Anita Desai's fictional world offers a wide range of duality-ridden structures open for strong psycho-semantic render ings or interpretations. The major dualities woven in the fiction of Desai are of masculine versus feminine, tradition versus modernity, illusion versus reality, body versus soul, self versus other, Oriental versus Occidental, spirit versus flesh, rational versus irrational, emotion versus intellect, esoteric versus exoteric, lack versus desire, presence versus absence, attachment versus detachment, and so on. These dualities become foregrounded with the use of the technique of counter-pointing one issue with the other, connoting darker or brighter aspects of existence. The motif of the dualities comprises recurrent metaphors, metonymic parallelisms, ironic reversals, frequent flashbacks, cultural codings, stream-of-consciousness symbolizing dissection of the psyche, etc. Desai's women characters, though caught in the dynamics of lack and desire, always strive and struggle to find the basic truth of life which can show them the union of opposites manifesting a state of trance and tranquility. The patterns that she weaves are essentially dualistic in nature. The present paper aims at exploring some of the dualistic patterns which, in turn, constitute the thematic conflict in the novel Voices in the City (1965). The author herself admits that her world-view is innately subjective, which gives her ample scope to lay bare the varied feminine nuances manifesting the dualistic dialectics which cause the core conflict in the novel.


In our terminology, the "polar substorms" are isolated substorms, observed at geomagnetic latitudes higher 71° and not accompanied or preceded by substorms at auroral latitudes. The "high-latitude substorms" are the substorms which start at auroral and then drift to the polar latitudes. Here we apply the methods of the discrete mathematical analysis (DMA), namely the calculation of the general dispersion of the two-dimensional covariance matrix of the wave, to study the global latitudinal structure of the Pi2 (f=8-20 mHz) geomagnetic pulsations, which were observed during several "polar" and "high-latitude" substorms. For this analysis, we used the observations of 10-s sampled IMAGE meridian magnetometer profile data and 1-s sampled data from some mid-latitude and equatorial INTERMAGNET stations. We found that generally the Pi2 pulsations bursts associated with both types of substorms occurred simultaneously from polar to equatorial latitudes. However, the wave polarization was different at different latitudes. The Pi2 pulsations exited at auroral latitudes were left-hand polarized and the Pi2 pulsations exited at polar latitudes were right-hand polarized. The strongest Pi2 pulsations were recorded at the electrojet centre location. The examples of Pi2 behaviour during two considered types of substorms are shown.


1 John D Jackson, "Analysing the New Evidence Scholarship: Towards a New Conception of the Law of Evidence" (1996) 16:2 Oxford J Legal Stud 309 at 324. Instead, she leaves her readers to struggle with them, equipping her audience with key insights from theories of law, science, media, and feminism, all carefully annotated. Th roughout her analysis of how criminal, scientifi c, and social processes conspire to come to terms with and manage uncertainty in this case, Cunliff e never lapses into epistemological solipsism. Instead, she includes concrete and useful doctrinal suggestions with careful attention to the specifi c context of parenthood and sudden infant death syndrome. Th rough carefully contextualized suggestions, Cunliff e demonstrates that the law of evidence cannot, itself, provide one-size-fi ts-all solutions through rules abstracted for universal application. She reveals, as others have suggested, that a thoughtful law of evidence may require more rules, not fewer, in order to cope with the lessons of interdisciplinary analysis. 1 Whether our current legal and institutional frameworks can support the eff ort necessary to avoid papering over uncertainty and reinforcing stereotypes—or whether our legal processes would collapse under that burden—remains an open question. But Cunliff e, in her thoughtful call for context, leads by example in responding to that challenge.


This paper discusses how to achieve optimal hedging for a local investor with investments abroad. We analyze the convenience of performing foreign currency hedging through the use of exchange rate forward contracts.


The word of
corruption is a word almost daily reported on television, newspapers, social media, and
others. News of arrest of state officials as a result of corruption becomes something that
seems common. Chairman of the House of Representatives, Governors, Regents, Mayors,
and many others officials or politicians are examples of those whose have been arrested
in connection with corruption. One such effort is prevention through a transparent
system of governance and accountability. Furthermore, the Corruption Eradication
Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (commonly abbreviated as KPK) established in
2002 is a state institution established with the aim of improving the efficiency and
effectiveness of efforts to eradicate corruption.


Abstract. We report a simple budget heuristic for a fast optimization of multipump Raman amplifiers based on the reallocation of the pump wavelengths and the optical powers. A set of different optical fibers are analyzed as the Raman gain medium, and a four-pump amplifier setup is optimized for each of them in order to achieve ripples close to 1 dB and gains up to 20 dB in the C band. Later, a comparison between our proposed heuristic and a multiobjective optimization based on a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm is made, highlighting the fact that our new approach can give similar solutions after at least an order of magnitude fewer iterations. The results shown in this paper can potentially pave the way for real-time optimization of multipump Raman amplifier systems.


This paper examined the relationship between crude oil production and the Nigerian economic performance using the Cobb-Douglas Production Function. The model was fitted to Nigeria's data of crude oil production, labor input, capital input, oil domestic consumption and oil exports.The empirical results showed that crude oil output has a significant impact on Nigerian economy because there was a significant relationship between the variables in this model.


This second instalment of papal doctrine on the priesthood ranges more widely than the first. This follows from its being confined to the utterances of one pope Pius XII and to the inclusion of discourses given to various audiences as well as directives to the hierarchies of different countries. In essentials the teaching is no other than that of the predecessors of Pius XII as the need, for holiness, zeal and obedience is indispensible. But these virtues will be developed in different settings and the outlook of each generation will be an ingredient of the contemporary priestly character. The current terms will enter into his vocabulary if his message is to be meaningful to his hearers. Otherwise he runs the risk of being dismissed as the purveyer of ideas outmoded by the technical advances of which these modems are so proud. Yet the necessary adaptation of the methods of approach and the means of communication must not be allowed obscure the unchanging truths committed to the priest for communication to believer and non-believer. The danger of being too much preoccupied with new techniques to the detriment of immutable obligations is obvious. Pius XII was deeply conscious of the need for a new kind of effort but he was equally insistent on the right and duty of authority to keep control of initiatives. Perhaps this emphasis on the need for control is more marked in his formulations of the character of the work of the priest of today than it was in the documents emanating from Pius X or Benedict XV. This need cause


Purpose Primary malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx is rarely seen. Clinically, most patients display initial nonspecific symptoms of unilateral nasal obstruction or epistaxis. The prognosis is generally poor, with a mean survival time of 3.5 years. Material and methods In this paper, we have reported the case of malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. 79 years old man had presented with the swelling of the nose, nasal blockage and epistaxis during the six months before diagnosis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed to excised the nasal cavity tumor. Using positron emission tomography/computed tomography examination with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose, the patient was diagnosed with residual nasopharyngeal tumor after surgery. Results Following the diagnosis, intracavitary brachytherapy for nasopharynx was administered. Solitary cervical nodal involvement occurred 6 months after the diagnosis when had been completely removed. After that, external beam radiotherapy was performed on the submandibular area on the right side. Thereafter, the patient was given follow-up care in the Department of Radiation Oncology until the time of distant progression of the disease. Conclusions We have chosen to discuss this condition, because of its rarity and the possibility of using radiotherapy, even though the malignant melanoma had been regarded as a radioresistant disease, and also to emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment of such patients.


there is a new way, using FLUENT--a computational fluid dynamics software, to analyze the inside flow field of hydraulic retarder instead of using one-dimension flow theory. In the simulation process, the inside flow field is assumed whole fluid-filled. And the moving areas use sliding mesh model while the turbulence model chooses standard two equations model. Finally, there are analysis of the pressure, velocity distribution and torque characteristics. Then compare the simulate results with the trial results to verify the feasibility of treatment method.


[Objective]To discuss the methods of insertion the pedicle screws of thoracic vertebrae and sum the results of correction of idiopathic scoliosis. [Methods]Bone of entrance was removed with rongeur forceps.Drill began according to the preoperative depth and rotation.Drill was stopped when achieve the depth,after checking the hole with special probe then we strike awlin the hole.Checking the hole using specillum again then insert the screws. [Results]Totally 97% were successful inserted by one time.The results were no patients with spinal cord injury and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid and no infection of incisional wound.The correction rate in coronal plane was 73% ±2%after surgery,showing significant difference(P0.05).The Cobb angle insagittal plane was from 6° to 30°,with average of 23°±2.6°,showing significant difference(P0.05).Rotation deformity was corrected by Ⅰ~Ⅱ degree.The height of patients increased by(8.6±0.69) cm in average,showing significant difference(P 0.05).Thrty-three patients were followed up from 4 to 9 years in average 5 years 9 months.Trunk balance was good and no flat back happened.Bone graft fused well.The correction lost 3.7%±0.09% in coronal planeat at final follow up,showing no significant difference(P0.05).One case was with late infection and 2 patients were with screws broken.The internal fixations were removed out. [Conclusion]Screw rod system had favorable three diamensions correction trolforce.Fully pedicle screw to correct idiopathic scoliosis has good results.


