymosin β4 origin and to better establish the trend of its production as a function of gestational age (GA), immunohistochemical analysis of major and minor salivary glands of different pre-term fetuses were carried out, starting from 84 days (12 weeks) of gestational age. Reactive granules were seen in all glands with a maximum of expression around 140–150 days of GA, even though with high inter- and intra-individual variability. In infants and adults reactive granules in acinar cells were not observed, but just a diffuse cytoplasmatic staining in ductal cells. Significance This study outlines for the first time that salivary glands during foetal life express and secrete peptides such as β-thymosins probably involved in the development of the oral cavity and its annexes. The secretion increases from about 12 weeks till to about 21 weeks of GA, subsequently it decreases, almost disappearing in the period of expected date of delivery, when the gland switches towards the secretion of adult specific salivary peptides. The switch observed may be an example of further secretion switches involving other exocrine and endocrine glands during foetal development.


We have observed mean arterial pressure (MAP) variability during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and brain temperature (Tb) in the rat during both light and dark periods over 24 h. MAP was measured using a telemetric device with a computer data capture and analysis system. As markers of MAP variability, the maximum and coefficient of variation (CV%) of MAP during REM sleep were determined. The following results were obtained: (a) there was a light-dark difference in MAP during non-REM (NREM) sleep and Tb during both NREM and REM sleep; (b) the increase of MAP in going from NREM to REM sleep in the light period was greater than that in the dark period, whereas the increase of Tb in the light period was not different from that in the dark period; (c) the maximum and CV% for MAP during REM sleep in the light period were greater than those in the dark period; (d) there was a negative correlation between the average Tb and MAP CV% during REM sleep. We suggest that phasic fluctuation of MAP during REM sleep may ...


Array indirection causes several challenges for compilers to utilize single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) instructions. Disjoint memory references, arbitrarily misaligned memory references, and dependence cycles in loops are main challenges to handle for SIMD compilers. Due to those challenges, existing SIMD compilers have excluded loops with array indirection from their candidate loops for SIMD vectorization. However, addressing those challenges is inevitable, since many important compute-intensive applications extensively use array indirection to reduce memory and computation requirements. In this work, we propose a method to generate efficient SIMD code for loops containing indirected memory references. We extract both inter- and intra-iteration parallelism, taking data reorganization overhead into consideration. We also optimally place data reorganization code in order to amortize the reorganization overhead through the performance gain of SIMD vectorization. Experiments on four array indirection kernels, which are extracted from real-world scientific applications, show that our proposed method effectively generates SIMD code for irregular kernels with array indirection. Compared to the existing SIMD vectorization methods, our proposed method significantly improves the performance of irregular kernels by 91%, on average.


