The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has 36 spectral bands covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 14.4_m. It is a cross-track scanning radiometer that uses a two-sided paddle-wheel scan mirror to make observations over a wide field-of-view (FOV). Each scan of 1.478 seconds, it produces a swath of 10km along-track (at nadir) by 2330km along-scan. Bands 1-19 and 26 are the reflective solar bands (RSB) and bands 20-25 and 27-36 are the thermal emissive bands (TEB). There are a total of 160 detectors (10 detectors per band) for the thermal emissive bands that are calibrated on-orbit by a blackbody (BB) on a scan-by-scan basis. The spectral radiance of each individual TEB detector is calculated every scan from the BB source temperature. The temperature of the BB is measured by a set of 12 thermistors. On-orbit performance of the BB, such as its temperature stability and uncertainty, directly impacts the TEB calibration and data product quality. Excluding a few spacecraft and instrument related anomalies or safe hold events, the Terra MODIS (launched in December 1999) BB has operated continuously on-orbit for more than five years. Using its on-orbit calibration data, this paper examines the Terra MODIS BB performance and its impact on the TEB calibration uncertainty. The results show that the Terra MODIS BB has been performing extremely well in terms of its reliability and stability. Under the same operating configuration, the average BB temperature drift per year (long-term stability) is less than 0.005K. The scan-to-scan temperature variation (short-term stability) is within ±0.03K. Also illustrated in this paper are examples of the TEB detectors' responses to the on-board BB and the detectors' noise characterization results at different BB temperatures.


Generally speaking, the characteristics of induction motors (IM) are analyzed by means of the equivalent circuit with d–q transformation. Although this method is simple, the magnetic flux distributions in the stator and rotor are defined as sinusoidal waves. Therefore, the equivalent circuits become relatively complex for the high‐frequency components and transient states. For detailed analysis, the finite element method (FEM) is used. The FEM can take account of the influence of skewed rotor bars and slots, and of the skin coefficient. However, the calculation time is very long for high‐frequency components and transient analysis. We therefore propose a new method of characteristic analysis for IM. The proposed method analyzes the magnetic flux simply based on the construction of the IM. It can analyze transient and steady states and high‐frequency components regardless of the type of source. The influence of skewed rotor bars and slots can also be treated simply. This paper describes the method of analysis, presents the results of the proposed method and compares them with experimental results, and describes the d–q transition. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(4): 64–75, 2001


Drought is a natural disaster which occurs as a result of a lack of ambient humidity due to reduced rainfall compared to normal conditions. Successful planning and management of water in agriculture and proper use of water resources is subject to recognition of this disaster. As drought is inevitable, we can minimize its damages through monitoring and forecasting. It is therefore important to predict drought in the planning and management of water resources. In studying the status of drought in Saravan city, rain annual data of synoptic station in the period (1976-2015) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in a twelve-month time scale have been used. Then the Markov chain model was used to calculate the probabilities of the balance of the periods of wet, dry, and normal in SPI. The results showed that the probability of balance in wet, dry, and normal periods in Saravan station is 80.2, 24.20, and 96.76 respectively. This means that the area is most of the time in normal conditions and the probability of draught is about 7 times bigger than rain.


In the fast globalizing world in which the boundaries are becoming redundant, it is expected to be cultural bonhomie and co-operation. But in the case of migrants and their descendents such talks still remain in the realm of ideals. Different problems are encountered whenever people belonging to different cultural backgrounds meet at a point. Now, when the migration is voluntary and the rapid means of transportation are accessible and affordable, the homesickness is not as acute as it is in the case of indentured laborers. But still the issue of equation with the people of the host country remains problematic. There are several expectations and reservations at both sides, due to which biases develop. Body colour, creed, lifestyle, profession etc. are unexpectedly different, for which lack of knowledge is to blame. As for reservation, an amount of conservation is integral to all societies. One does not want to change oneself, but expects the other to change all the same. The immigrants have to suffer in this process. To some extent they accept this discriminatory discourse about themselves and try to compromise.


The medical profession is a respected vocation. A high degree of professionalism is a prerequisite to good medical practice. In Islam, ethics is part of its Law (Shari'ah). A Muslim health care worker is guided by Islamic medical ethics in his/her daily clinical practice. In resolving ethico-legal issues, the framework of maqasid and qawaid al-syariah, is applied. One of the IIMP learning objectives is to nurture professionalism and ensuring competence in resolving issues related to medical ethics from the Islamic perspective. In our context of professionalism, we work on four main values summarized as 2E's (Expertise and Ethic) and 2C's (Communication and Compassion), that every aspiring doctor should develop over the period of training. However, the effectiveness of this curriculum has not been extensively evaluated. A preliminary study was carried out on final year medical students of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) to evaluate their knowledge on Islamic input in medical program (IIMP) and their confidence to practice medicine according to the ideals of professionalism stipulated by the curriculum. The questionnaire survey was distributed to 96 final year medical students of IIUM and the results were analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Result showed that 92.7 % (89) respondents were satisfied with IIMP. Only 7.3%( 7) respondents were not satisfied. The majority of respondents (94.8%) also believed that the learning outcomes of IIMP have been achieved and that they would be able to apply Islamic principles in health and medical practice as doctors.


The primary renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs) of rats were cultured by mechanical grinding,filtering and chemical digestive methods.Subcultured cells were used to perform the design when they were in the highest increasing activity.Effects of different doses of lead and cadmium on the survival rates and apoptotic rates at different time points were detected by using the CCK-8 reduction method in the Microplate Reader and the double staining method in the flow cytometer.The cell survival rates in the single lead and in the cadmium groups were significantly lower than those in control groups since these cells were treated for six hours in the high-dose groups and for 12 hours in the low-dose groups,respectively(P0.05).The cell survival rates in the combined groups were significantly lower than those in the control groups after exposure for 3 h(P0.05 or P0.01),and the relationship between the degree of decrease in the cell survival rate and dose was in positive correlation.The apoptotic rates in all the treatment groups were very significantly lower than that in control group after exposure for 12 h(P0.01).The apoptotic rates in the combined groups were significantly higher than those in the related single-exposed groups(P0.05),which was dose-dependent in the process.


In this paper, the sliding mode control problem is addressed for the networked Markovian jump system. In order to avoid data collision and congestion in transmission via the shared network, the scheduling of sensor signals towards the controller and controller signals towards the actuators is regulated by a novel round-robin protocol, the so-called multi-node round-robin protocol. This means that at each transmission instant, some consecutive actuator/sensor nodes (but not all) can access the transmission network, and the control/measurement information corresponding to other actuators/sensors is not updated. In order to deal with the incomplete transmission problem accounting for the considered protocol, a corresponding signal hold strategy is proposed to compensate for the unavailable signals. And then, a mode-token-dependent sliding mode controller is designed to ensure the reachability of the sliding surface, and sufficient conditions are presented to guarantee the stochastically ultimate bound of the resultant closed-loop system. Finally, a numerical example is adopted to illustrate the proposed method.


}Because of the American tradition of self-government and mistrust of administration, city-management professionals face difficulty in securing citizen acceptance of their roles. This is a particularly acute problem in the city manager form of local government because the manager is highly visible as the non-elected executive head of the agency. This paper argues that community resistance to the role of the local government general management professional is caused largely by a fear of loss of personal access or influence over governance, in essence, a conflict between the value of identification with community and the value of rational administration. The future of city management and local government professionalism generally may depend on an ability to adapt the premises of rational, scientifically based administration to the realities of the citizen's need for a sense of identification with a political and social community.


Based on investigation of species and quantity of phytoplankton and some important physicochemical indicators in Dongting Lake before and after impoundment of the Three Gorges Project(TGP),we discussed the effects of the TGP running on phytoplankton community and water quality in the Lake.The results showed that a series of changes of physicochemical indicators in water column were found in the lake after running the TGP,such as decreasing silt content,increasing transparency,reducing water environmental capacity and slower water flow velocity.In recent years,increasing nutrient pollution load(especially nitrogen and phosphorus) resulted in that species and quantity of phytoplankton in Dongting Lake had elevated,which led to some parts of Dongting Lake was in mild eutrophic state.


The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using wavelet transform method for solar radiation data compression. The Daubechies wavelets were utilized for analyzing the transient nature of solar radiation. The measured solar radiation was subjected to the wavelets techniques for smoothing and filtering of data that was decomposed up to level 5. The findings from this study show that the Daubechies wavelets method can be used for filtering and smoothing of solar radiation. The results presented indicate that Daubechies 10 (D10) wavelet approach is suitable for data filtering and smoothing of the solar radiation data.