Background: Treatment of perineal burns is complicated by the local bacterial environment and irregular contour anatomically. Purpose: The aim of this study is to know management and adequate treatment for the reduction of complications of perineal burns. Method: Thirty-three patients were included in this retrospective study who were treated by surgical treatment of perineal burns at the department of surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University during 3 years from 1993 to 1995. Result: Age distribution showed that highest incidence of age groups was between one and five years old(10 cases : 30.3%). The most frequent cause of perineal burn was scalding burn(20 cases : 60.6%) and most patients(21 cases: 63.6%) were lesser affected than 20% extent of burn. Depth of burn was mostly between superficial second degree and deep second degree in 11 cases(33.3%) and above third degree in 11 cases(33.3%). Most frequent accompanied burn area was genitalia(17 cases : 51.2%) followed by buttock(13 cases : 39.4%), back(8 cases : 24.2%) and only perianal area was 3 cases(9.1%). Treatment was done that only topical chemotherapy was performed in 15 cases(45.4%), split thickness skin graft in 15 cases(45.4%), full thickness skin graft in 1 case(3.0%), local flap in 2 cases(6.1%). Duration from operation to diet was that 4-5 days in 7 cases(38.9%), 1-3 days in 6 cases(33.3%). The most frequent duration of hospital stay was between 36 and 42 days(14 cases: 42.4%), followed by above 43 days(12 cases 36.4%). Diverting sigmoid colostomy in two cases were performed. Associated diseases were senile dementia(3 cases ' 9.1%), paraplegia(2 cases : 6.1%), seizure(1 case : 3.0%), mental retardation(1 case : 3. 0%), and others. Postburn complications were hypertrophic scar(6 cases : 18.2%), joint contracture(4 cases : 12.1%), urinary tract infection(3 cases : 9.1%), testicular loss(2 cases : 6.1%), anal stenosis(2 cases 6.1%), urethral stricture(2 cases : 6.1%), irritation dermatitis(2 cases : 6.1%), pyoderma(2 cases : 6.1%), impertigo(1 case : 3. 0%). Conclusion: Most of perineal burns are occurred in children or physically hadicapped persons. Therefore, patients with perineal burn wound present a complex array of clinical problem. All peirineal burn wounds should be carefully managed and an aggressive surgical approach is mandatory occasionally.


Abstract The European Electronic Money Directive contains a definition of electronic money. However, determining which systems involving the use of electronic value fall under its scope can be more complicated than one might think. This issue is explored in this article through consideration of the question of whether prepaid mobile phone credits qualify as electronic money—a question that is currently being debated by telecommunications operators and regulators.


Insufficient consideration on copyright in educational activities is frequently pointed out. This article attempts to clarify the basics of copyright by discussing a close relationship between copyright as human rights and school education.


We study the scaling behavior of M-furcation (M=2, 3, 4,…) sequences of Mn-periodic(n=1, 2, …) orbits in two coupled one-dimensional (1D) maps. Using a renormalization method, how the scaling behavior depends on M is particularly investigated in the zero-coupling case in which the two 1D maps become uncoupled. The zero-coupling fixed map of the M-furcation renormalization transformation is found to have three relevant eigenvalues δ, α, and M (δ and α are the parameter and orbital scaling factors of 1D maps, respectively). Here the second and third ones, a and M, called the "coupling eigenvalues", govern the scaling behavior of the coupling parameter, while the first one δ governs the scaling behavior of the nonlinearity parameter like in the case of 1D maps. The renormalization results are also confirmed by a direct numerical method.


Purpose: Learning the state of the internal organs in newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia after general therapeutic hypothermia.
Material and methods: 80 newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia born from January 2014 to May 2019 in Kursk were under observation. In the first 6 hours of life, 52 patients were started with general therapeutic hypothermia (1st observation group), 28 newborns did not perform hypothermia (2nd control group). All children underwent a dynamic complex radiological examination, included ultrasound of the brain, abdominal organs and retroperitoneal space, echocardiography with Doppler, chest X-rays.
Results and discussion: In both groups of observations, radiation symptoms of liver and gallbladder changes were identified: a uniform increase in the echogenicity of the hepatic parenchyma (98.1 % of cases in group 1 and 100 % of cases in group 2, p > 0.05), visual "impoverishment" of the vascular pattern (98.1 % and 100 %, p > 0.05), hepatomegaly (19.2 % and 21.4 %, p > 0.05), thickening of the gallbladder walls, loose sediment or suspension in its lumen (7.7 % and 10.7 %, p > 0.05). All 80 examined patients showed a bilateral increase in echogenicity of the renal parenchyma with visual impoverishment of intraorgan blood flow and impaired corticomedullary differentiation. The described internal organs changes were reversible and due, in our opinion, mainly to the effect of asphyxiation and resuscitation measures.
According to the results of chest X-ray, we did not reveal the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on the incidence of hospital pneumonia: it was found in 34.6 % newborns from the 1st group and in 42.9 % – from the 2nd one (p > 0.05). However, in the first 14 days of life the respiratory failure caused by edematous and hemorrhagic changes in patient's lungs was detected more often in patients from observation group then in patients from control group: respectively 76.9 % and 42.8 % of cases (p <0.05). This indicates a negative effect of general therapeutic hypothermia on the respiratory system of newborns with severe perinatal asphyxia.


The Snell procedure for the preparation of sucrose monoesters of the higher saturated fatty acids by transesterification of sucrose and methyl esters in N,N-dimethylformamide was found to yield variable results due to the use of solid potassium carbonate as catalyst and to impurities in the solvent. A kinetic study of the reaction revealed that yields of sucrose ester and rates of reaction were reproducible when conditions for homogeneous catalysis were established. The reaction followed first-order kinetics in methyl ester and sucrate ion and the rate of reaction was essentially independent of the sucrose concentration, the molecular weight of the fatty acid, and the nature of the metal sucrate used to catalyze the reaction. The activation energy for the reaction was 9.9 kcal mole−1. Equilibrium constants for the principal reactions were determined, and it was established that only the thermodynamic product prevailed at any time throughout the transesterification reaction. A preparative method for the sy...


This study examined the capability of high-resolution imageries for identifying tree species. The IKONOS and CASI (Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager) data were examined to digitally identify 20 tree species and estimating stand density. The numerical taxonomy using nearest neighbor hierarchical classification method was applied to cluster the spectral reflectance of those species of interest. Although the panchromatic band of IKONOS and CASI have the same spatial resolution, the study shown that CASI provided better performance than IKONOS in discriminating 20 tree species of interest. The finer spectral and spatial resolution of CASI significantly improved the quantitative discrimination ability. Inversely, the IKONOS imagery was fail to digitally identify tree species. However, the study shows that both the IKONOS and CASI images are capable to be used to estimate the stand density. To get a better result of discriminating 20 species using CASI image, the number of bands hould be used more than eight bands. Otherwise, some "inseparable" class pairs could exist.


Analyzing the major aspects of American national character, such as individualism, materialism, pragmatism, etc, and exploring their impacts on the advertising language, can be of great significance both for the readers to better understand the American culture and for the copywriters to be more culturally conscious in intercultural advertisement creating.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is the most promising technological paradigm to support the next generation highly efficient emergency management systems. Optimal design of WSN involves all the layers of the protocol stack: from the physical (PHY), the medium access layer (MAC) to the application layer. The design problem is conveniently cast in this paper for linear sensor network topologies where the terminals are equidistantly placed on the line between the source and the destination and are monitoring a correlated field. This simple topology can be adopted to provide insights to the performance of multihop networks used in several applications as monitoring systems, acoustic sensor arrays, seismic systems etc...
 The paper provides an analytical tool for performance analysis that takes into account both the statistical properties of the monitored field (spatial and temporal correlation), the PHY layer transceiver design (RF power allocation and modulation) and the medium access (duty cycle, routing).


The paper focuses on management of human resources in international environments. A conceptual model capturing environmental influences on HRM is outlined and applied as a basis for discussing the management of human resources in foreign subsidiaries of multinational companies. Finally, implications for practice research are derived.