om D. R. Hill, J. McMichael and E. P. Sharpey-Schafer: "Effects of Serum and Saline Infusions-Quantitative Studies In l\lan", The Lancet, Volume II, 1940, page 774. 'U) C. H. Best and D. Y. Solandt: "Use of Plasma or Serum as a Substitute for Whole Blood", The British Medical Journal, Volume II, 1940, page 116. (11;) E. Friedberger and S. Seidenberg: "Versuche mit Serum an isoUerten Gefiisspl'iiparaten", Zeitschl'ift fill' tmmuwuatstorschung, Volume LI, 1926, page 276. (t8) T. C. Janeway, H. B. Richardson and A. Park: "Experiments on the Vasoconstrictor Action of Blood Serum", Al'chives of Intel'nal .'Ifedicille, Volume XXI, 1918, page 565. (17) W. R. Amberson: "Blood Substitutes", Biological Reviews of the Cambl'idge Philosophical Society, Volume XII, 1937, page 48. (18) O. B. ;\Tayer: "tiber eillige Eigenschaften del' Getiiesmu«: kulatur mit besonderel' Berilcksichtigung del' Adl'enalinwil'kung", Zeitschrift fill' Biologie, Volu"",,c XLVIII, 1906, page 352. (t.) J. M. O'Connor: "O ber dell Adrenalingehalt des Blutes", Archiv [iir expel'imelltelle Patholoqie und Phm'makologie, Volume LXVII, 1912, page 195. '00' K. Zipf : "Die chemische N atul' del' 'depl'essol'ischen 3ubstanz' des Blutes", Archiv fiirexpel'imelltelle Pathologie und Phar-makolonie, Volume CLX, 1931, page 579. (21) C. H. Fiske: "The Nature of the Depressor Substance of the Blood", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume XX, 1934, page 25. (22) T. G. Brodie: "The Immediate Action of an Intravenous Injection of Blood Serum", The Joul'nal of Physiology, Volume XXVI. 1900, page 48. (23) G. Reid and M. Bick: "Pharmacologically Active Substances in Serum", The Austl'alian JOU?'1wl of Experimental Biology and Jledical Sciellce. in the press. ,,4) F. G. Morgan: "Collecting Blood from Donors and Preparation of Curative Serum for Use in Poliomyelt its", "Transactions of the Austra lastan Medical Congress (British Medical Association)", Second Session, Dunedin, 1927, Supplement to THE MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, October 8, 1927, page 263. (llO) E. W. Flosdorf and S. Mudd: "Procedure and Apparatus for Preservation in Lyophile Form of Serum and Other Biological Substances", The Journal of Immunology, Volume XXIX, 1934, page 389. (28) W. B. Hardy and S. Gardiner: "Proteins of Blood Plasma", The Journal Of Physiology. Volume XL, 1910, page 681'. ,tT) A. W. Drury, C. Lutwak-Mann and O. M. Solandt: "The Inactivation of Adenosine by Blood with Special Reference to Cat's Blood", The QUal·tel·ly Journal of Experimental Physiology, Volume XXVII, 1938, page 215. (28) C. H. Kellaway and D. H. Le Messurier: "The Vasodepressant Action of the Venom of the Australian Copperhead (Denlsonia Superba)", The Anstralian Journal of Experimental Biology and .}Iedical Science. Volume XIV, 1936, page 57. ,.. ) J. A. Gunn: "An Apparatus for Perfusing the Mammalian Heart", The Jon,.,wl of Physiology, Volume XLVI, 1913, page 506. (30) Le Sourd and P. A. Pagniez: "De l'action vaso-constrictive deB extraits de plaquettes sur les arteres iso!ees", Oomtes renduB de la Societe de biologie, Volume LXXVI, 1914, page 587. '8" G. N. Stewart and T. F. Zucker: "A Comparison of the Action of Plasma and Serum on Certain Objects Used in Biological Tests for Epinephrin", The Jourllal of Experimental Meeticine, Volume XVII, 1913, page 152. '8" H. A. Brown and P. L. Mollison: "A Note on the Transfusion of Reconstituted Dried Human Serum", The British Medical Journal, Volume II, 1940, page 821. (Ia) M. Bick and E. B. Drevermann: "The Use of Pooled Human Serum for the Treatment of Hremorrhage and Shock", THE MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, Volume I, 1941, page 750.


About 80 million acres on the mainland of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, and over 40 million acres on the Arctic islands, are under oil and gas exploration permit. Exploration permits were issued in the Arctic islands for the first time in June 1960, following promulgation in April of new Canada Oil and Gas Regulations for federal government lands. The issue of these permits extended the northern oil and gas search from the Alberta and British Columbia borders, in lat. 60° N., northward to the Arctic islands; in terms of land area this is one of the most widespread oil and gas searches in the world. The Arctic islands exploration also holds particular interest since it is the farthest north oil and gas exploration ever carried out.


We prove the embedding of ISOq(3) → ISU√qex(2) and ISOq(2,1) → ISLqex(2,R) as *‐algebras and give a Hilbert space representation of ISU√qex(2).


We prove bounds for the almost sure value of the Hausdorff dimension of the limsup set of a sequence of balls in Rd whose centres are independent, identically distributed random variables. The formulas obtained involve the rate of decrease of the radii of the balls and multifractal properties of the measure according to which the balls are distributed, and generalise formulas that are known to hold for particular classes of measures.


This paper suggests a method of estimation of the implied volatility smile uncertainty of the observed options prices due to future risk-free rate uncertainty. The purpose is to quantify the range of uncertainty under different scenarios. We consider the setting where both the implied volatility and the risk free rate are calculated jointly from the observed option prices. Due to the cumulative risk-free rate uncertainty, the corresponding system of equations is underdetermined, leading to uncertainty in the volatility surface. We estimate the size of implied volatility layers between the surfaces representing the upper and lower bounds for the implied volatilities for the future risk-free rate uncertainty, defined by current Libor rate and the size of fluctuation estimated from the historical data.