 The second most common type of discharge was 'medical discharge', with almost one-fifth (18.6%) of Transitioned ADF reporting this type of discharge. The most commonly reported reasons for transition were 'impact of service life on family' (11.0%), 'better employment prospects in civilian life' (6.2%), 'posting issues' (6.1%), 'mental health problems' (6.1%), and 'physical health problems' (5.9%).


also relates to Sunni–Shiite controversies. In his contribution, Capezzone disputes the thesis that the Sunnite madrasa took the place of the Shiite dār al-ʿilm when the Saljuqids replaced the Buyids as de facto rulers in the Abbasid Empire. Another subject under consideration is the relationship between Twelver Shiism, Ismailism and the Nus ̇ ayrī-ʿAlawiyya. Bar-Asher sheds light on the rapport between the Nus ̇ ayrī-ʿAlawiyya and Twelver Shiism from the ninth century until H ̇ āfiz ̇ al-Asad's coup d'état in Syria in 1970; Daftary shows how al-Qād ̇ ī al-Nuʿmān created Ismaili law and points to its links with Zaydite and Twelver Shiite rulings; De Smet looks at Adam as first prophet and legislator in early Ismaili thinking. Taking another subject from the vast pool of issues regarding Shiite Islam, Brunner illustrates the importance of dreams in nineteenth-century Shiite thought as a bond between individuals of the past (not least the imams) and the present (mainly Shiite jurists). In relation to the jihād theories of early Qajar jurists, Gleave focuses on the work of the Akhbārī Mīrzā Muh ̇ ammad and his short Persian essay Kitāb al-jihād. Crone goes back to the Islamic source per se and analyses how exegetes of diverse times and creeds tried to understand and interpret Quran 2.256 (lā ikrāha fī al-dīn). Venturing into the modern world, she explores how Sunni modernists and Islamists cope with the verse and those parts of the tradition that contradict the reading of the verse as a grant of religious freedom, and how a modern historian might read it. Three articles deal explicitly with Shiite–Sunnite controversies: Hakim takes a closer look at how Abū Bakr and ʿUmar are viewed by Sunnites (the question of the ʿUmarān) and Shiites; Ende discusses twentieth-century Shiite thoughts on rapprochement (taqrīb) in relation to the third shahāda added to the adhān by Twelver Shiites; and Litvak considers internet sources to examine current anti-Shiite polemics. Finally, yet importantly, the three remaining contributions attend to political developments in nineteenth–twenty-first century Iran and Iraq. As Nakash demonstrates in his contribution, the Shiite revolt of 1920 should be considered when discussing the highly contested subject of power sharing in today's Iraq. Arjomand analyses Shiite constitutionalism as it developed in the theological setting in Iran beginningwith theConstitutionalRevolution, and its different stages throughout the twentieth century. Finally, Richard gives a chronological overview of the life and intellectual development of Mojtahed Shabestarī, one of the most interesting thinkers in contemporary Iran. All contributions to the anthology presented to Etan Kohlberg are worthy of detailed review. Since this cannot be done here, it is left to the scholarly community to appraise each one appropriately.


The paper deals with a study of a change in the cell energy metabolism in medical students during a year. The performed study has revealed the differences in cell energy supply levels during an academic year, which determine the body's functional and adaptive capacities.


Ischemia of the intestines damages the permeability of the intestinal wall, allowing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (endotoxin) to leak from the gut lumen into the blood circulation, causing shock and death. We measured LPS levels associated with corticosteroid treatment vs. no treatment in cats whose superior mesenteric artery had been occluded for 60 min. In untreated cats, the preoc-clusion mean plasma LPS concentration remained stable at 0.069 ± 0.015 ng/ml. Toward the end of the occlusion period, mean plasma LPS rose to 0.239 ± 0.032 ng/ml (p <.01). Release of the clamp and reper-fusion with oxygenated blood was followed within 20 min by a large rise in plasma LPS concentration to 0.825 ± 0.11 ng/ml (p <.01), which had returned to preocclusion levels about 80 min later. Methylpred-nisolone (30 mg/kg) was infused into a second group of cats 1.5 h before SMA occlusion. In these cats there was a complete inhibition of the LPS rise both during and after occlusion. These data suggest that the reported beneficial effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of septic shock may be mediated, in part, by reducing LPS leakage from the gut.


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, affecting approximately 1% of the population. This systemic disease is marked by chronic inflammation that predominantly affects the synovial membrane of diarthrodal joints. Its etiology is unknown, but it is presumed to be an immunological disease with contributing genetic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests that RA develops in 3 phases: an asymptomatic period of genetic risk, a pre-clinical period in which RA-related antibodies can be detected, and a clinical phase with acute signs and symptoms of inflammatory arthritis. Evidence suggests that the sooner RA patients are treated, the better is their prognosis. The availability of markers that could help to identify patients with more aggressive, rapidly progressive RA with poorer prognosis would offer a rational basis for early and aggressive treatment. In that way it may be possible to avoid many irreversible clinical complications. The number of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) available has increased in recent years. The effectiveness, cost and toxicity of the new agents vary widely and the natural history of RA itself includes spontaneous remission, remission with medical treatment or continuously progressive disease despite medication. Hence, there is a clear need to identify efficient diagnostic and prognostic indicators of disease to assist clinicians and help them in making initial treatment choices. This article is a literature review of current biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of RA and emerging predictive markers of prognosis, but is non-systematic and therefore may be subject to publication and selection biases. No attempt has been made to assess the validity of studies or to compare risks between studies. Our aim was to review the literature in an inclusive manner.


In 1893, Caldwell of New York 1 first described the radical operation on the antrum which has since been associated with his name. Shortly after, Spicer of England 2 and, still later, Luc of France, 3 working independently, each described a similar operation. Both Caldwell and Luc gained access to the anterior bony wall of the antrum by a transverse incision in the mucous membrane of the gingivolabial recess (fig. 1). Spicer used a crucial incision to reach to the anterior surface of the maxilla. No other modifications of this incision were reported until, in 1930, Menzel of Vienna 4 recommended the use of a vertical incision in the Denker operation and a vertical oblique incision in the Caldwell-Luc operation (fig. 2). The latter incision, which has been popularized in this country by Carmody of Denver, is in the direction of the branches of the infra-orbital nerves and also of the quadratus


Current literature concerning the measurement of small displacements by the laser holographic technique was reviewed. It was found that existing theories are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to apply to any realistic nondestructive testing conditions in which the geometries of the objects are complex and the three-dimensional displacements are irregular. An experimental approach was adopted for interpreting correlation between real time holographic fringe patterns and small displacements. Preliminary results show that the present method is feasible for the quantitative interpretation of the fringes as well as the calibration of the mobile HNDT system.


Objective To study the packaging method of a type of lap top computers with corrugated fiberboard. Methods Three complete sets of cushion structures were designed by Pro / E software. Through comparison and analysis,an optimal design was determined. The optimal design cushion package pieces was tested with static compression,modal and drop features for simulation security analysis via Ansys software. Results The buffer pad absorbed most of the structure stress and no resonance occurred by modal analysis. The maximum acceleration of packaging pieces was less than the laptop fragility 60 g. Conclusion As long as the cushioning structure design was reasonable and the selected material was suitable,corrugated fiberboard could fully satisfy the environmental cushion packaging requirements of the laptop computers and similar electronic devices.


AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT STUDY OF STRUCTURES FOUNDED ON CLAY TILL IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, FACTORS INFLUENCING THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY OF THE TILL HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED. IN SITU PLATE TESTS AND LABORATORY TESTS ON TUBE AND BLOCK SAMPLES WERE CARRIED OUT UNDER REPETITIVE LOADING CYCLES, DURING WHICH PORE PRESSURES WERE MEASURED. REMOLDED SAMPLES WERE ALSO TESTED AND THE RESULTS ARE COMPARED WITH THE FIELD AND UNDISTURBED LABORATORY TESTS. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY INDICATE THAT THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO SAMPLE DISTURBANCE, THAT THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY SHOULD BE DEFINED FOR THE SPECIFIC LEVEL OF STRESS CONSIDERED, AND THAT DEFINITE RELATIONSHIPS SEEM TO EXIST BETWEEN THE UNDRAINED SHEAR STRENGTH, CONSOLIDATION PRESSURE, AND MODULUS OF ELASTICITY FOR THIS SPECIFIC CLAY TILL. PORE PRESSURE BEHAVIOR DURING UNDRAINED REPETITIVE LOADING IN THE LABORATORY AND IN THE FIELD WAS SIMILAR. /AUTHOR/


This article proposes to approach the problematic of the introduction of strategies of gamification by means of technological didactic objects, succinctly describing the development of a digital educational game conceived with the objective of working areas such as auditory memory and the discrimination of heights, Simultaneous approach to the symbology proper to musical spelling. Based on the implementation of this game in pedagogical contexts, a study was carried out with the purpose of inferring or validating the thesis that the use of them adds value to the teaching and learning process. The results of which are presented herein.


The purpose of this study is to study dynamic interactions among economic growth, structural change, international trade and tourist flows. It builds a multi-country growth model with endogenous wealth accumulation and tourism. The model is unique in that it introduces endogenous tourism within a general dynamic equilibrium framework. The model is built on microeconomic foundations. It not only integrates the three well-known Solow growth model, Oniki-Uzawa trade model, and the Uzawa two-sector model, but also introduces tourist flows between economies for any number of national economies. After building the model, we demonstrate that the motion of the J - country world economy can be described by J differential equations. We also simulate the global economy with three countries, showing that the world dynamics has a unique equilibrium. We carry out comparative dynamic analysis with regard to one country's total productivity factor, the propensity to save, the propensity to tour other countries, and the population.


The invention discloses a cross-plate scaffold, which comprises upright pipes, horizontal pipes, an inclined support and a horizontal inclined support, wherein a cross-plate connecting plate is arranged on each upright pipe; each upright pipe passes through a centre hole on the middle part of the cross-plate connecting plate and is fixedly connected with the cross-plate connecting plate; four connecting holes are uniformly arranged at the periphery of the cross-plate connecting plate; the horizontal pipes are connected with the connecting hole at the periphery of the cross-plate connecting plate by horizontal casting connecting devices fixed on the end parts of the horizontal pipes; the inclined support is connected with the horizontal casting connecting devices by an inclined support pin arranged on the end part of the inclined support; the end part of the inclined support is opened, clamped on the upper and lower sides of the horizontal pipes and connected through the horizontal inclined support pin; a plurality of sections of upright pipes are connected through upright pipe connecting pieces; the upper and lower ends of each upright pipe are provided with an adjustable support head and an adjustable base respectively; and each upright pipe is made from a Q345B steel material. The cross-plate scaffold has the advantages of convenient assembly and disassembly, uniform stress and stable support.