Edwards ( 1941) listed 22 species of culicine mosquitoes from the Province of Mocambique (Portuguese East Africa), deriving these records from the scanty literature and study of the few small collec+ tions available up to that time (Sant' Anna, 1905; Seguy, 1959). In the same year de Meillon and Rebel0 ( 194 1) published additional records obtained incidentally during an anopheline survey of the country. This paper added 20 species to Edwards' list, bringing the known fauna to 42. Pereira (1946a, 1946b) during further work with anophelines


This paper presents parallel simulation techniques for the pseudo three-dimensional CFD-DEM model based on the MPICH2 platform of FLUENT software. This parallel model has good scalability with the increase of CPU numbers, and parallel computing can be speeded up with the increase of compute nodes. The convergence of the governing equations was improved by constructing a void fraction scalar field and reorganizing the gas-phase governing equations, which followed a volume-averaged form of the two-fluid model. The parallel solution of the gas-phase governing equations and the DEM were implemented by a standard module and UDF(User-Defined Function), respectively. In the DEM computing, the particle message passing between neighboring subdomains was completed by message-passing macros. The parallel CFD-DEM model was applied in gas-solid two-phase flow simulation on unstructured meshes and the results are in good agreement with related experiments, which shows that this model can be applied in studying dense particulate flows.


This study clarified the effect of the sugar types on in vitro germination of some date palm cultivars. Three date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen grains cultivars ('Barhee', 'Amhat' and 'Hayani') germinated in vitro on growth media were contained five types of sugars (fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose and sucrose). The results cleared that, the favorite sugar type of pollen germination (PG) medium of 'Hayani' and 'Amhat' was lactose medium 52.16% and 29.71 % respectively while 'Barhee' was sucrose medium 47.52%. The pollen germination of the sugar type was the highest mean on lactose 36.65 %, sucrose 35.83% and maltose media 33.87% insignificantly differences. The mean of pollen tube length ranged from 70.70 to 250.8 µm, on glucose and sucrose media respectively. Pollen tube length of  'Hayani' was higher than and 'Amhat' 177.7, 151.8 and 151.2 µm, respectively, whereas PG% and Pollen tube length were the lowest on glucose media of all three cultivars. In vitro Pollen germination percentage and pollen growth were affected by the sugar type and the different cultivars.


PURPOSE: A cassette for loading thin plate tempered glass of a mobile device is provided to elastically support the thin plate tempered glass and reduce a contact area with the thin plate tempered glass. CONSTITUTION: A main body(110) accommodates a thin plate tempered glass(10). A thin plate support member(120) supports the thin plate tempered glass. An elastic support member elastically fixes the thin plate tempered glass. A side support member is combined with the main body to support the side of the thin plate tempered glass. A lower surface support member(140) is combined with the main body to support the lower surface of the thin plate tempered glass. A main frame(111) is composed of a fixing plate(111a) and a connecting bar(111b). The fixing plate combines the side support member and the lower surface support member to be capable of moving, and the connecting bar separately combines the fixing plate.


The purpose of this study was to determine student responses to English Mathematics lectures using the silent way method and also to determine students' speaking skills when the method was applied. Aspects assessed from speaking skill include grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and pronunciation. This study uses quantitative and qualitative descriptive methods which aim to see the responses and learning outcomes of students in the form of speaking skills using English mathematics with Integer and Fractions material. Based on the results of the research that has been carried out, it can be concluded that the responses and speaking skills of students in English mathematics lectures on the topic of integers and fractions at Madura University are generally good. The response given by students to lectures with this method is positive. Meanwhile, the speaking ability score which includes 5 aspects is also good, namely the students' grammar mastery of 35.9% who got a score of 3 in the very good category, vocabulary mastery of 47.2% in the very good category, and 41.5% of the comprehension mastery with very good category, fluency mastery of 20.7% in very good category, mastery of pronunciation indicator by 16.2% in very good category.


The information footprints of a rapidly increasing influx of internet users present us with an immense source of information that ultimately contributes to the construction of innovative web technology suitable for the future generations. Likewise, WEB INTELLIGENCE has been presented as the usage of advanced techniques in ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY for the purpose of exploring, analyzing, and extracting knowledge from web data. Web Intelligence is the particular field of research and development to explore the fundamental roles as well as practical applications of artificial intelligence which is slowly developing throughout the world in order to create next generation of products, services and frameworks based on internet. This paper outlines important aspects of Web Intelligence (WI), in the context of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) research, research from the viewpoint of Brain Informatics (BI), Web Intelligence Technology and its Applications, Advances in Web Intelligence and Future & Trends of Web Intelligence in Artificial Intelligence.


. Suppose H is a complex Hilbert space and T 2 L ( H ) is a bounded operator. For each closed set F (cid:26) C let H T ( F ) denote the corresponding spectral manifold. Let (cid:27) loc ( T ) denote the set of all points (cid:21) 2 (cid:27) ( T ) with the property that H T ( V ) 6 = 0 for any open neighborhood V of (cid:21): In this paper we show that if (cid:27) loc ( T ) is dominating in some bounded open set, then T has a nontrivial invariant subspace. As a corollary, every Hilbert space operator which is a quasia(cid:14)ne transform of a subdecomposable operator with large spectrum has a nontrivial invariant subspace.


Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is an uncommon human pathogen that usually affects immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a 68‐year‐old male heart transplant recipient, who developed rhodococcal pneumonia with secondary bacteremia 10 months post‐transplant. The patient was a retired carpenter who was involved in breeding of horses. He responded completely to the treatment with vancomycin and imipenem/cilastin, followed by oral ciprofloxacin and minocycline for total treatment duration of 5 months. This case highlights the association between an animal exposure and infection with a unique opportunistic pathogen.


Abstract : Values of surface potentials for etched and oxidized surfaces p- and n-type Si crystals were obtained from the measurements of surface photovoltage and photoconductivity. The p-type samples had resistivities ranging from 1 to 3400 ohm-cm and those of n-type from 1.1 to 1100 ohmcm. Surface potentials on etched and oxidized n-and p-type Si crystals were as high as 1 v and, except for n-type etched crystals, appeared to increase (in absolute value) with increasing resistivity. The surface potential of both pand n-types decreased by about 21 kT/e after oxidation. Surface photovoltage values of 1.2 kT/e for 520 ohm-cm silicon and -0.9 for 46 ohm-cm silicon were obtained. These may be compared with values of 0.14 ev obtained. The oxidized surfaces prepared were stable over several weeks. However, indications are that after several months the high surface voltages deteriorate to values more in line with theoretical values. (Author)


Saccharina latissima is an economically and ecologically relevant kelp species in Europe and North America. In kelps, the sexuality is expressed during the haploid life stage and the microscopic gametophytes exhibit significant sexual dimorphism. To understand the sex-dependent impact of temperature on the gametophyte stage, we analyzed for the first time, gene expression profiles of male and female gametophytes at three different temperatures (4°C, 12°C and 20°C) characteristic for the species distribution range by using RNA-sequencing. We identified several differentially expressed genes between sexes; while female biased genes were enriched in general metabolism and energy production, male biased genes function within cell cycle and signaling. In our study, temperature modulated sex-biased gene expression, with only a small percentage of differentially expressed genes consistently male (7%) or female-biased (12%) at the three temperatures. Female gametophytes responded stronger to higher temperatures than males, suggesting that males are more heat tolerant. Differences between S. latissimaand other brown algal gender-dependent gene expression might mirror the different evolutionary and ecological contexts. Genomic information on kelp gametophyte is still scarce and thus this study adds to our knowledge on sex differences in abiotic stress responses in macroalgae at the transcriptomic level.


In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products (1). Effective August 2016, this authority was extended to all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) (2). Section 704(a)(1) of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act gives FDA authority to conduct investigations and inspections of manufacturers (i.e., any person who manufactures, fabricates, assembles, processes, or labels a tobacco product or imports a finished tobacco product for sale or distribution in the United States) to ensure compliance with applicable federal requirements (1,2).* In October and November 2016, unannounced inspections were conducted in 59 "vape shops" to learn about business and manufacturing practices, including whether establishments were retailers or manufacturers, and, among manufacturers, how the products sold were manufactured and whether the manufacturers were aware of FDA regulations regarding tobacco products. This report summarizes these first 59 inspections, which showed a lack of quality assurance programs, standard operating procedures, and full labeling of ingredients by the inspected manufacturers. Vape shops engage in activities that include selling electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), ENDS replacement pieces, and ENDS premixed flavored "e-liquids" and mixing or preparing combinations of liquid nicotine, flavors, and other liquids for sale to consumers. Before an inspection was initiated, a notice of inspection was issued to the most senior staff member at the shop, who also received a summary of the findings once the inspection was closed. Sixty establishments in four states were selected; one smoking lounge that did not sell or manufacture products was excluded from subsequent analysis. The 59 inspected shops included 31 retailers that only sold finished products, 27 that were both manufacturers and retailers, and one manufacturer that did not sell to consumers. Personnel at all shops reported being aware of FDA tobacco product regulation. The remainder of this report focuses on the 28 manufacturers. Among the 28 manufacturers, 14 were small businesses employing approximately three persons each; the remaining 14 reported having a parent corporation, a subsidiary, or an


This communication treats of a small detail of a large subject. The claim to a power of deposing secular rulers is a major theme in the history of the papacy. As a theory, it epitomises the whole political logic of the mediaeval papacy: the deposing power was the primum caput of papal hierocracy and its origins lie deep in early papal centuries. As a political doctrine put into practice, it had profound effects at several points in the history of mediaeval Europe, particularly in the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries, while its shadow lay banefully over many a governmental decision and politico-religious controversy of more modern times.