ABSTRACT Entrepreneurship in China is a recent phenomenon, whereby self-employment was formally legalized in the 1980s. Despite the growing significance of Chinese entrepreneurship, literature is without consistent contextual analysis. Our study is the first to systematically review Chinese entrepreneurship by using a mixed-methods analysis through combining quantitative Leximancer data-mining software with a traditional qualitative content analysis. We analysed 2,572 relevant publications and provide 11 key themes within Chinese entrepreneurship coinciding with the introduction of China's Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation policy campaign. Next, we extracted 126 publications specific to women and analysed the thematic results using post-structural feminist theorizing, we challenge the hegemonic normalization of gender order created within Chinese entrepreneurship literature and the othering of women entrepreneurs. Our results indicated several limitations and new opportunities to refine the focus of future studies utilizing feminist theory with implications for public policy and entrepreneurship. We believe by understanding a longitudinal view of Chinese entrepreneurship through a post-structural feminist lens, scholars can adopt research strategies to reduce potential marginalization in Chinese entrepreneurship theory and practice.


Device-free human sensing is a key technology to support many applications like indoor navigation and activity recognition. By exploiting WiFi signals reflected by humans, there have been many WiFi-based device-free human sensing applications. Among these applications, person identification is a fundamental technology to enable user-specific services. In this paper, we present Rapid, a system that can perform robust person identification in a device-free and low-cost manner, using fine-grained channel information (i.e., CSI) of WiFi and acoustic information from footstep sound. In order to achieve high accuracy in real-life scenarios with both system and environment noise, we perform noise estimation and include two different confidence values to quantify the impact of noise to both CSI and acoustic measurements. Based on an accurate gait analysis, we then adaptively fuse CSI and acoustic measurements to achieve robust person identification. We implement low-cost Rapid nodes and evaluate our system using experiments at multiple locations with a total of 1800 gait instances from 20 volunteers, and the results show that Rapid identifies a subject with an average accuracy of 92% to 82% from a group of 2 to 6 subjects, respectively.


A practical strategy is proposed to improve the photoelectrical response performance of carbon dots by taking advantage of the heteroatom co-doping approach, which effectively enhances the light absorption ability and rightly adjusts the energy level of carbon dots. This work demonstrates that the nitrogen and sulfur atom co-doped carbon dots can be used as a good photosensitizer in future high-performance light-harvesting devices.


Computed tomography is the X-ray technique to diagnose diseases and injuries. Tomos = slice; graphine = imaging of an object by analyzing its slices. If one has large breast cancer, then the patient may be ordered to get a CT scan to know the level of spreading of cancer in the chest cavity. This aids in jumping to the conclusion if cancer can be removed with mastectomy. CT scans are also used to examine various other parts of patient's body where breast cancer can unfurl, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, or spine. If the patient's symptoms or other findings uncovers that cancer has severely spread, then one needs to get their CT scans done of the chest and abdomen too.


Disclosed is an image updating method for simply obtaining images during a remote login process. The method comprises: a rendering server obtaining a graphic command from a virtual machine; the rendering server determining the type of the graphic command from the virtual machine; if the graphic command from the virtual machine is a 3D graphic command, the rendering server transmitting a drawing command carrying the 3D graphic command to a graphics processor for rendering; obtaining a rendered image corresponding to the graphic command from the virtual machine; transmitting to a main surface management unit of the rendering server a graphic update command carrying the rendered image and a first graphic update region; the main surface management unit obtaining the original main surface of the virtual machine; synthesizing a new main surface according to the original main surface of the virtual machine, the first graphic update region and the rendered image; and transmitting an image corresponding to the new main surface to a client of the virtual machine. Further disclosed are a system and device for implementing the method.


In the course of the 20th century, the longstanding presence of Jews in North Africa and the Middle East came virtually to an end. In an extraordinary exodus, sometimes under very stressful circumstances, more than one million Jews left countries in which they had resided for hundreds (if not thousands) of years and emigrated to countries whose Jewish community was often of much more recent origin, and whose members came from very different ethnic backgrounds. This essay assesses the changing profile of ''Sephardic and Oriental'' Jews since the Second World War, outlining the overall volume and major directions of Jewish international migrations, and examining patterns of demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural change in the context of absorption and integration processes both in Israel and in several western countries. Of particular interest are changes in the composition of immigrants to Israel from Asia and Africa, and their integration into and role in the shaping of Israeli society, as compared with parallel processes among Jewish migrants from those regions in France, the United States, and Latin America.


The flotation behavior of Gemini 12-4-12 for diaspore and kaolinite is reported in this paper,and the separation of diaspore and kaolinite by reverse flotation is studied preliminarily in neutral medium(pH7~8).The pure mineral flotation results show that Gemini 12-4-12 has the strong flotation behavior effecting on diaspore and Al-silicate mineral kaolinite in a wide pH range,significantly at pH7~8 and the concentration of 3.0×10-4mol·l-1,the recovery of flotation on diaspore and kaolinite was up to over 95%;all diaspore can be depressed while soluble starch is increased to 200mg/l,and recovery difference between two minerals amounts to more than 70 %;By reverse flotation test,perfect separation results can be obtained for the different A/S of the artificial mixture of diaspore and kaolinite.