By the methodologies of allometric equation and urban population density analysis,this article analyzes the relation between urban population and urban built-up area in Shandong Province since 1990.The results are shown as follow: During the 15 years from 1990 to 2005,the scaling exponent b tended to decrease overall,indicating that the intensive degree of metropolis land use constantly improves in urban system of Shandong Province.While during the 4 years from 2006 to 2010,the scaling exponent b tended to increase overall,manifesting that the intensive degree of medium small cities land use in Shandong Province converges.As the scaling exponent b is set by a fixed value,the proportion coefficient of allometric equation keeps increasing.That indicates that the urban land expansion of Shandong Province is quicker than the urban population growth.What is more,the analysis result of urban population density,concentration index and unbalance index are the same as allometric analysis.Finally,some policy suggestions about the urban development of Shandong Province are proposed based on this research.


This study investigated effects of dietary glycerol supplementation on liver, muscle, and adipose gene expression related with gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism and association of gene expression levels with marbling score in Korean cattle steers. Fourteen Korean cattle steers (average age 28.4 months; average body weight 733 kg) were equally assigned to two groups (0 and 5% glycerol supplementation). Glycerol was provided with glycerol (63%)-adsorbed ground wheat bran (37%, DM) by top dressing during roughage feeding. A concentrate (1.2% of body weight) and 1.0 kg of ryegrass were individually fed twice daily. After four months of study, steers were slaughtered, and marbling score was evaluated. Longissimus thoracis (LT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue at the 13th thoracic vertebra area and liver were collected and analyzed for mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR. Statistical significance was analyzed by analysis of variance. Correlations were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Glycerol supplementation increased (P = 0.01) marbling score. In the LT, glycerol supplementation tended to increase (0.05 < P ≤ 0.10) lipid uptake CD36 and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA levels. In subcutaneous adipose tissues, glycerol supplementation increased (P ≤ 0.05) LPL, adipogenic sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), and lipogenic acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) mRNA levels and tended to increase (0.05 < P < 0.10) CD36, adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma (PPARG), and lipogenic fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression. It did not affect (P > 0.05) mRNA levels of hepatic gluconeogenesis genes. Marbling score showed significant positive correlations (0.57 < r < 0.68; P < 0.05) with mRNA levels of several genes including LPL, PPARG, SREBP1, and ACC in adipose tissues, but not with any genes examined in the LT. Our study demonstrates that lipid uptake, adipogenesis and lipogenesis may mainly contribute to the increased marbling score by glycerol supplementation.


An efficient route to novel 1,3,5,7-tetrasubstituted derivatives of adamantane is described. This route starts from adamantane and gives the tetrafunctionalized derivative 9 in eight steps with an overall yield of 23%. These tetrahedrally shaped molecules possess three identical arms terminated by an activated carboxylic acid derivative and a protected amino function in the 1-position. We propose these tetravalent cage compounds such as 9 as scaffolds for the assembly of ligand/marker conjugates for studies of multivalent ligand receptor interactions. [reaction: see text]


: Background: According to Ayurveda, Kampavata is a Nanatmaja disorder of Vata., symptoms like Kampa (tremor), Stambha (rigidity), Chestasanga (bradykinesia and akinesia), Vakvikriti (disturbance in speech) etc. were described in different contexts. Objective: To study the aetiopathogenesis of Kampavata (Parkinson's disease) in light of both Ayurvedic and Modern perspectives. To observe the efficacy of Sahacharadi Kwath and Kapikacchubeeja Churna in Kampavata. Methodology: Total 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each. Full explanation of trial was given to each patient and informed written consent was taken. Trial Group given Sahacharadi Kwath 40 ml + Erand tail 10 ml 2 times and Kapikacchubeeja Churna 6 gm with milk 2 times, after meal. Control Group given Kapikacchubeeja Churna 6 gm with milk (Godugdha) 2 times, after meal. Discussion & Conclusion: Kapikachhubeeja Churna with Godugdha in trial group has shown better result in improvement of the symptoms of kampavata Therapy is safe, easily available and can perform at home also. Therapy given in Trial group helps in achieving functional independency, thus improving the quality of life of patients.


: This paper investigates a novel technique for Model Order Reduction (MOR) in Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) systems. The problem of finding a Reduced Order Model (ROM) has been investigated by solving an H_∞ optimization problem as an equal convex optimization procedure. The reduced order model approximation derives out by simply solving a series of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). A comparative study have been made to illustrate the performance and efficiency of the proposed method. The important characteristics of the step response of both main system and its approximation model also have been considered in both time and frequency domain.


As modern groups of angiosperms have appeared over a period of more than 80 million years, the relative position of the southern continents has changed. For the First 20 m.y. of this period, opportunities for migration were good between Africa and Europe, and this constituted the main pathway for migration between the northern and southern hemispheres. South America progressively moved away from Africa and towards North America over the past 90 m.y. Southern South America and Australasia shared a rich, warm temperate rainforest flora until about 40 m.y. ago. The development of modern climates during the past 10 m.y. has set up modern patterns of vegetation.


Currently, dacarbazine (DTIC) is the only approved systemic treatment for metastatic malignant melanoma. However, the modest treatment effect encourages studies on novel therapeutic molecules, delivery systems and combination therapies. Full‐length TRAIL, delivered from an adenoviral vector (Ad‐hTRAIL), was studied in combination with DTIC or the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in human melanoma cell lines.


When a thermoplastic polymer/filler system is cooled from the melt, the crystallization phenomena in the interfacial zone strongly depend on the superficial properties of the reinforcing material, and on the processing conditions. If the nucleating ability of the filler surface is greater than that of the bulk polymer (no other nucleating agents present in the polymer, elimination of the thermal history, ...), a crystalline superstructure (so-called transcrystalline phase III) may appear in the vicinity of the filler, different from the bulk spheralitic superstructure. This is particularly the case for isotactic polypropylene in the presence of numerous natural textile fibres (jute, cotton, ...), manmade fibres (PA66, PET, ...), or metallic fibres 12-51 (see photo 1). On the contrary, in the presence of glass fibres, the superficial nucleation is too low, and there is no spontaneous occurrence of a transcrystalline phase 161. However, if a shear stress is applied at the fibre/ matrix interface during the cooling of polypropylene from the melt, a crystalline superstructure similar to a transcrystalline phase may develop in the vicinity of the glass fibre. In this case, its origin is no longer directly due to the nucleating ability of the filler surface, but it is related to the movements and entanglements of the macromolecular chains, due to the shearing. Hence a certain number of zones become ordered, reaching a critical volume and free enthalpy, so that they become homogeneous crystallization nuclei. The occurrence and degree of the transcrystallization will depend on the shear stress intensity and on the temperature at which it is applied 111. Moreover, the presence of a transcrystalline interphase may have a significant role for the further mechanical properties of the composite material /8-10/. The polymer transcrystallization inducing ability of a fibrous or particulate material, or of a mould inner wall, is reported in numerous publications for various polymer/substrate combinations. Despite the number of results available in the literature, and the numerous parameters investigated concerning the origin of transcrystallization, it has never been possible to predict the crystallization behaviour of a thermoplastic matrix on a fibre surface. Amongst the factors supposed to promote a spontaneous transcrystallization, the superficial chemical characteristics of the reinforcing material, its textural and physical properties, the fibre surface energy, and the existence of self-generated interfacial stresses have all been cited in the literature. The chemical interactions which can develop between a substrate and a molten or supercooled polymer have been investigated in order to determine their contribution to the transcrystallization phenomenon. On this subject, parameters have been considered such as the similarity of chemical structures of the materials present, the behaviour modifications due to fibre coatings, and the influence of diffusion phenomena of bulk heterogeneities /11-17/. Similarly, the superficial texture of the reinforcing fibres appears to be an important parameter for the occurrence of nucleation. This factor is investigated according to different aspects: the substrate crystallinity,


The paper discusses and describes a system for energy management of a 10 kW PV plant coupled with a 15 kW-190 kWh storage system. The overall idea is, by knowing the meteorological forecast for the next 24h, to dispatch the PV system and to be able to grant the scheduled hourly energy profile by a proper management of the storage. Due to forecast inaccuracies, the energy manager controls the storage in order to ensure that the plan for hourly energy production is respected, minimizing the storage itself usage. The experimental study is carried out in SYSLAB, a distributed power system test facility at DTU Riso Campus and part of PowerLabDK. Both the PV and the storage are connected to the local network and are fully controllable through the SCADA system. The control management and the models are implemented in Matlab-Simulink, which can be interfaced with SYSLAB.


PADBURY, RICHARD PAUL. Bulk Property Modification of Fiber Forming Polymers using Vapor Phase Techniques. (Under the direction of Dr. Jesse S. Jur). Atomic layer deposition provides the opportunity to introduce nanoscale inorganic coatings to organic polymers creating coatings with varied compositions of finish and distinctive interfaces. Prior research has shown that ALD materials nucleation on polymers varies in composition and structure based on how the precursor interacts with the polymer chemistry and the process conditions. To study this in more detail, in-situ quartz crystal microgravimetry is employed to understand the infiltration and saturation behavior of trimethyl aluminum in polymer thin films. Emphasis is placed on understanding reactive vapor diffusion into polymers as the exposure temperature is varied. Potential growth mechanisms based on the temperature dependent observations in this work are proposed which leads to the understanding of hybrid organic-inorganic formation in polymers. Furthermore, polymers which have subtle variations in microstructure are explored to elucidate the nucleation behavior of inorganic coatings on polymers in more detail. Specifically, in-situ quartz crystal microgravimetry is employed to understand the nucleation behavior of alumina ALD in a series of poly-n-methacrylate and polyester thin films. The work indicates the effect that a subtle change in polymer microstructure has on the properties of the polymer film and the resultant absorption/desorption characteristics during TMA/water exposures. The effect of % crystallinity on the infiltration mechanism is also investigated in polymer films with varied crystallinities. Finally, the effect of the hybrid modification on the mechanical behavior of fibrous materials is also explored. In particular this dissertation highlights the process-property relationships between modified and unmodified fibers infiltrated with TMA. The results indicate that the peak load and elongation of the fibers increase with exposure to TMA. Therefore, this work has important implications on high impact applications as well as the introduction of inorganic material properties to flexible polymer systems.