Various properties of anti-perovskites ANLa3 (A = Al, Ga) are investigated using the density functional theory (DFT). The GaNLa3 properties are studied for the first time. The computed lattice parameter of AlNLa3 is found to be close to other theoretical and experimental results. The mechanical stability of the present compounds are confirmed by the elastic constants estimated through the calculations. Furthermore, bulk modulus, shear modulus and Young's modulus are evaluated. In this report, the dynamic stability and formation energy of AlNLa3 and GaNLa3 alloys are also highlighted. The state density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) is used to reveal the phonon calculation showing that the studied compounds are dynamically stable. Indeed, with a negative formation energy, it has been predicted that the GaNLa3 compound can be synthesized experimentally. Moreover, the electronic properties are studied using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA-PBE) as well as a more sophisticated exchange-correlation Yukawa Screened PBE0 (YS-PBE0) hybrid functional.It has been found that the computed energy band structures within both approaches, that the anti-perovskites AlNLa3 and GaNLa3 are metallic nature. The total density of states (TDOS) and partial density of states (PDOS) are also calculated to show in evidence the contribution of atoms orbitals in the formation of bands.


The aim of this paper is to show an educational scope with the means of an art piece in general education if adequate approaches and strategies in work with children are applied, and school and pre-schools are connected to the institution of culture. The analysis of different pedagogical-educational strategies was given, and they were based on the use of the works of art and they are performed in pedagogical and museum-gallery praxis. When say pieces of art, we think about the whole art heritage in the field of visual art, such as works of paintings, applied arts, art and craft works, contemporary media, architecture, industrial design, etc. One more aim of the paper was determined, and that is, examining attitudes of pre-school teachers, primary school teachers and Art teachers in our environment and own methodological praxis in which works of art are used. Results of the research point at the conclusion that works of art are insufficiently used in work with children of pre-school and primary school children. Nevertheless, there is a stimulating effect showing that teachers, and Art teachers have the need for professional development in this field, and that there is motivation for the works of art to be used visually in work with children. Conclusions provided by the theoretical analysis and completed empirical research offer bases for creating educational programmes for teachers in our environment who would use the described contents.


Negative‐sense, single‐stranded RNA (‐ssRNA) viruses comprise some of the deadliest human pathogens (Ebola, rabies, influenza A viruses etc.). Developing therapeutic tools relies on a better understanding of their multiplication cycle. For these viruses, the genome replication and transcription activities most‐often segregate in membrane‐less environments called inclusion bodies (IBs) or viral factories. These "organelles" usually locate far from the cell surface from where new virions are released, and ‐ssRNA viruses do not encode for transport factors. The efficient trafficking of the genome progeny toward the cell surface is most often ensured by mechanisms co‐opting the cellular machineries.


The present invention discloses a high-energy beam, with the reaction gas by the corona discharge and electric field can be produced with ultra-fine particles of a nanometer size ultra-fine particle manufacturing apparatus and method. The reaction gas by the high energy light source and the chamber of the housing in which scanning the energy beam, and the supply of the reaction gas supply device is injected into the chamber through the reaction gas inlet tube. Reaction gas, and produce a large quantity of ultra-fine particles by the injection of high-energy rays, ultra-fine particles flowing along the chamber are collected by the collecting plate. A reaction gas inlet tube and a sheath gas, by a sheath gas supply device and the sheath gas inlet tube so as to form a gas curtain which induces a flow of ultra fine particles between the collecting plate is implanted. The power supply applies a voltage to form an electric field or high voltage to cause a corona discharge in the reaction gas inlet tube. After supplying the other reaction gas to the chamber Applying thermal energy, and another reaction gas to produce a large quantity of different ultra-fine particles causes a thermal chemical reaction, other chorip characters are coated on the ultra-fine particles. According to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a wide variety of reaction gas by the injection, corona discharge and an electric field of high-energy beams with a uniform ultra-fine particles of a nanometer size, it is possible to increase the generation rate of ultrafine particles and a collection efficiency. Further, by attaching the ultra-fine particles of heterogeneous or efficiently coated with the other of the ultra-fine particles in a super fine particles it can be manufactured in a new ultra-fine particles.


Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a term describing a group of hydrocarbon-based gases derived from crude oil or natural gas. LPG is mostly propane, butane, or a mix of the two. It has been widely used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. In recent years, LPG-powered cars are becoming more popular. LPG is promoted by the government as being environmentally cleaner, because it burns easily and completely. Moreover, LPG is cheaper than petrol. Although LPG offers many advantages, this technology is not risk free. To our knowledge, up to now, despite its widespread use, only a few fatal burn cases have been reported in the literature. We would like to report a case of a 42-year-old man who suffered third-degree burn and inhalation injury. The burn injury was caused by the explosion of automotive LPG tank when the patient was in the car. On arrival at our burn unit, mechanical ventilation was performed, and subsequently, the patient was immediately taken to a cleaning tank. Burn areas were dressed every day. The patient was followed up in our intensive burn care unit. Unfortunately, postburn day 7, the patient died because of acute respiratory distress syndrome. LPG is supplied as a liquid under pressure and subsequently vaporized for use as a fuel. In some countries, it has been used since the 1940s as an alternative fuel for spark-ignition engines. However, LPG tanks may be hazardous in the event of a tank explosion. The main hazards associated with LPG are leakage followed by ignition (when mixed with air it is highly flammable and potentially explosive). Burns caused by explosions of the LPG tanks in cars have significant mortality and morbidity. These burns are preventable, and, therefore, some basic measures may reduce the incidence of accidental burn injury because of LPG-powered cars.


Indoor localization is a core technology for many position-aware applications. This is often based on the mea-surement of the signal strength at the receiver end, which is available for many commercial radio protocols without additional costs, e.g., for WiFi, Bluetooth or Zigbee. However, a major limitation with received signal strength (RSS)-based methods are high inaccuracies resulting mainly from physical propagation effects. But these effects are not the only cause for erroneous position estimates. In this paper we first present a RSS measure-ment system and localization setup based on Software Defined Radio (SDR)s, which reduces protocol-specific influences such as transmit power management. In addition, the RSS value can be measured with a much higher resolution and sampling rate, which gives more headroom to analyze its statistical and temporal properties. The measurement data is then evaluated to get an insight on the errors and disturbances commonly associated with RSS localization schemes. This allows us to identify a problem in the basic way RSS-based localization methods process the measurement data, which could be partially responsible for the high variance typically associated with RSS measurements and the elusive fast fading effect. The goal of this work is to investigate some fundamental aspects of RSS localization to better understand the limitations of the technology.


This article addresses the right to life, survival and development, guaranteed to every child by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 6, within the context of childhood accidental injury in Scotland. It is argued that Scots law fails to meet the obligations incumbent on States Parties to provide a safe and supportive environment that recognises the special position of the injured child claimant. The nature of the obligation that article 6 imposes upon States Parties, and upon Scotland in particular, is discussed before certain significant legal difficulties facing Scottish child claimants are analysed. That analysis demonstrates that a mechanistic application of the doctrine of contributory negligence in cases concerning children is conceptually flawed and has produced inconsistent and inequitable outcomes. In conclusion, a way forward is proposed in the form of three strategies which might be employed to generate an article 6 compliant approach within the existing legal framework.


A general method of continually restructuring an optimum Bayes-Kalman tracking filter is proposed by conceptualizing a growing tree of filters to maintain optimality on a target exhibiting maneuver variables. This tree concept is then constrained from growth by quantizing the continuously sensed maneuver variables and restricting these to a small value from which an average maneuver is calculated. Kalman filters are calculated and carried in parallel for each quantized variable. This constrained tree of several parallel Kalman filters demands only modest om; puter time, yet provides very good performance. This concept is implemented for a Doppler tracking system and the performance is compared to an extended Kalman filter. Simulation results are presented which show dramatic tracking improvement when using the adaptive tracking filter.


The mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) was first discovered in 2012 as the executioner of necroptosis. In line with this, we showed that MLKL knockdown (
 Mlkl
 KD) by administration of antisense oligonucleotides to atherosclerotic-prone
 Apoe
 -knockout (
 Apoe
 -/-) mice did indeed decrease necroptosis and necrotic core in the atherosclerotic plaque. However, there were no changes in overall plaque area, suggesting additional roles of MLKL during atherosclerosis. During atherogenesis, the spleen allows for the expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and mature myeloid cells that drive atherogenesis. Accordingly, we observed splenomegaly with an expansion of splenic HSPCs and mature myeloid cells upon
 Mlkl
 KD. However, bone marrow transplantation studies revealed that MLKL did not impact hematopoiesis through its expression in hematopoietic cells. Within hematopoietic reservoirs such as the spleen, HSPCs are regulated by their interaction with microenvironmental cell types, including endothelial cells. We thus
 hypothesized
 that MLKL preserves the microenvironment to repress hematopoiesis in the spleen during atherosclerosis. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining during a time course of atherosclerosis revealed a progressive decrease of splenic endothelial cells that was correlated with a reduction of MLKL endogenously or by
 Mlkl
 KD, suggesting that splenic MLKL modulates the endothelial cells known to regulate hematopoiesis. RNA sequencing of these splenic endothelial cells revealed two major pathways that were perturbed upon
 Mlkl
 KD, including cell cycle and factors related to leukocyte differentiation. Adoptive transfer of CD45.1 HSPCs to CD45.2
 Apoe
 -/- mice during
 Mlkl
 KD revealed an expansion of mature immune cells in the spleen as compared to control, together demonstrating the influence of MLKL on the splenic microenvironment and subsequently hematopoiesis. In conclusion, we here demonstrate a novel role for MLKL in regulating the balance of hematopoiesis, specifically through preservation of splenic endothelial cells that promote HSPC quiescence, and more generally highlight the contributions of the spleen and its impact on inflammatory pathways that potentiate atherogenesis.


Non-local means filter when applied on an input image,efficiently removes the Gaussian noise without over-smoothing the details.However,the non-local means filter is not suitable for removing the blocking artifacts.In addition,a filter parameter which significantly affects the filtering result needs to be selected properly.But this is not practical for most applications.In this paper,a no-reference metric T is proposed to measure the deblocking efficiency.And a novel patch-adaptive deblocking algorithm is proposed for removing image blocking artifacts based on non-local means filter using metric T.In the proposed algorithm,non-local means filter is applied block by block and T is used to control the degree of filtering adaptively for each block.


IOTA is a new public chain system specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT), which provides strong support for the high concurrency, scalability, and zero handling fees of the IoT. The distributed ledger of IOTA, called the tangle, adopts a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure. However, compared to the single-chain architecture, the tangle is more complex and highly vulnerable to security threats. The existing transaction verification methods still cannot simultaneously meet the need for accelerating approval speed and improving security to resist illegal transactions, such as lazy tips and permanent tips. In this work, we propose TDTS, a tip-selection algorithm based on time division to improve the efficiency of transaction verification. The main idea of the algorithm is to quickly determine two tips of an incoming transaction that need to be confirmed by sorting tip values in a time slot. It shortens the transaction verification time and reduces the number of lazy tips and permanent tips. A comprehensive theoretical analysis confirmed the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. Based on 1000 IOTA nodes, the evaluations showed that TDTS can select tips quickly like URTS and resist lazy tips like MCMC.


From international nuclear industries fair; Basel, Switzerland (16 Oct 1972). The present stage of certain advanced mechanical studies which were undertaken during execution of Phenix core-vessels is described together with their scope of development: strength of materials, with a due account of creep problems; now-induced random vibnations; and electron-beam welding of large austenitic steel sheets. 6 references. (auth)


Abstract We say that a ring admits elimination of quantifiers, if in the language of rings, {0, 1, +, ·}, the complete theory of R admits elimination of quantifiers. Theorem 1. Let D be a division ring. Then D admits elimination of quantifiers if and only if D is an algebraically closed or finite field. A ring is prime if it satisfies the sentence: ∀x∀y∃z (x =0 ∨ y = 0∨ xzy ≠ 0). Theorem 2. If R is a prime ring with an infinite center and R admits elimination of quantifiers, then R is an algebraically closed field. Let be the class of finite fields. Let be the class of 2 × 2 matrix rings over a field with a prime number of elements. Let be the class of rings of the form GF(pn)⊕GF(pk) such that either n = k or g.c.d. (n, k) = 1. Let be the set of ordered pairs (f, Q) where Q is a finite set of primes and such that the characteristic of the ring f(q) is q. Finally, let be the class of rings of the form ⊕q ∈ Qf(q), for some (f, Q) in . Theorem 3. Let R be a finite ring without nonzero trivial ideals. Then R admits elimination of quantifiers if and only if R belongs to. Theorem 4. Let R be a ring with the descending chain condition of left ideals and without nonzero trivial ideals. Then R admits elimination of quantifiers if and only if R is an algebraically closed field or R belongs to. In contrast to Theorems 2 and 4, we have Theorem 5. If R is an atomless p-ring, then R is finite, commutative, has no nonzero trivial ideals and admits elimination of quantifiers, but is not prime and does not have the descending chain condition. We also generalize Theorems 1, 2 and 4 to alternative rings.


The invention relates to a reliability evaluation method of a power distribution network. The method includes: establishing a reliability model including a distributed photovoltaic power distribution network by employing an AHP analysis method; calculating three layers of indexes in the reliability model including the distributed photovoltaic power distribution network by employing an engineering statistical algorithm and by employing collected reliability data of n regions, adding a region total load value and a total user number to an engineering statistical algorithm calculating result as a BP neural network training sample input value, evaluating the reliability indexes by employing a fuzzy membership method as a sample output value, performing training, and obtaining a case library of scores of the three layers of indexes; determining the weight values between the indexes of the layers in the reliability model by employing a Satty rule and a relative weight method; and performing calculation on the total reliability index of a target system according to engineering calculating values of the three layers of indexes of the practical target system. According to the method, the indexes of the pre-arranged power failure reliability and the economic reliability can be comprehensively and completely calculated.


The overall goal of my PhD research was to design and develop advanced anti-fouling and self-cleaning membranes for treating impaired waters. Initial work focused on the development of membranes to treat produced water, which is oily Wastewater that is co-produced during oil and gas exploration. Economical, environmentally sustainable treatment of the large volumes of produced water is a grand challenge for oil and gas companies. While membranes offer many advantages over more conventional treatment methods, membrane-based treatment processes for oily waters often fail due to membrane fouling. Therefore, the primary objective of my doctoral research was to design membranes that limit foulant accumulation and provide an easy, chemical-free way to remove any attached foulants during the filtration of oily and other impaired waters. My strategy was to modify the surface of Ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with polymer nano-layer coatings using methods that enabled nano-scale control over the chemical and environmentally responsive conformational properties of grafted polymer layers.


Sugar nucleotide‐dependent (Leloir) glycosyltransferases from plants are important catalysts for the glycosylation of small molecules and natural products. Limitations on their applicability for biocatalytic synthesis arise because of low protein expression (≤10 mg/L culture) in standard microbial hosts. Here, we showed two representative glycosyltransferases: sucrose synthase from soybean and UGT71A15 from apple. A synthetic biology‐based strategy of decoupling the enzyme expression from the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cell growth was effective in enhancing their individual (approximately fivefold) or combined (approximately twofold) production as correctly folded, biologically active proteins. The approach entails a synthetic host cell, which is able to shut down the production of host messenger RNA by inhibition of the E. coli RNA polymerase. Overexpression of the enzyme(s) of interest is induced by the orthogonal T7 RNA polymerase. Shutting down of the host RNA polymerase is achieved by l‐arabinose‐inducible expression of the T7 phage‐derived Gp2 protein from a genome‐integrated site. The glycosyltransferase genes are encoded on conventional pET‐based expression plasmids that allow T7 RNA polymerase‐driven inducible expression by isopropyl‐β‐ d‐galactoside. Laboratory batch and scaled‐up (20 L) fed‐batch bioreactor cultivations demonstrated improvements in an overall yield of active enzyme by up to 12‐fold as a result of production under growth‐decoupled conditions. In batch culture, sucrose synthase and UGT71A15 were obtained, respectively, at 115 and 2.30 U/g cell dry weight, corresponding to ∼5 and ∼1% of total intracellular protein. Fed‐batch production gave sucrose synthase in a yield of 2,300 U/L of culture (830 mg protein/L). Analyzing the isolated glycosyltransferase, we showed that the improvement in the enzyme production was due to the enhancement of both yield (5.3‐fold) and quality (2.3‐fold) of the soluble sucrose synthase. Enzyme preparation from the decoupled production comprised an increased portion (61% compared with 26%) of the active sucrose synthase homotetramer. In summary, therefore, we showed that the expression in growth‐arrested E. coli is promising for recombinant production of plant Leloir glycosyltransferases.


Prestressed concrete poles are probably the best choice for most transmission line structures. They have many advantages over structures made from other materials for both engineering and economic reasons. One of the primary engineering benefits of prestressed concrete transmission line structures is the tremendous resistance which these structures provide against cascading failures. In order to account for these advantageous features in the design of a line, it is necessary to consider the structures and the conductors as a system and to analyze the system by means of an advanced computerized analysis.