Historic gardens are often seen in the context of botanical heritage, which emphasizes their aesthetic and botanical value. Yet, their architectural importance as an integral part of the architectural heritage of the bastion castle ensemble is ignored. Finding the relationship between the castle and the garden is presently complicated by considerable changes in the townscape since the 17th century and the lack of details on these gardens' depictions on maps. The paper demonstrates how historical maps, especially military ones combined with modern on-site analyses can reveal the main architectural types of the gardens in the bastion castle ensemble and show their most important architectural features that should be preserved. The results demonstrate three scenarios in the relationship between the garden and the palace component of bastion castle, their main features, and the challenges facing them. This elucidation of the main features can help to conserve and to valorize plans for the gardens in these ensembles.


Proper selection of food ingredients and quantities is a significant step to serve foods with good taste. When the selection of food ingredients is done inappropriately, the food maker can suffer losses because the ingredients chosen exceed the target for their use. Proper data collection in managing food ingredients is also needed by food makers in large quantities to produce delicious food as well. Universitas Advent Indonesia is a boarding campus which organizes and serves food for students on campus. Food serving for students is managed by the Cafeteria Department. One of the challenges that faced by this department is the collection of food ingredients on each food menu. Because of cooking in large portions, errors in the use of food ingredients are often found. In one meal, the cafeteria manager must prepare food for 1000-1500 servings. Then in one day the cafeteria must prepare food for 3000-4500 servings. Therefore, conducting this research aims at designing an information system that can record incoming materials, available materials and exit materials. This study also aims to make it easier for workers in the selection and data collection at the cafeteria of Universitas Advent Indonesia. The method that used in this study is SDLC (System Development Life Cycle), they are: (1) Analysis of Program requirements (Requirements). (2) Design (System Design). (3) Writing the Program Code (coding). (4) Program Testing (Testing). (5) Program Leading (implementation). Based on the design that has been described, it can be concluded that the system built can improve the performance of Universitas Advent Indonesia employees; the information system that is designed includes the selection of food ingredients as well as monitoring incoming, outgoing and available ingredients. The system built can also store data as desired. The design of this system is web-based, the use of this system will be even better if the design of this system is implemented mobile in the future.


Annual guide published as a newspaper supplement by the Dallas Voice newspaper from Dallas, Texas that includes health and fitness information of interest to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community along with advertising.


Underplatform dampers (UPDs) are widely used as a source of friction damping and are frequently incorporated into compressors and turbines for both aircraft and power-plant applications to mitigate the effects of resonant vibrations on fatigue failure. Due to the nonlinear nature of dry friction, in general dynamic analysis of structures constrained through frictional contacts is difficult, direct time integration with commercial finite element codes may not be a suitable choice given the large computation times. For this reason, ad hoc numerical codes have been developed in the frequency domain. Some authors prefer a separate routine in order to compute contact forces as a function of input displacements, others include the damper in the FE model of the bladed array. All numerical models, however, require knowledge or information of contact -friction parameters, which are established either through direct frictional measurements, done with the help of single contact test arrangements, or by fine tuning the parameters in the numerical model and comparing the experimental response of damped blade against its computed response. The standard approach is to fine-tune and experimentally validate the UPDs models by comparing measured and calculated vibration response of blade pairs. To our knowledge, nobody has ever attempted to directly measure the forces transmitted between the platforms through the damper and the relative damper-platform movement. In the light of recent results from direct measurements on dampers it is evident that a dedicated routine for the damper mechanics is an effective tool to capture those finer details which are essential to an appropriate description of damper behaviour. This was made possible by the successful effort of the present authors to accurately measure the forces transmitted between the platforms through the damper, to connect them with the relative platforms movement and to use the findings for the validation of the numerical model. The cross-comparison between numerical and experimental results allows to gain a clear understanding of all contact events (stick, slip, lift) which take place during the cycle, and on how they influence the damping performance