Through the methods of literature review and logical deduction, the malpractice in the development of martial arts and its technical tendencies is explored and some suggestions on the role of martial arts in the development of school physical education are put forward.


Background

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of obesity phenotypes with depression, anxiety, and stress of the adult participants in Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS).
Methods

Depression, anxiety, and stress levels of 2469 adult participants aged > 19 (1158 men and 1311 women) from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study were examined among different obesity phenotypes in the current study. Weight, height, and waist circumferences of participants were measured by trained personnel. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², and metabolically unhealthy status based on having metabolic syndrome (MetS) or diabetes type 2. Finally, four obesity phenotypes were defined: 1) Metabolically Healthy Non-Obese (MHNO), 2) Metabolically Healthy Obese (MHO) 3) Metabolically Unhealthy Non-Obese (MUNO), and 4) Metabolically Unhealthy Obese (MUO). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to compare sex-specific odds ratios.
Results

The mean age of 2469 men and women was 46.2 ± 15.9 and 45.6 ± 14.7, respectively. In total, women were more likely to experience different levels of depression (30.5%), anxiety (44.2%), and stress (43.5%). After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds of experiencing higher levels of anxiety were significantly greater in metabolically unhealthy men whether they were obese (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.25–2.54; P = < 0.001) or non-obese (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.17–2.21; P = < 0.001), and also in MUO women (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.28–2.34; P = < 0.001) comparing to their MHNO counterparts. Moreover, the odds of experiencing higher levels of stress were significantly greater in MUNO men (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.90; P = 0.04), and in MUO women (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.07–1.96; P = 0.02) comparing to their MHNO counterparts. No difference in having higher levels of depression was observed in both genders.
Conclusions

Compared to MHNO individuals, MUO women and all metabolically unhealthy men reported higher levels of anxiety and stress. The obesity phenotypes were by no means associated with depression in men and women.


Topic:Topic: 18. Indolent and mantle-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma - Clinical Background: Background: Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is an indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is treatable, yet incurable with a remitting and relapsing disease course. Given its disease rarity and underlying heterogeneity, MZL remains understudied with limited real-world evidence on how current treatment pattern conform to clinical guidelines, and the economic outcomes associated with current treatments. Aims: Aims: This study aimed to assess real-world treatment patterns, costs, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) in US MZL patients. Methods: Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using the IBM MarketScan® commercial and Medicare supplemental claims dataset (2017-2020). Newly diagnosed adult MZL patients (≥18 years) continuously enrolled 6 month pre- and 3-month post-index date, defined as the first diagnosis date, were included. Treatment regimens were identified by line of therapy and mutually exclusively categorized as rituximab monotherapy (R-mono), bendamustine + rituximab (BR), rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), ibrutinib, or other. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and treatment utilization patterns including the frequency, duration, and discontinuation of each treatment regimen. Costs and HRU assessed included inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy visits per-patient-per-month (PPPM). Treatment regimens, costs, and hospitalizations were examined overall, and by line of therapy. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine predictors of costs and HRU. Results: Results: Among the 2491 newly-diagnosed MZL patients Summary/Conclusion: Summary/Conclusion: This real-world data suggested that the overall US MZL real-world treatment pattern across lines of therapy follows the regimen recommendations by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines and that MZL patients incur high economic burden. Future studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and the impact of heterogenous MZL subtypes.


The invention is applicable to an unmanned aerial vehicle flight competition and provides a timing/controlling system for an unmanned aerial vehicle competition. The system comprises at least one response unit, a reading unit and a display unit, wherein each response unit is mounted on the corresponding unmanned aerial vehicle and used for transmitting unique identity code information of the response unit to a reader after receiving a radio-frequency signal transmitted by the reading unit; the reading unit is used for transmitting the radio-frequency signal, performing code identification and time recording after receiving the code information transmitted by the response units, and transmitting identification information and record information to the display unit for display. The system can accurately identify identities of the unmanned aerial vehicles participating in the competition during the unmanned aerial vehicle flight competition as well as measure and display the time at which the unmanned aerial vehicles participating in the competition pass through a measuring point, competitors and audiences can directly know competition conditions conveniently, and furthermore, related data can be provided for an external system, so that flight speeds of the unmanned aerial vehicles participating in the competition can be calculated.


One hundred and six cases of perforated peptic ulcer were treated without operative closure. Only one death occurred due to coronary thrombosis. In addition, four patients died, having been moribund on admission. Treatment consisted of continuous effective gastric decompression, combined intravenous administration of antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agents, sedation and parenteral feeding.


High-resolution electron microscopy, with the current resolution limits of better than 2 A, has been proven to be a valuable technique for the study of radiation-resistant crystals, allowing the determination of the structures of perfect crystal regions, crystal defects and crystal surfaces with atomic resolution. As the resolution is improved, however, the image contrast is increasingly determined by dynamical diffraction effects and it is increasingly sensitive to the instrumental parameters and to the geometry and alignment of the specimen. For both the conventional transmission electron microscope and the scanning transmission electron microscope, further developments should lead to better or more versatile performance, up to the limits set by the fundamental problems of radiation damage. Major advances may be expected from developments of the associated techniques of microanalysis and microdiffraction. Applications of particular interest will include studies of surfaces and interfaces, small particles and radiation-induced chemical reactions.


A novel heterocyclic amine, 9‐(4′‐aminophenyl)‐9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]indole (aminophenylnorharman, APNH), which is formed from nonmutagenic 9H‐pyrido[3,4‐b]indole (norharman) and aniline, is mutagenic to bacteria and mammalian cells and potently carcinogenic in rats. APNH is detected in human urine samples, suggesting that humans are continuously exposed to APNH. In the present study, 32P‐postlabelin analysis revealed that the levels of APNH‐DNA adduct 24 hr after the treatment with APNH (1, 5 and 20 mg/kg body weight) in male ICR mice were increased in a dose‐dependent manner in the colon and liver. Based on these findings, we determined the tumor‐initiating potency of APNH in an inflammation‐related and two‐stage mouse colon carcinogenesis model. Male Crj: CD‐1 (ICR) mice were given a single intragastric administration (1, 2, 5 or 10 mg/kg body weight) of APNH and subsequent 1‐week oral exposure to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS, 2% in drinking water). Treatment with APNH and DSS resulted in numerous colon tumor development: the incidence and multiplicity of the tumors were the highest in the mice received 10 mg/kg body weight of APNH and followed by DSS. Development of colon tumors was dose‐dependent of APNH. Seven of 9 (77.8%) colonic adenocarcinomas developed in mice treated with APNH (10 mg/kg body weight) and DSS had β‐catenin gene mutations at codons 32 and 37, being predominantly transversion. These findings indicate that APNH has an initiating activity in inflamed mouse colon and the APNH‐DNA adduct formation correlates with its tumorigenic potential. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


A low‐grade heat source can be used as an operating fuel to run a thermomagnetic heat engine (TME), whose performance is determined by the interaction of the magnetic field between a permanent magnet and a thermomagnetic material used in the engine. In this paper, we present a cylindrical TME to scavenge low‐grade thermal energy and its eventual conversion into mechanical energy. Various models were investigated to optimal performance via COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4, especially in terms of axial torque generation, where experimental validations were made as appropriate. Finally, an optimized model was selected to develop a prototype of the TME. Using hot and cold water at a temperature of 65°C and 22.5°C, the TME produced an average torque and mechanical power of 81.73 N mm and 1.17 W, respectively. The thermal to mechanical conversion efficiency was calculated to be 0.104%. The present mathematical model can be effectively used to design and fabricate a commercially applicable TME in reality, and this, in turn, will allow for the development of a practicable and efficient TME for the exploitation of low‐grade thermal energy.


It is known that training a general and versatile Machine Learning (ML)-based model is more cost-effective than training several specialized ML-models for different operating contexts. However, as the volume of training information grows, the higher the probability of producing biased results. Learning bias is a critical problem for many applications, such as those related to healthcare scenarios, environmental monitoring and air traffic control. In this paper, we compare the use of a general model that was trained using all contexts against a system that is composed of a set of specialized models that was trained for each particular operating context. For this purpose, we propose a local learning approach based on context-awareness, which involves: (i) anticipating, analyzing and representing context changes; (ii) training and finding machine learning models to maximize a given scoring function for each operating context; (iii) storing trained ML-based models and associating them with corresponding operating contexts; and (iv) deploying a system that is able to select the best-fit ML-based model at runtime based on the context. To illustrate our proposed approach, we reproduce two experiments: one that uses a neural network regression-based model to perform predictions and another one that uses an evolutionary neural network-based approach to make decisions. For each application, we compare the results of the general model, which was trained based on all contexts, against the results of our proposed approach. We show that our context-aware approach can improve results by alleviating bias with different ML tasks.