We read with interest the letter by Haupts et al.,1 who reported two women, aged 61 and 67 years, with progressive, non-active multiple sclerosis (respectively, for 3 decades and 13 years) who suddenly presented acute exacerbations with concomitant gadoliniumenhancing T1 lesions. If the second patient had recent withdrawal of disease modifying therapies (DMD), no specific trigger was identified in the former raising the opened question of DMD cessation in the context of a stable MS. We recently performed a study to address rebound in MS patients aged ≥50 years with a previous long-term stable disease.


When applied to interpretation, seismic molleding usually concentrates on onedimensional bore hole modelling and two-dimensional forward modeping of basic structuralstratigraphic schemes, which are directly compared with real seismic data. Two-dimensional seismic models based on outcrop observations may aid in bridging the gap between the detail of the outcrop and the low resolution of seismic lines. Examples include the Dolomites in northern Italy (Schlager, Biddle and Stafleu 1991; Biddle et al. 1992; Stafleu and Schlager 1993), the High Atlas in Morocco (Campbell and Stafleu 1992), the Vercors (SE France) and the Last Chance Canyon (New Mexico). The emphasis of these studies is on the interpretation of the seismic response to detailed stratigraphic situations, rather than on the geophysical aspects of the modeping itself.


Well-placement is one of the main challenges in reservoir engineering. The connectivity of the net reservoir is often modeled by geostatistical tools so that the most efficient part of the reservoir in terms of fluid flow and petrophysical features (e.g. porosity and permeability) can be located. In the study of well placement, non-net barriers are to be avoided for efficient fluid flow. Barriers which obstruct oil flow must be identified and avoided during recovery. In this work, the connectivity of the non-net barrier (the undesirable components) is studied; this is in contrast to the usual focus on the net continuity of the reservoir. A sound understanding of non-net barriers, in terms of their orientation, size and "tortuosity" could help with effective well placement when no reservoir modeling is provided. In this study, tortuosity is defined as the normalized area that is in excess of a fitted ellipsoid of the same volume; it is used here as a measure of "shape irregularity." Our results show that there is no correlation between a barrier's tortuosity and its size, which explains why tortuosity is required to be characterized as an individual property of the barrier.


The threshold performance of deep-space telemetry is characterized for four turbo codes. The mathematical models given here are based on simulations that account for imperfect carrier synchronization. These models are valid for coherent detection of binary phase-shift keyed (BPSK) telemetry when the carrier synchronization is based on either a residual-carrier loop or a (suppressed-carrier) Costas loop. The required Eb/N0 depends on the code, the threshold frame error rate, the bit rate, and the signal-to-noise ratio and bandwidth of the carrier synchronization loop. For residual-carrier tracking, these mathematical models are used to calculate the optimum modulation index.


This paper represents the need for optimization of a HRES which comprises solar, wind and battery. In this paper a detailed study of a system which is connected to a grid and combined with different kind of renewables is given. The location used in this case study is Siliguri, West Bengal. Here, the whole simulation study has been done in Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) software. The geographic location of the study area is 26°43.6'N (lat) and 88°23.7'E (long) respectively. The objective of this paper is to get a reliable independent system and levelized cost of energy. Two loads have been connected to the system, one is a household load and the other load is for charging of an electric vehicle and renewables such as PV and Wind has been used. The optimum architecture means the size of the PV array, wind turbine, and number of battery string, are optimized by HOMER. Homer helps in optimizing the cost and it calculates the cost of energy (COE) and net present cost (NPC). By the help of NPC and COE, we can find the best system and proper modifications can be done. The optimization result shows that the system consisting of PV, Wind Turbine, Converter and Grid is the superlative system when compared with COE and NPC of system.


A light source for generating light of at least one wavelength of 200Nm~2000nm, connected to the light source, an illumination system including a plurality of nano-sized structures (32) (e.g., holes) light diffusing fiber (12) including. Light diffusing fiber has a core (20) and the cladding (40). A plurality of nano-sized structure is provided at a boundary between the core internal or core and the cladding. Optical fiber further has an outer surface (48), through a nano-sized structure, configured to scatter guided light from the core through the outer surface, the light source fiber region having a predetermined length that emits substantially uniform radiation energy formed, in which scattering attenuation with respect to wavelength of 200nm~2000nm exceeds 50 dB / miles.


If the Fokker–Planck equation for the phase space density of electrons in a storage ring is given, the corresponding equation for the polarization density has a related, simple and elegant form which can be deduced by a simple illuminating argument.


In this paper, we introduce and study some new types of functions by the use of Λb-sets and Vb-sets. AMS Subject Classification: 54C10, 54D10


Among All of Us participants, the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease is similar to past estimates (around 1%) and is highest among White, non-Hispanic, college-educated participants. Medication treatment patterns differ significantly based on ethnicity, education, and income status.


Introduction Patients with CF can expect to undergo many investigations using ionising radiation for the management of their disease: now that the majority of patients will survive well into their 5th decade, life-time exposure to such radiation, a known risk factor for the development of malignancy, may be important. To investigate this further, we looked at the amount of ionising radiation given in our adult CF clinic over a 1-year period. Methods All imaging studies associated with ionising radiation in 253 adult CF patients were reviewed and assessed for their impact on management. Radiation was calculated using standard reference doses1–3 and expressed as (milliSievert [mSv]), also referred to as the effective dose. Results A summary of the results can be found in the Abstract P239 table 1. There was an average annual radiation dose of 1.66 mSv with 54% of studies leading to a change in management. Overall, although only 11% of chest x-rays altered patient management, patients with more severe CF disease (DIOS, CFRD and infection with transmissible Pseudomonas strains) had a greater cumulative radiation dose and this was more likely to alter management.Abstract P239 Table 1 Radiation exposure in cystic fibrosis Mean % predicted FEV1 [SD] Mean CXR [% impacting care] Mean CT thorax [% impacting care] Mean HRCT [% impacting care] Mean Radiation Dose (mSv) [% impacting care] All patients (n=253) 75.7 [23] 2 [10.7] 0.04 [40] 0.03 [37.5] 1.66 [54] CFRD (n=102) 66.2 [22.6] 2.58 [8.7] 0.05 [60] 0.04 [50] 2.62 [55] DIOS (n=5) 88.3 [28.5] 4.2 [9.5] 0.2 [0] 0 6.83 [31] Transmissible Pseudomonas (n=109) 70.7 [22.4] 2.4 [9.8] 0.05 [40] 0.04 [50] 2.39 [52] Other Pseudomonas (n=75) 77.4 [25.8] 1.8 [10.4] 0.03 [100] 0.03 [50] 1.12 [50] B Cepacia (n=10) 69.7 [17] 1.5 [13.3] 0 0 1.01 [7] Conclusions Although the CF population receives a significant dose of radiation from medical investigations each year, many impact on patient management. CFRD, DIOS and infection with transmissible Pseudomonas are associated with greater levels of radiation than the average CF population, in keeping with more significant disease burden in these individuals. Care should be taken when ordering investigations associated with ionising radiation, to reduce the long term effects, as life expectancy is increasing.


Purpose: It has recently been noted using vascular ultrasound and conventional venography that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have anomalies of the cervical venous system, including stenoses and complex collateral pathways [1]. It is possible that such findings could relate to the disease pathogenesis, given the peri-venular location of most MS plaques. Temporally-resolved, volumetric phase-contrast MRI (known as 4D flow) is a promising approach for the dynamic characterization of blood flow [2]. In addition to anatomically characterizing the vasculature, it can also provide temporal information about flow pulsatility. As contrast media is not required, accurate bolus timing is not necessary. Finally, it allows complete evaluation of the venous system, including the intracranial regions, which is not possible with ultrasound. We therefore set out to investigate the use of 4D flow MRI to characterize venous flow in this population of patients.


Abstract The term "Sprachgeist" is essential for Bopp's conception of language. So far this concept has been almost completely neglected in linguistic research. However, its use shows that Bopp is not only interested in the formal representation of languages, but that he considers language obviously from the perspective of the speaker of the language in his time, and, furthermore, that he tries actually to understand his own language and foreign and extinct languages as well. Firstly, the often-discussed concepts "Lautgesetz" and "Analogy" are compared with the concept "Sprachgeist". Afterwards the use of these concepts is pursued within in the Germanic languages. The focus is on the verb 'to be' and the weak preterite.