A zinc oxide quantum dot (ZnO QD) texturing layer was printed on a SiO2 surface to resolve the issue of ink drop aggregation during inkjet printing tungsten oxide precursor (WO3Pr) ink, made from ultrasonicating ammonium metatungstate [(NH3)6H2W12O40]in a mixture of Dimethylformamide and water, for high-performance ultraviolet (UV) WO3 photoconductors. It was found that the ZnO QD textured surface offers a pinning effect of the WO3Pr ink and hence prevents the ink from aggregating and coagulating into large droplets, which prohibits formation of uniform WO3Pr films on hydrophobic SiO2/Si or glass substrates. With the ZnO QD texturing layer, a uniform WO3 film can be obtained when printing WO3Pr at room-temperature (22 °C), which reduced cracks and eliminated the coffee ring effect that arises when printing at elevated temperature such as 50 °C. High crystallinity was confirmed on the printed WO3 films, which leads to UV photoresponsivity up to 16.6 mA/W, which is comparable with the best reported on printed WO3 UV detectors without a ZnO QD texturing layer. This result shows surface texturing using a pre-printed QD layer provides a facile and compatible approach in controlling inkjet printing for high-quality oxide films directly from precursor solutions.


The structure of Bi4−x La x Ti3O12 (BLaTx) as a function of La content from x = 0.00 to 1.25 was studied by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed that the Raman modes evolve discontinuously at about x = 1.00, which indicates a structural phase transition. Specifically, the B 2g and B 3g Raman modes shown evidences to coalesce into E g modes with increasing La content. The evolution of Raman modes corresponds to the weakening of ferroelectric orthorhombic lattice distortion with increasing La substitution when x ≤ 1.00 and the final transition into the paraelectric tetragonal structure at higher La content. XRD and electrical measurement results confirm this phase transition by the observation that diffraction peaks from (200) and (020) planes of BLaT0.75 coalesce into one peak in BLaT1.25 and by the corresponding disappearance of remanent polarisation. The impact of La substitution on electrical properties of BLaTx is discussed briefly.


We reported the case of central nervous system relapse of acute myeloid leukemia FLT3-ITD and NPM1 positive, diagnosed and monitored over time by flow cytometry and quantitative analysis of molecular markers....


The structure of a previously unknown form of dichlorido(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)copper(II) was obtained via a DMSO-mediated dehydration of Cu(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)copper(II)·0.25H2O. The crystal structure reveals chloride-bridged copper(II) chains connected via intermolecular C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds.


Pervasive (ubiquitous) computing is a new paradigm where the computers are sub- merged into the background of the everyday life. One important aspect of pervasive systems is context-awareness. Context-aware systems are those that can adapt their behaviours according to the current context. Context-aware applications are being integrated into our everyday activity aspects such as: health care, smart homes and transportations. There exist a wide range of context-aware applications such as: mobile phones, learning systems, smart vehicles. Some context-aware systems are critical since the consequence of failing to iden- tify a given context may be catastrophic. For example, an auto-pilot system is a critical context-aware system; it senses the humidity, clouds, wind speed and accordingly adjusts the altitude, throttle and other parameters. Being a critical context-aware system has to be provably correct. Policy-based approaches has been used in many applications but not in context- aware systems. In this research, we want to discover the anatomy (i.e. architecture, structure and operational behaviour) of policy-based management as applied to context-aware systems, and how policies are managed within such a dynamic sys- tem.


An individualist Anarchist, Tucker (1854Ð1939) was a person of intellect rather than of action, focusing on the development of his ideas and on the publication of books and journals, especially the journal Liberty: Not the Daughter but the Mother of Order...


Abstract The Central American Integration System (SICA) has defined, during the recent years, a positive integration agenda through the generation of public goods and the implementation of regional...


Introduction Chapter 1: Fulbright, Stennis, and Their Hearings Chapter 2: Fulbright and the SFRC Challenge Johnson Chapter 3: The SFRC Interrogates Taylor and Rusk Chapter 4: Stennis and the SPIS Challenge Johnson Chapter 5: The SPIS Interrogates McNamara Chapter 6: Fulbright, Stennis, and the End of the War Bibliographic Essay


Unlike the brief, specific-solution oriented therapies that many people demand today, the goal of depth therapy is life change. James Bugental has been practising, teaching and writing about depth therapy for 40 years, and in this book, he shares his experiences as a psychotherapist.


Estimating the Curve Numbers used in the Soil Conservation Service hydrologic models is a tedious and costly task. Recent advances in remote sensing and data processing have led to the development of readily available land cover data bases for many areas of the United States. This study evaluated the potential of using a Landsat data base to make the Curve Number estimation process more cost-effective and less tedious. Ten watersheds in the Washington, D.C., area were evaluated using a Landsat land cover data base developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Results showed that these data can be useful. Predictions can be improved if ancillary data on residential lot size are included. It was concluded that this type of data base must be examined carefully before implementation.