FIELD: controlling data exchange between mobile subscribers in burst-oriented mobile communication network. SUBSTANCE: proposed method is characterized in that each subscriber is serviced depending on his actual location in mobile communication system at definite Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of the latter; mobile-subscriber communication terminal-to-terminal connections within mobile communication network are controlled by respective network control node so that address register with all addresses assigned to mobile subscribers serviced by network control node is stored in network control node; target address assigned to data bursts is read out of arriving burst data in network control node and compared by means of search function with address register; if address register holds target address, data bursts are processed within mobile communication network and further transferred by means of network control node only; in absence of target address in address register, data bursts are passed from network control node to other node (GGSN) of mobile communication network. EFFECT: optimized routing of burst data. 9 cl, 1 dwg


The investigations of single metal nickel, cadmium, and lead, and copper/nickel mixtures in the particulate spouted bed of conductive particles from acidic aqueous solution are
 presented. It was determined that, in general, the rates of single metal nickel, cadmium, lead electrowinning increase with increasing pH and increasing temperature in acidic solutions over the
 experimental range investigated. Nitrogen sparging of the electrolyte solution in the holding tank was effective in reducing the dissolved oxygen concentration, suppressing metal corrosion
 rates, and, thereby, improving the net metals recovery rate. A numerical model based on the Tafel equations, incorporating a constant corrosion rate as an approximation was used to simulate the
 electrochemical removal behavior of single metal nickel. The model captured the behavior reasonably well. The quantitative and qualitative behavior of co-deposition of copper and nickel from
 mixtures was significantly different from that of the single metal solutions. This was attributed to the differences in reduction potential of the two metals, as well as the metal displacement
 reaction between Ni(0) and Cu(II), which effectively eliminated the copper corrosion reaction and augmented that for nickel. It also amplified the separation of the deposition regimes in time
 for both metals, suggesting that the recovery of each as a relatively pure metal deposit was possible under certain conditions. Data from the spouted particulate electrode system was
 incorporated into the design and operation of the cyclic electrowinning/precipitation (CEP) system for the removal of complex heavy metal mixtures from contaminated wastewaters at low
 concentrations. The removal of the heavy metals copper, nickel and cadmium from aqueous solutions at low concentrations was investigated in the CEP system. It was found that the optimal removal
 times for single metal removal increased in the order copper > nickel > cadmium, while the maximum net CEP removal rates decreased in the same order. These orderings correlated with decreasing
 reduction potentials for these metals, both in terms of the metal displacement reaction rates, as well as the propensity of corrosion of the deposited metals. The CEP system shows significant
 promise for the effective removal other heavy metal mixtures from contaminated water.


The advantages of in-rack liquid cooling for thermal management of data center electronics have been increasingly recognized. Pumped single phase water cooling, especially with elevated inlet temperatures, i.e. "hot water cooling" has received significant attention as a promising system solution to data center thermal management for present server thermal loads. The continuing evolution of reliable liquid loop hardware, such as leak free plumbing connectors and small reliable pumps, has eroded many of the technical barriers that have impeded the acceptance of liquid cooling. This paper presents the results of a preliminary experimental investigation of an alternative liquid based thermal management system that takes unique advantage of rack-based server architectures in data centers and addresses some of the remaining reliability issues. The system is based on a pump-less two-phase thermosyphon loop using a refrigerant as working fluid. The coolant absorbs heat at the process package via an advanced two-phase boiler and rejects heat at an air-cooled condenser mounted above the rack. It is shown that the available head in a vertical rack based system is more than sufficient to induce buoyancy induced flow at sufficient levels to absorb in excess of 200 W from a simulated processor package at lid temperatures of 60 C. The models developed to simulate the system compare well the measured data and allow the exploration of optimal designs that balance the required boiler thermal performance with manageable pressure drops.


Coral-stromatoporoid patch reefs are present in the lower part of the McKenzie Formation of the western West Virginia subsurface. Between these organic buildups is a bedded, argillaceous dolomite with very sparse fauna, and underlying the McKenzie is the Keefer Sandstone which served as the firm substrate on which McKenzie benthic communities became established. End_Page 1585------------------------------ During a transgression of the McKenzie sea, areas of thicker Keefer sand stood as submerged topographic highs. The local relief provided optimum sites for the patch reefs to develop and offered better protection to the fauna from being overwhelmed by incoming terrestrial clays. Conversely, the shaly interreef deposits of the McKenzie are present in areas of thinner Keefer Sandstone; they were laid down in turbid, relatively deep water between highs. A minor regression followed as represented by middle McKenzie intertidal sediments, and growth of the patch reefs ceased when the area emerged above the level of low tide. Two southwest-northeast tracts of thicker McKenzie Formation and Keefer Sandstone mark the trends of Keefer topographic highs and associated McKenzie patch reefs. These trends now offer the best potential gas in the Middle Silurian of western West Virginia. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1586------------


Background/Aims: Bioelectric nerve stimulation (eStim) is an emerging clinical paradigm that can promote nerve regeneration after trauma, including within the context of diabetes. However, its ability to prevent the onset of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has not yet been evaluated. Beyond the nerve itself, DPN has emerged as a potential contributor to sarcopenia and bone disease; thus, we hypothesized that eStim could serve as a strategy to simultaneously promote neural


Iron is plentiful and of lively chemical properties.Nanoscale zerovalent iron displayed very well in wastewater treatment and soil remediation in recent years due to its small particle size,strong surface effect and high adsorption and nanoscale zerovalent iron material hence was regarded as a new technology having broad application prospect.The application of nanoscale zero-valent iron is limited due to its tendency of oxidation and aggregation in atmosphere.Suitable modification and dispersion means can improve iron nanoparticles property such as homogeneity and stability by changing surface energy,composition,structure,functional group,optical character,electrical property and adsorptive capacity.The advances in modification and application of nanoscale zero-valent iron are reviewed in detail.The kinds of modification materials,modification methods and modification effects are introduced.In addition,the existing issues in application of nanoscale zero-valent iron and its future research direction are suggested.


Thank you very much for reading spinners and weavers of auffay rural industry and the sexual division of labor in a french village 175


Early detection and treatment can slow the progression of lymphedema. To diagnose lymphedema in the subclinical phase, a sensitive imaging modality is required. Radioisotope-based lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) has been the "gold standard" for a century. Indocyanine green lymphography (ICGL) is being used at our institute for diagnosing and grading all lymphedema patients. In this study, ICGL disease detection rate was compared to that of LSG. Chart review of all patients who presented for lymphedema consult between February 2020 and April 2022 was conducted. Patients who underwent both LSG and ICG for extremity edema in symptomatic/asymptomatic limbs were included. A total of 50 limbs in 23 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 37 were symptomatic and 13 were asymptomatic. LSG detected lymphatic dysfunction in 26/37(70%) of the symptomatic limbs while ICG detected the same in 37/37(100%) limbs (p < 0.01). In the asymptomatic group, LSG detected the disease in 1/13(8%) limbs while ICG detected lymphatic dysfunction in 8/13 (62%) limbs (p < 0.01). LSG missed symptomatic limbs 30% of the time, whereas ICG did not miss any symptomatic limbs (p < 0.01). LSG missed asymptomatic disease 54% of the time (p < 0.01) compared to ICG. In conclusion, ICG lymphography was determined to have a higher lymphatic dysfunction detection rate compared to LSG.


men (as against those of other groupspit seeks first the free personality, and out of free personalities would build the free community. It does not look for, or desire, a perfect social mechanism ; it looks for and desires free men. It sees this human existence with its struggles and tragedies as unmeaning unless it be part of a larger life in which increasingly the free spirit can come to rule and can open out to men higher and higher purposes. Dictatorship inspires youth at times because it calls for a practice of the heroic in a society that has become tame. But it cannot allow of freedom and


in English 1 Abstract in Spanish 2in Spanish 2 List of original articles 3 Introduction 4 Aims of the study 11 Materials and Methods 12 Results 19 Discussions 23 Final conclusions in English 29 Final conclusions in Spanish 31 References 33 Original articles 46 Sustainable Forest Management in poplar plantations: forest health and biodiversity


We report the first experimental evidence of the cyclic form of ozone, found in three air stable surface reconstructions of MgO (111) annealed above 1450 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ surface consists of equilateral oxygen trimers while the $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ and $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(2\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ surfaces are periodic arrangements of trimers and single oxygen atoms. The oxygen trimers appear to be centered over underlying Mg atoms. The structures fit transmission electron diffraction data better than neutral plane faceting based models proposed for the polar MgO (111) surface.


Surrounded by the sounds of the international community alleged China is"Responsible Power",Chinese government should maintain a clear understanding.Meanwhile,in diplomatic practice,we should achieve the basic balances between national strength and international obligations,and between international obligations and international benefits.


IDP-core is a new cooperative solution for dynamic and differential games. A novel approach of constructing solutions for dynamic and differential games was employed in which the time consistency property was used as the main axiom property for the cooperative solution. Another new and important approach used for constructing IDP-core is the IDP dominance, which allows to select undominated imputation distribution procedures and construct the cooperative solution or imputation set. This approach shows the potential of using the time consistency property as the main axiom for solutions in various fields such as Social Choice and Mechanism Design. The overall procedure for defining the cooperative solution is also new since IDP-core was constructed using imputation distribution procedures but not by using imputations directly.


An association study of four common polymorphisms in the DJ1 gene and Parkinson disease (PD) was conducted. PD probands were compared with their unaffected siblings matched by gender and closest age at study (416 vs 416) and with unrelated control subjects (691 vs 190). None of the four haplotype tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was associated with PD overall, but SNP1 (position 4,345 bp) and SNP3 (position 16,491 bp) were associated with PD in women (p = 0.03 and p = 0.002).