In most psychoacoustic signal detection tasks, sounds are presented as signals. In this experiment they were presented as payoffs or punishers. Twelve students performed a simulated signal‐detection task in the form of a numeric guessing game. Payoff contingencies consisted of a one‐cent reward for every correct decision and a 3‐sec burst of a 2000‐Hz pure tone for certain incorrect decisions (85, 95, or 105 dB SPL). Differential acoustic costs significantly biased the subjects' responses under conditions where the subjects could not choose an optimal decision criterion in order to maximize monetary gains (d′ = 0). Criterion shifts in the predicted directions were also observed where such optimization was possible (d′ = 1.2). The latter result was confounded, however, by unequal average baseline criteria resulting from the random assignment of subjects to subgroups. Implications of these results for scaling the aversiveness of sounds with a signal detection paradigm are discussed. The results suggest that...


In this work were synthesized new catalysts of stoichiometries Sr0.8K0.2TiCu0.10O3, Sr0.7K0.3TiCu0.15O3 and Sr0.5K0.5TiCu0.25O3 by spray pyrolysis method. The synthesis conditions were optimized to obtain single phase powder of titanates of double perovskite structure, with an ultrasound vibration frequency of 1.3 MHz at 700 °C under air flow. The average crystallite size of the powders, determined by the Scherrer equation and using the Jade Plus 8 software, was at around 9 nm. The powder morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Sr0.5K0.5TiCu0.25O3 system showed particles with smooth surfaces, spherical and with smaller agglomerates than Sr0.8K0.2TiCu0.10O3, Sr0.7K0.3TiCu0.15O3 systems. This phenomenon suggests that the stoichiometry changes the aspect of the particle surface, which may influence in the catalytic activity. Thus, particles without roughening and smaller size can act as promising catalysts.


Abstract The Fourier pseudo-spectral method has been studied for a one- dimensional coupled system of viscous Burgers equations. Two test problems with known exact solutions have been selected for this study. In this paper, the rate of con- vergence in time and error analysis of the solution of the first problem has been studied, while the numerical results of the second problem obtained by the present method are compared to those obtained by using the Chebyshev spectral collocation method. The numerical results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional one in terms of accuracy and convergence rate.


Digital preservation, a term that may be familiar to readers, covers many of the factors that place data at risk, such as technological obsolescence, digital object fragility, and data maintenance. However, Ross Harvey argues that preservation is only a part of the puzzle and much more is needed to ensure that the digital data that are created today will survive through tomorrow, and this process is called digital curation. Digital curation is defined as developing a set of techniques that address "what comes before preservation and what comes after—that is, how the data are created and how they are used before they get to an archive or library and how they will be used, and by whom, in the future" (p. xvi). Essentially, digital curation is a holistic process that looks at the entire lifecycle of the data, from creation through maintenance and in preparation for how the data may be adjusted or migrated in the future. It is about making informed decisions from the beginning to ensure useful data later on.

Digital Curation: A How-To-Do-It Manual is largely based on the Curation Lifecycle Model, developed by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC), a British organization that seeks to promote digital curation activities. The model describes the processes of digital curation and serves as the structure of the majority of the book, with separate chapters breaking out each step in detail. The introductory chapters frame the need for digital curation, describing cyber scholarship or data-driven scholarship and the need for cyber infrastructure to support the digital data. The author gives an overview of the DCC Curation Lifecycle Model and several other relevant models and includes illustrations to show the stages that data transition through before publication and after. Finally, the term "data" is defined so the reader better understands the content that needs curation and how the term has changed due to technological advancements in recent years. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of references, which is helpful for quick perusal and for additional research on the topic.

The subsequent chapters take a much closer look at each stage of the DCC Curation Lifecycle Model and describe the basic requirements of each sequential step. Curiously, the only graphical representation of the model is on the back cover of the book. Each step, and its place in the framework of the model, could have been reinforced by including a picture of the model in each chapter. However, the chapters are clearly written with sections outlined at the beginning and crucial information broken out in text boxes in the margins. Plenty of examples and/or references are provided, and uniform resource locators (URLs) are included in the text for those who are interested in learning more. The chapters break down each step of the model so as not to be overwhelming. Each chapter includes a single step, such as designing data or preserving data, so users may easily refer back to individual chapters to revisit particular areas of interest. A companion website is also available that includes checklists, templates for developing plans, and additional links.

Digital Curation: A How-To-Do-It Manual is a comprehensive guide to designing, creating, describing, preserving, maintaining, and using or reusing data. This book should be useful for those looking for either a theoretical or practical approach to digital curation, as it embraces a model and standards, yet also provides instruction and many examples. Information professionals who are interested in beginning a digital project will find this book a helpful place to start.


A prospective study of 41 patients with acute and chronic ACL deficiency underwent reconstruction with the GORE-TEX polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ACL prosthesis beginning in November 1983. Thirty-nine patients who were at least 2 years from their surgical procedure were available for follow-up evaluation, which included subjective questionnaire, clinical exam ination, and instrumented ligamentous laxity tests. Eight patients had an acute injury to the ACL and 31 patients had chronic ACL insufficiency for which recon struction was performed. Thirty-four patients had satisfactory results, allowing full return to activity with no appreciable symptomatol ogy. Of the remaining five patients, four had a complete rupture of the prosthesis. The average knee arthrome tric measurement improved from a 5.4 mm left/right difference preoperatively to a 2.0 mm left/right differ ence at 2 year followup. Nine patients had postopera tive complications of one or more atraumatic episodes of a sterile effusion. Six patients had recurrent effu sions ; in five, arthroscopy revealed partial tears of less than one-third of the prosthesis. Three patients who had recurrent effusions had PTFE particles in their synovial biopsies. One patient had an immediate post operative infection and to date has had salvage of the prosthesis and currently has a stable knee with full return to activities. Based on the early results of this study, the GORE- TEX PTFE ACL prosthesis provided a satisfactory method of reconstruction for ACL deficient knees. Based on the evaluation used, 87% of the patients had satisfactory results. Problems associated with use of this prosthesis include partial or complete tears of the prosthesis and sterile effusions, possibly due to syno vial irritation from the PTFE particles. Appropriate placement of the graft, anterior and posterior notch plasty, and removal of sharp edges from the bony tunnels may help eliminate these problems.


Synopsis Let P(x) and Q(x) be n × n matrices whose entries involve a single given function q(x). Under suitable conditions, estimates of Liouville-Green type are obtained for the components yν(x) of solutions of the system In the case n = 2, the estimate is applied to systems arising from fourth-order equations and a generalization of a result of Eastham [2] is obtained.


The Daqing Oilfield,situated in Songliao Basin of Eastern China,is a famous oilfield for its largest production of crude oil in China.The Xujiaweizi fault depression,located in the north of the basin,covering an area of 4300 km 2,developes large amount of basaltic hydrocarbon reservoirs.In this paper,we analyze the geological features and reservoir characteristics of basaltic hydrocarbon reservoir in the depression.Combined with mineral and chemical compositions of basalts from ten deep drilling wells of the Xujiaweizi fault depression,we evaluate the feasibility of CO 2 sequestration in hydrocarbon reservoir of basaltic rocks,and then estimate the CO 2 storage capacity from mineral trappimg and gas reservoir trapping in basaltic rocks in the depression.Our results show that reservoir spaces are favorable sites for CO 2 sequestration and minerals of the reservoir rocks are easily suffered to carbonation.Meanwhile,the cap rocks of the hydrocarbon reservoirs can prevent the emission of CO 2,and the stability of hydrocarbon reservoir can guarantee the safety of injected CO 2.Therefore,hydrocarbon reservoir of basaltic rocks should be an idea target for CO 2 sequestration.Estimates of theoretical capacity for CO 2 storage assume that all the pore space freed up by the production of recoverable hydrocarbon reserves would be replaced by CO 2.In this study,the capacity of CO 2 mineral sequestration has been calculated for the mafic minerals in basaltic rock of the hydrocarbon reservoir based on the principle of water-CO 2-rock reaction.Moveover,the theoretical storage capacity of the gas reservoir trapping has been estimated based on gas resources in reserved basals from the local gasfield.According to our preliminary calculations,the potential capacity of mineral trappins for reaction with CO 2 is about 89.33×10 8 tons,while capacity of gas reservoir trapping to CO 2 storage is about 6.2×10 8 tons.So the total trapping capacity of CO 2 sequestration for hydrocarbon reservoir of basaltic rocks from the Xujiaweizi fault depression is about 95.53×10 8 tons.


Article History Published Online: 17 August 2020 Domestic violence has always been discussed with the perception of women. As soon as we come across the word "Domestic violence", a face of a victimized woman comes in front of our eyes. But the fact isn't totally true; because not only women but also men and children become the victims of domestic violence and in a very horrendous way. This paper intends to focus on the impact of domestic violence on human as a whole but the impact will be shown in different ways which are never discussed openly in detail but its impact on the entire human race is terrible, whether it be men, women or children.