The energy efficiency and flight endurance of small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs) can be improved through the implementation of autonomous soaring strategies. Biologically inspired flight techniques such as dynamic and thermal soaring offer significant energy savings through the exploitation of naturally occurring wind phenomena for thrustless flight. Recent interest in the application of artificial intelligence algorithms for autonomous soaring has been motivated by the pursuit of instilling generalized behavior in control systems, centered around the use of neural networks. However, the topology of such networks is usually predetermined, restricting the search space of potential solutions, while often resulting in complex neural networks that can pose implementation challenges for the limited hardware onboard small-scale autonomous vehicles. In exploring a novel method of generating neurocontrollers, this paper presents a neural network-based soaring strategy to extend flight times and advance the potential operational capability of SUAVs. In this study, the Neuroevolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT) algorithm is used to train efficient and effective neurocontrollers that can control a simulated aircraft along sustained dynamic and thermal soaring trajectories. The proposed approach evolves interpretable neural networks in a way that preserves simplicity while maximizing performance without requiring extensive training datasets. As a result, the combined trajectory planning and aircraft control strategy is suitable for real-time implementation on SUAV platforms.


We have discovered a new curing agent for epoxy resins that has both interesting and useful properties. The compound, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexane diamine (DMHDA) is a sterically hindered, primary aliphatic amine. As a curing agent for DGEBA epoxy resins, it has the following desirable characteristics: (1) at room temperature, it forms a stable "B" stage resin; (2) it is a good wet-filament-winding resin having both a low viscosity (0.5 Pa…s) and a long gel time (21 h for a 30-g mass); and (3) the cured resin properties are good, e.g., the tensile strength is 86 MPa (12,500 psi) and the glass transition temperature is greater than 140°C when cured at 130°C.


The properties of finite nuclei are investigated in the framework of a chiral field theory using relativistic mean-field approximation. It is shown that, in contrast with the conventional point of view, the normal-type solutions for finite nuclei do exist. The authors have obtained these solutions and used them to calculate the nuclear bulk properties with two adjustable parameters. The mean-field normal solutions are not so far from the observed nuclei. The theory simultaneously contains also configurations of abnormal type which in some cases may appear to be much more strongly bound than those of the normal type. However, for conventional values of the scalar meson mass m sigma ( approximately 500 MeV) only one possibility remains-that of a normal configuration.


In recent years, with the hypergrowth of the computer technology, the applications of the automatic control in the chemical industry have made significant progress. Due to the inefficiency of traditional industrial agitator tank controllers and the lack of saturated constraints, improving the system capability of agitator tank controllers becomes a thorny problem, which puzzles scholars for many years. To solve this problem, a new kind of agitator tank controller with the fast error convergence rate and the saturated constraint is proposed in this paper. Subsequently, the superiority of the proposed controller is demonstrated by theoretical analysis. Further, the emulations are conducted with the simulation results verifying the superiority of the proposed controller. To some extent, this work increases the production efficiency and quality of the chemical equipment.


We present a novel method to reduce error- propagation in iterative receivers of BICM-OFDM systems under fast fading channels. The effect of symbols misdetection on channel tracking is studied and a novel solution to combat the performance degradation is suggested. In general, for blind channel tracking, the use of the detected symbols is required. However, as we show in this work, these decisions can be errornous and diverge the channel tracker from its true trajectory, even when coding is used. While most of the previous studies have ignored the error-propagation effect on channel tracking, counting on many pilot symbols, using coded systems or assuming that no misdetections occur, we challenge those methods and show that even in coded systems, error-propagation is a problem of great concern, particularly in iterative receivers where misdetections propagate faster. We propose a method to alleviate this problem, based on a new module, which estimates the reliability of each of the detected symbols. We design a criterion for using only reliable detections for the purpose of channel tracking, thus robustifying the channel tracker. We also provide an analysis of the effect of misdetections on the mean square error (MSE) of the channel tracker for different subcarriers and show how the MSE not only smears and affects subcarriers that are misdetected but also subcarriers that were detected correctly. Simulation results show that the proposed method reduces error-propagation to a large extent, reducing the MSE, which in turn, leads to better overall performance of the system in terms of bit error rate (BER).


This paper studied the fracability of tight sandstone reservoirs by means of incorporating geomechanics properties and surrounding in situ stresses into a new model. The new fracability evaluation model consists of variables such as brittleness index, critical strain energy release rate index, horizontal stress difference, and minimum horizontal principal stress gradient. The probability of interconnection of a complex fracture network was quantitatively studied by the brittleness index and horizontal principal stress difference index. The probability of obtaining a large stimulated reservoir volume was evaluated by the critical strain energy release rate index and minimum horizontal principal stress gradient which also quantifies conductivity. This model is more capable of evaluating fracability, i.e., it agrees better with the history of production with a high precision and had correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.970 and 0.910 with liquid production of post-fracturing well testing and the average production of six months of post-fracturing, respectively. It is convenient that all model inputs were obtained by means of loggings. Using this model, tight sandstone reservoirs were classified into three groups according to fracability: Frac ≥ 0.3 MPa−1·m for Type-I, 0.22 MPa−1·m ≤ Frac < 0.3 MPa−1·m for Type-II, and Frac < 0.22 MPa−1·m for Type-III.


The word bursa means keeping your face open. Barda's opposite is that sabita, the central character of the novel, has opened her face. He has also opened his mind. It is learnt that Muslims question the rituals of their religion, which sabita denies saying that it is the highest of all, and that only those who belong to their minds can reach heaven. Moreover, christianity withdraws from the true and light redeemer of the spiritual violations committed in the name of religion, the atrocities that take place within monasteries, and the spiritual and light that prompted him to get out of life that he had been conducting for more than twenty-four years. Although both belong to a different religion, this article reveals that their theocratic principles are the same.


Sketching is a powerful modality for thinking through, and communicating about, mechanical designs. Qualitative mechanics reasoning has been applied to sketched input before but not without succumbing to limitations of domainbased recognition or requiring complex annotation and additional explicit knowledge from the user. This paper presents solutions to three problems in integrating qualitative mechanics reasoning with a sketch understanding platform: identifying objects and forces, discovering regions of interaction between them, and understanding the effects of these interactions. We show how the spatial knowledge available in a conceptually labeled sketch is sufficient to solve the first two problems and enables the use of qualitative mechanics to solve the third. Examples from an implemented system are used for illustration. This system is the first step in a plan to create a sketch understanding system capable of providing corrective feedback for sketched engineering designs.


Objective:To construct recombinant DNA vaccine containing SARS-CoV M gene and to observe the production of SARS-CoV specific antibodies in mice. Methods: A recombinant plasmid-pcDNA3. 1/M was constructed by molecular biology technique. The mice was immunized with the recombinant DNA vaccine. After 2,4,6 week,the SARS-CoV antibodies in the sera of mice were detected with ELISA kit. Results: After 2 weeks,SARS-CoV specific antibodies were detected in mice. There were an ascended trend in antibodies concentration at 4 weeks. And simultanity,SARS-CoV specific antibodies was not detected in mice injected with vacancy carrier. There were not remarkable difference in mice injected with high and low quantity plasmid. Conclusion: A recombinant plasmid pcDNA3. 1/M could induce SARS-CoV specific antibodies in mice.


In recent years, as the robot technology is developed the researches on the artificial muscle actuator that enable robot to move dextrously like biological organ become active. The widely used materials for artificial muscle are the shape memory alloy and the electroactive polymer. These actuators have the higher energy density than the electromechanical actuator such as motor. However, there are some drawbacks for actuator. SMA has the hysterical dynamic characteristics. In this paper the segmented binary control for reducing the hysteresis of SMA is proposed and the simulation of anthropomorphic robotic hand is performed using ADAMS.


The lattice size of a lattice polytope $P$ was defined and studied by Schicho, and Castryck and Cools. They provided an "onion skins" algorithm for computing the lattice size of a lattice polygon $P$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ based on passing successively to the convex hull of the interior lattice points of $P$. We explain the connection of the lattice size to the successive minima of $K=\left(P+(-P)\right)^\ast$ and to the lattice reduction with respect to the general norm that corresponds to $K$. It follows that the generalized Gauss algorithm of Kaib and Schnorr (which is faster than the "onion skins" algorithm) computes the lattice size of any convex body in $\mathbb{R}^2$. We extend the work of Kaib and Schnorr to dimension 3, providing a fast algorithm for lattice reduction with respect to the general norm defined by a convex origin-symmetric body $K\subset\mathbb{R}^3$. We also explain how to recover the successive minima of $K$ and the lattice size of $P$ from the obtained reduced basis and therefore provide a fast algorithm for computing the lattice size of any convex body $P\subset\mathbb{R}^3$.


The invention relates to a beefsteak processing method and belongs to the technical field of food processing. The beefsteak processing method belongs to the improvement on the basis of the prior art and mainly comprises work procedures of beefsteak raw material cooling and acid discharge, biologic tenderization, rolling kneading tenderization, cutting package and finished product quality testing, wherein a, the biologic tenderization work procedure comprises the steps that through being metered by the meat weight, 0.4 percent of biologic tenderization agents are prepared into 8 percent water solution to be uniformly injected into meat blocks, and the biologic tenderization agents are prepared from 10 percent of papain, 30 percent of glucose, 10 percent of monosodium glutamate, 10 percent of table salt, 35 percent of starch and 5 percent of phosphate; b, the rolling kneading time of the beefsteak raw material meat in a rolling kneading machine is 30 minutes, the rotating speed is 30 to 35 turns per minute, and the temperature is 4 to 8 DEG C; and c, the thickness of the beefsteak subjected to cutting package is 1 to 1.5cm, the weight of each block is 150+/- 5 g, and the vacuum packaging is carried out. The method has the advantages that 1, the method is simple and convenient, and the fresh and tender degree of the beefsteak can be improved; 2, the beefsteak eating is convenient, and the beefsteak is particularly suitable for mass consumption; and 3, the standard and industrial production of the beefsteak can be realized.


The present invention discloses a flexible manufacturing automatic logistics control method, belonging to the industrial automation production technology field. The method comprises the following steps: a, obtaining the automatic scheduling or manual scheduling support plate commands of a general control computer and an operator; b, inputting the source position and the target position of a support plate call instruction or the support plate codes returned back by the support plate, starting the electrical control device of a flexible manufacturing automatic logistics control system, allowing a carrying dolly to move to the source position of getting the support plate, and taking down the carrying support plate; and c, allowing the carrying dolly to carry the support plate to move to the target position of the support plate, putting the support plate after safety confirmation onto the target position, and completing the automatic carrying. In the support plate carrying process, the flexible manufacturing automatic logistics control method can realize high-speed operation, acceleration and deceleration control, position precision control and multi-axis simultaneous movement control so as to effectively eliminate the mechanical clearance influence.


In the real world, many tasks require multiple agents to cooperate with each other under the condition of local observations. To solve such problems, many multi-agent reinforcement learning methods based on Centralized Training with Decentralized Execution have been proposed. One representative class of work is value decomposition, which decomposes the global joint Q-value Qjtinto individual Q-values Qa to guide individuals' behaviors, e.g. VDN (Value-Decomposition Networks) and QMIX. However, these baselines often ignore the randomness in the situation. We propose MMD-MIX, a method that combines distributional reinforcement learning and value decomposition to alleviate the above weaknesses. Besides, to improve data sampling efficiency, we were inspired by REM (Random Ensemble Mixture) which is a robust RL algorithm to explicitly introduce randomness into the MMD-MIX. The experiments demonstrate that MMD-MIX outperforms prior baselines in the StarCraft Multi-Agent Challenge (SMAC) environment.


Preface Part I. Stages in the History of the Idea of Probability: 1. From rhetoric to science 2. Probability and signs: reasoning from effect to cause Part II. Probability in Augustan Literary Criticism: 3. Vraisemblance, probability and opinion 4. The literary work as a hierarchy of probable signs 5. The role of probability in Augustan theories of imitation Part III. Probability and the Meaning of Augustan Narrative: 6. Probability and literary form 7. The conditions of knowing in Augustan fiction 8. Sentimental communion and probable inference: Mackenzie and Sterne 9. Association, reverie and the decline of hierarchy Concluding theoretical postscript Appendices Notes Bibliography Index.


Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto lignocellulosic Abelmoschus esculentus fibers was successfully carried out in aqueous medium using ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide as redox initiator. Maximum percentage of grafting was achieved when the concentrations of ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and monomer were 3.85 × 10−2, 2.41 × 10−1, and 1.87 × 10−1 mol/L respectively at a temperature of 45°C for a reaction time of 90 min. The kinetics of graft copolymerization was also studied, and it was found that the rate expression for graft copolymerization is (Rg) = K [Asc]0.68[H2O2]0.49[MMA]1.17. The activation energy for graft copolymerization of MMA onto Abelmoschus fiber was found to be 12.48 KJ/mol. The graft copolymers thus formed were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.


How to make a scientific and all-round evaluation of the overall diathesis of the five-year college students for Art Education? This has been a tough and interesting topic for the Chinese educational circles.The evaluating system put forward in this paper not only investigates such factors as are moral,intellectual,mental,psycho-physical,etc.,shared in common by students of different majors,but also gives a measure of the students' professional diathesis by taking into account the characteristics of their different specialties.The study is both qualitative and quantitative,attempting to establish a comprehensive and convenient system of evaluating index and methods for the targeted students.


Mutations in the genes for two out of three subunits of CAF 1 -
fas1 and fas2 - lead to rapid shortening of telomeres while the
activity of telomerse is not notably altered.


Segalen and Claudel respected each other's literary work. However the poets' religious beliefs were opposite. While writing Peintures in 1915, they corresponded regarding faith and, in a letter to a friend, Segalen wrote that Peintures absorbed his answer to Claudel. Segalen describes indeed his belief in aesthetic in answer to Claudel's catholic faith. Peintures clearly reflects this conception. Cent Phrases pour eventails could be considered as an answer from Claudel. Both of the works form a kind of dialogue that we may interpret according to two different levels : to see the world, and to display images of the world within the work. Concerning the last point, Segalen and Claudel are both inspired by Extreme Oriental painting. Whereas this is considered by Segalen as an imaginary world independent from reality, by Claudel it is considered as an imitation of the reality, but moulding its essence. The two opinions give birth to two poetic creations with two specific aesthetics.


For the H2COH radical, properties such as geometries, frequencies, electric and magnetic dipole moments, electronic and ionization spectra, etc., were investigated at the ab initio level (second-order Moeller−Plesset and multireference configuration interaction (MRD-CI) methods). At equilibrium, H2COH (σ2π2n2π*) is of C1 symmetry. The inversion and rotation conformations are about 1 and 5 kcal/mol less stable. The MRD-CI vertical ionization potentials (eV) lie at 7.89 (π* → ∞) and 12.91 (n → ∞, into 13A'' of the cation). The π* → 3s state (adiabatically at Te ≈ 3.23 eV, calculated) is placed about 1 eV lower than previously assumed. Experimental T0's of 4.34 and 5.09 eV are respectively reassigned to π* → 3pz and π* → 3px (perpendicular and parallel bands relative to the CO bond). At the equilibrium geometry, the valence states lie at 6.46 (n → π*), 7.30 (π → π*), and 8.40 eV (σ → π*); i.e., the latter lies in the ionization continuum. The direction of the electric dipole moment of H2COH is mainly governe...


"Article Copyright 2004 The Authors."
"Published edition Copyright 2004 Australian Academic Press. Published version of the paper reproduced here with permission from the publisher."


Abstract : A new test was formulated for the purpose of evaluating the naval aviators' ability to interpret speech in a background of high-intensity noise such as that found in an aircraft cockpit. The test consists of one hundred one-syllable ords recorded in 100db of aircraft noise at a signal-to-noise ratio of plus 15 db. Twenty-four Service Group I and three Service Group III naval aviators between ages of forty and fifty were tested using two forms of the test. Mean scores showed no difference between groups, despite differences in threshold acuity for pure tones. Re-test revealed an unexpected improvement due to practice. Te test is proposed as a realistic method for use in determining the senior aviators' qualification to perform in Service Group I. AUTHOR)


Ports operating adjacent to major urban areas must appreciate the environmental and social values of the nearby community. The increasing focus on environmental issues associated with port operations will continue in the future however the specific values held by the community and perception of port operations are likely to change over time. Ports must adapt their operations to these changes whilst ensuring a positive perception of port activities if they are to be sustainable and increase their trade. This paper discusses how Environmental Management Systems, community consultation, long term planning and environmental monitoring/reporting are key ingredients for a successful port operating near an urban area.


The utility model discloses a hoist which releases by gravity, including a hydraulic pressure motor, a speed reducer, a coiling block, a coiling block shaft, a clutch and a brake; the hydraulic pressure motor connects to the speed reducer, the one end of the coiling block connects to the speed reducer and the other end connects to a joint; the coiling block connects to a braking hub by means of a connecting coil and is supported on the coiling block shaft by a rolling bearing; the clutch is arranged inside the braking hub and on the coiling block. The coiling block separates from the coiling block shaft by operating the clutch, and the coiling block can freely rotate under the effect of exterior force if the brake is started, which realizes lowering by gravity, greatly improves working speed and efficiency, requires no force in lowering and reduces huge amount of energy.


Educational thinkers have concerned themselves for hundreds of years with the problem of curriculum improvement. Our present-day school curriculum has evolved out of numerous efforts to improve it by repeated revision. However, the rapid changes in the scientific, civic, social, industrial, economic, and political life of today have far out stripped changes in the curriculum. For the past decade, new emphasis has been put on curriculum re vision. An effort has been made to take the psychology of learning more adequately into account in improving the curriculum. Educational think ers have pointed the way to a new philosophy of education that helps the individual live a happy, interesting, useful life in the immediate present and that prepares him for adjustment to a constantly changing future. To meet this philosophy, one of the tendencies is to build the new curriculum around the functions of social life or around major areas of human activity and to relate the curriculum content of different grades to definite centers of interest or emphasis. In a recent study, nine major areas of human activity1 were estab lished, and numerous problems of life were collected under these nine areas.2 It is the purpose of this article3 to establish centers of interest or emphasis for grades one through twelve as a partial basis for a workable program for the core-curriculum of elementary and secondary schools. Another article will be concerned with allocating problems of life to these centers of interest or emphasis.


Motivated by a conjecture of Donaldson and Segal, we take a first step towards defining a new 3-manifold Floer theory, where the complex is defined by a count of Fueter sections of a hyperk\"ahler bundle over the 3-manifold with fibers modeled on the moduli space of centered monopoles on $\mathbb{R}^3$ with charge $k \in \mathbb{Z}_{\geq 2}$. The main difficulty in defining these counts comes from the non-compactness problems. In this writing, we prove a compactness theorem in this direction in the case of $k=2$.


Among the measures,the key measure has been put forward,and the question of effection about high drawing speed has been solved.


This paper presents an expert system-based methodology to evaluate impacts of voltage sags on industrial power systems from the end user point of view, in order to make decisions based on financial assessment. Causes and effects of the phenomena are analyzed and different mitigation solutions are taken into account. Three industries are studied and results show the best cost-effective solution for each case. In order to evaluate all information required for the methodology, a graphic software tool is designed as a platform to introduce new evidence to the Bayesian structure, to update costs involved and to present results in a simple way.


Learning robust representations that disentangle the underlying factors of variability in data is an intuitive way to achieve generalisation in deep models. Consequently, it has been the object of much effort from the machine learning community. This work takes a step further in this direction by addressing the scenario where generative factors present a multimodal distribution due to the existence of class distinction in the data. We formulate a lower bound on the joint log-likelihood of inputs and class labels and present N-VAE, a model which is capable of separating factors of variation which are exclusive to certain classes from factors that are shared among classes. This model implements an explicitly compositional latent variable structure by defining a class-conditioned latent space and a shared latent space. We show its usefulness for detecting and disentangling class-dependent generative factors as well as its capacity to generate artificial samples which contain characteristics unseen in the training data.


This paper is part of my ongoing exploration of the systematization of the study of the humanities in Korea. As such, it focuses on mapping Changbi, particularly from the perspective of the humanities movement it set in motion in Korea in the 1970s. Changbi not only distributed knowledge produced by scholars to the general public, but it also systematically roduced discourses in the humanities and broke ground in systematizing the study of the humanities in academia. This paper examines the interaction between Changbi and academia, not from an ideological or methodological dimension only, but more importantly from the perspective of the "culture of scholarship" that the journal helped to shape. Such a culture forms habits and patterns of thinking, which then tacitly or otherwise influence the design and implementation of academic studies. Chapter 2 examines Changbi from its inaugural issue (Spring, 1966) to Issue Number 56 (Summer, 1980); it examines the journal's mode and process of the humanities discourses. Chapter 3 examines the paradigm and culture of the humanities studies presented in Changbi; for that purpose, the paper analyzes the structure and narrative character of the articles carried under the "modern history" agenda the journal introduced in 1972. Chapter 4 focuses on the literary and cultural history of the late Joseon era, considering the beginning of modern history in Korea; it examines the process of the systematization of the study of traditional literature that took place as the result of the interaction between Changbi and academia.


The purpose of this study was to ascertain, using cadavers, the relationship between the MCN and LPSL and to investigate MCN entrapment. Methodology: A total of 30 hemipelves from 20 cadaveric donors (15 female, 5 male) designated for education or research, were studied by gross anatomical dissection. The age range of the donors at death was 71–101 years with a mean of 88 years. Results: A total of 64 MCN branches were identified in the 30 hemipelves. Of 64 branches, 10 (16%) penetrated the LPSL. The average cephalocaudal distance from the PSIS to where the MCN penetrated the LPSL was 28.5±11.2 mm (9.1–53.7 mm). The distance from the midline was 36.0±6.4 mm (23.5–45.2 mm). The diameter of the MCN branch traversing the LPSL averaged 1.6±0.5 mm (0.5–3.1 mm). Four of the 10 branches penetrating the LPSL had obvious constriction under the ligament.


Background: Hydrosalpinx is a common cause of female infertility1 and adversely affects the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF).Although IVF is the main treatment, alternative treatments, such as salpingectomy and functional tubal surgery have been suggested.2Previously, hydrosalpinx was diagnosed using tubal patency tests (transvaginal ultrasound, TVUS; hysterosalpingography, HSG; andlaparoscopy), which do not assess tubal function hydrosalpinx, and salpingectomy was the main surgical treatment for hydrosalpinxprior to IVF.3 However, with modern tubal endoscopy (salpingoscopy and fertiloscopy)4-7 and their ability to assess tubal functionalmucosa, functional tubal surgery can be considered for thin-walled hydrosalpinx and a healthy mucosa and salpingectomy performedfor thin-walled hydrosalpinx with mucosal adhesions and thick-walled hydrosalpinx with absent mucosal folds.8Aims and objectives: The aim of the review is to highlight the use of appropriate tubal function tests to help in making a choice betweeneither salpingectomy or functional tubal surgery as the treatment for hydrosalpinges.Materials and methods: A literature search was performed using the search engine Google, HighWire press, PubMed and SpringerLink.Selected papers were taken for further references. All articles, including randomized controlled trial (RCT) were included for the review.Results: Vasquez et al8 suggested that mucosal adhesions are the most important factors in determining fertility outcomes especially inthin-walled hydrosalpinges. Several studies on hydrosalpinges have also shown that the absence of mucosal adhesions on salpingoscopycan identify patients who can benefit from advantages offered by reconstructive surgery.3-7 Boer Meisel et al9 showed that patients withthin-walled hydrosalpinges and well preserved mucosa had an intrauterine pregnancy rate of 77% and a tubal pregnancy rate of 4%following reconstructive surgery.9 Vasquez et al8 in their prospective study showed that thin-walled hydrosalpinges with a normal orflattened mucosa, but without mucosal adhesions were associated with a 58% pregnancy rate and low risk of tubal pregnancy.8 Theirstudy also found that thick-walled hydrosalpinges with mucosal adhesions have a statistically significant lower intrauterine pregnancyrate.8 Dechaud et al10 showed that salpingectomy for thick-walled hydrosalpinges improved the outcome of IVF.Conclusion: An appropriate tubal mucosal assessment should be a routine prior to deciding upon further management of hydrosalpinx.Functional tubal surgery should be preferred in mild forms of hydrosalpinx and salpingectomy reserved for severe forms of hydrosalpinx.


THEME ARTICLE The Volunteer State of Tennessee is where we began our career in agricultural education. The Tennessee agriculture students and teachers have been blessed with the presence of a specific "agriscience" course that blends biology, chemistry, and physics into agriculture. The teacher-designed and written curriculum efforts started in 1987 and by 1989, the state Board of Education, Tennessee Board of Regents, and the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved this course as an acceptable science credit for college entrance. We believe it to be one of the first such efforts in the country. The course consists of 33 units in six major sections, which are Orientation, Leadership, Experiential Learning, Animal Science, Plant Science, and Agricultural Mechanics. Each section contains units and specific objectives that must be taught if students are to receive science credit. Originally, the agricultural education teachers that teach the class must have teaching endorsements in both agricultural education and science, but recently Tennessee added a teaching endorsement in Agriscience, which makes teaching the course much more feasible. The agricultural curriculum has been a success for many reasons, but primarily because teachers have been working together to design, enhance, and maintain quality materials to use in their programs. Not only did they work together on the curriculum itself, they have also collaborated to develop a lab manual of science experiments that are within the context of specific areas of agriculture. Their most recent collaborative experience yielded over 100 science experiments for agriculture mechanics and physics, animal science, chemistry, genetics, plant science, soil science, and miscellaneous topics to be used in the agriscience curriculum and in other courses as needed. The point is that two heads are better than one and 50 to 100 heads are much better than that. You may not be able to organize an entire curriculum project, but you can take a leadership role and organize as many of the competent teachers that you know to capitalize on their knowledge, skills, abilities and experience to create a pool of scientific applications to be used that are relevant to your community and the specific type of agriculture that you teach. Following are some abbreviated examples of simple science implementation activities that the agriculture teachers in Tennessee were able to develop from their collaborative experiences. Try these in your class as soon as possible. They are a lot of fun. We challenge every agricultural education professional at all levels to form collaborative ventures that will give teachers more tools to use to incorporate science into the agricultural education curriculum. …


Considering the events related with the campaign #BringBackOurGirls , the aim of this article is to draw a critical and conceptual reflection based on a counterpoint between photographic and written narratives, problematizing the practice of representation of the subaltern subject and its agency. Tackling the intersection between gender and childhood as a paradigm of a subaltern narrative, I propose a critical reflection concerning the relationship between subject and object suggested and implied by written and visual representations of childhood.


The pore size, shape and orientation of an illite-dominant clay were mapped during one-dimensional compression, using mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy and gas adsorption. The total porosity was found to spread over the three IUPAC classes of pores sizes: micropores (below 2 nm), mesopores (2-50 nm) and macropores (above 50 nm), and all three pore classes were observed during the compression. The clay structure is aggregated, with visible inter-aggregate pores (about 80% of the total porosity), the remaining intra-aggregate pores of size approximately equal to the thickness of illite platelets (50-100 layers). During compression the largest pores first collapsed, followed by a progressive collapse, in an orderly manner, of smaller and smaller pores. MIP data suggest that the macroscopic deformation mainly translates at the pore scale into changes of inter-aggregate porosity, while intra-aggregate pores spread over the micro- to mesopore size range. Gas adsorption tests show that the volume of intra-aggregate pores decreases with loading, probably due to rearrangement of particles composing the aggregates, while the specific surface area reduces. Examination of the pores' orientation on both vertical and horizontal planes confirms a preferential orientation of pores normal to the loading direction, with a gradual flattening of the pores.


ABSTRACT:Frequently referred to as the "Chinese Oscars," the Golden Horse Awards, held in Taiwan annually since 1962, accept submissions from various Chinese-speaking countries despite China's suppression of Taiwan. This article reveals that the transnationalism of the Golden Horse Awards has been influenced by the cross-border tendency of early Chinese cinemas, the political turmoil of the past six decades in Taiwan, and the shifts in Chinese-language film industries in East and Southeast Asia under the influence of neoliberal globalization. It examines how the Golden Horse Awards have transformed from a tool of state ideology during the Cold War into an evaluating system that aims to promote both the global image of Taiwan and the artistic values of Chinese-language films in a broader sense. Drawing on theories from film festival and transnational cinema studies, this article further compares the Golden Horse Awards with the Cannes Film Festival to demonstrate the ways in which both festivals culturally legitimize local "national" cinema while aligning with transnational cinemas to counter larger film hegemonies. I bring the research up-to-date by examining the challenges the Golden Horse Awards have faced since China withdrew from the competition following political controversy at the 2018 ceremony. By focusing on how the Golden Horse Awards function both as a physical and an imaginary site that embodies the ambivalence of the umbrella term "Chinese-language cinemas," this article sheds light on broader complex issues of national identities, globalization, and transnational cinemas in film awards studies.