Abstract Since laser action was first achieved two decades ago, technological developments have improved the versatility of laser devices so that today we are able to design spectroscopic experiments largely without concern for the limitations of the irradiation source. Further, the development of laser techniques has presented new opportunities for spectroscopic research because of the new and unique properties of laser radiation. Much of the progress has been made possible through the development of tunable dye lasers and the new science of nonlinear optics. Lasers currently provide the purest, most intense sources of radiation while still offering tunability over a wide spectral range, in particular the region 150 to 11, 000 nm. Also, the special conditions of laser operation have allowed the generation of the shortest pulses known from any source of energy down to Fourier-transform-limited single pulses of ∼10−13 sec duration.


In the last few years the interest in reflection has grown and many modern programming languages/architectures have provided the programmer with reflective mechanisms. As well as any other novelty also reflection has detractors. They rightly or wrongly accuse reflection to be too inefficient to be used with real profit. In this work, we have investigated about the performance of Java reflection library (especially of the class Method and of its method invoke) and realized a mechanism which improves its performances. Our mechanism consists of a class, named SmartMethod and of a parser contributing to transform reflective invocations into direct call carried out by the standard invocation mechanism of Java. The SmartMethod class is compliant --- that is, it provides exactly the same services ---, with the class Method of the standard Java core reflection library but it provides a more efficient reflective method invocation.


This work studies the problem of constructing a representative workload from a given input analytical query workload where the former serves as an approximation with guarantees of the latter. We discuss our work in the context of workload analysis and monitoring. As an example, evolving system usage patterns in a database system can cause load imbalance and performance regressions which can be controlled by monitoring system usage patterns, i.e., a representative workload, over time. To construct such a workload in a principled manner, we formalize the notions of workload
 representativity
 and
 coverage.
 These metrics capture the intuition that the distribution of features in a compressed workload should match a target distribution, increasing representativity, and include common queries as well as outliers, increasing coverage. We show that solving this problem optimally is computationally hard and present a novel greedy algorithm that provides approximation guarantees. We compare our techniques to established algorithms in this problem space such as sampling and clustering, and demonstrate advantages and key trade-offs.


An end to end model was developed to predict the performance of a rotating disk Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL). The model includes coupled routines to model the singlet oxygen generator (SOG) including ducting and cold trap, the nozzle, and the laser cavity and resonator. The SOG model is based on a quasi 1D two phase wetted wall approach. It includes an effective resistance chlorine/oxygen mass transfer model, a local basic hydrogen peroxide HO2 diffusion model including property variations both in the flow direction and within the film, thermal analysis for both the liquid and gas phases, and evaluation of O2(1(Delta) ) detachment yield, surface deactivation, and gas phase deactivation. A mass addition routine based on variable specific heat and molecular weight influence coefficients is used to establish nozzle initial conditions. The results of the mass addition calculation are used iteratively to assess SOG stagnation pressure and if necessary SOG calculations are repeated. The primary and secondary streams are then separated into a number of stream tubes. The scale of the primary and secondary stream tubes is determined by the specific mixing scale and their stoichiometries by the initial flows. Mixing is assessed based on an approximate bimolecular diffusion coefficient analysis. Concurrent calculations are made to evaluate the effects of area expansion and chemistry. Once the calculation reaches the mirror location the computations can be performed iteratively with either a roof-top or Fabry Perot resonator to achieve self consistency between the mode characteristics and gain medium. The model is described and representative results presented.


Abstract The Iron Index has been developed to permit its application to the diagnosis and correction of iron chlorosis in culture growth. The stress in the ratio Fe‐Mn‐Zn enables us to diagnose deficiences with respect to some of these elements in the absence of visual signs. Both Iron Index and ratio Fe‐Mn‐Zn, P/Fe, Ca/Fe, Mn/Fe and Zn/Fe were applied to the nutritional research into several lots of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) autochthonous from Sierra Nevada, Spain, in the same climatic and edaphologic conditions. These walnuts were sampled from the time their leaves were completely developed to their old age. Leaves were analysed and the mentioned index and equilibriums determined, being possible to verify the metabolic fluctuations and their correspondence with the morphological state in which the plants were every instant. There are no significant differences among each lot. They initially present very high nutritional levels, then they get stabliized, and decline abruptly later on. We deduce that dur...


The environmental reporting process needed to obtain government permission has evolved into private sustainability reporting, but no clear regulations exist to mandate the structure and guidelines for these corporate sustainability initiatives. This chapter explores how sustainability reporting in concert with other disclosure mechanisms can be controlled by more precise metrics through the use of meta-regulation. Corporate sustainability reports are similarly situated with corporate securities and financial statements in terms of their intended audience; shareholders, but unlike those reporting requirements sustainability reporting has typically suffered from a lack of standardization. This lack of any cohesive regulatory framework minimizes the effectiveness of corporate environmental reporting.


Vision in itself is an extremely complex function, and single binocular vision even more so. Its clinical features constitute such an enormous group of subjects that the framework here does not permit any discussion of its electrophysiology, histochemistry, or histology, although great advances in these fields have been made during recent years. By way of introduction let me emphasize that the physiology and pathophysiology of single binocular vision still remain unelucidated in many ways. Monocular vision is the natural requisite for binocular vision. Fusion of the monocular sensory impressions from the right and left eye into a joint, unified, general sensory impression is what is known as single binocular vision.


MgO:Al crystals illuminated with pulses from a XeCl laser luminescence strongly in broad bands centered at 520 and 736 nm. The 520 nm band appears to be due to luminescence from F centers and exhibits a strong non-linear dependence on XeCl laser intensity. On log–log plots of luminescent intensity vs. pump intensity, straight line segments with I4 and I6 dependence are observed, suggesting that the 520 nm emission is pumped by energy transfer from bi and tri-excitons. Saturation of this emission at high laser flux appears to be due to electron or hole trapping at vacancy defects.

Des cristaux de MgO:Al, illumines par des impulsions provenant d'un laser XeCl, emettent fortement par deux large bandes centrees a 520 et 736 nm. La bande de 520 nm semble provenir de la luminescence de centres F et demontre une forte dependance non-lineaire a l'intensite du laser XeCl. Un graphique log–log de l'intensite luminescente en fonction de l'intensite introduite, ou des segments de ligne droite avec dependance en I4 et I6, suggere que l'emission a 520 nm est pompee par le transfer d'energie des bi et tri-excitons. La saturation de cette emission, soumis a un flux intense du laser, semble provenir de l'electron ou de trous pieger par un manque de vacance.


Reactions of [Ir(C^N)(2)Cl](2) [HC^N = 2-(3-R-phenyl)pyridine, 2-(3-R-phenylpyrazole) R = H, Me] with Me(2)-phencat give luminescent complexes [Ir(C^N)(2)(Me(2)-phencat)][PF(6)] (Me(2)-2a, b, c)[PF(6)]. Deprotection of the methoxy groups with BBr(3) is problematic as simultaneous bromination of the cyclometallated phenyl groups occurs. However, deprotection of Me(2)-phencat with BBr(3) followed by complexation with [Ir(C^N)(2)Cl](2) gives luminescent complexes [Ir(C^N)(2)(H(2)-phencat)][PF(6)] (H(2)-3a, c)[PF(6)], which are luminescent sensors for molybdate.


In the advent of failure of some transgenics at the field level and concerns due to biosafety and bioethical issues, there much thrust on natural plant genetic diversity as a means of adaptive value. Plant breeding basing on natural genetic diversity has gained momentum along with marker assisted breeding technologies for increased production and sustenance to various kinds of stresses. In the present investigation, divergence classification (DC) – a method devised by Arunachalam and Bandyopadhyay (1984) were used to classify 28 Pearl millet genotypes to draw a limit of parental diversity in expressing maximum heterosis. Mahalanobis D 2 (D 2 Values) statistic was used to measure the genetic diversity and then the genotypes were classified in to four divergence classes based on mean and standard deviation of all D 2 values. According to divergence classification DCI involved most distantly and DCIV the most closely related parents where as DCII and DCIII involved the medium divergent parents. A scoring system was adopted to work out the relative order of importance of the divergence classes. The overall scores for each divergence classes based on the proportion of crosses (q) showing significant heterosis (heterosis over better parent) in desired direction and mean (y) of such crosses for ten characters were carried out to rank the divergence classes. According to the scoring system, the most desirable class would be with the lowest total score. Results clearly showed the superiority of class DCIII followed by DCII, as both the classes received low overall score and maximum number of heterotic cross combinations. In conclusion it can be said that divergence classification appears to be effective in clubbing the pearl millet genotypes for parental diversity and suggested that pearl millet parents with intermediate diversity would be used to produce heterotic cross combination.


Programming computers has been a herculean task for most programmers especially when codes grow into complex and larger software systems with multiple subprograms. Object Oriented Programming (OOP) has reduced the difficulty in the development of elegant and scalable software by presenting robust concepts such as composition, inheritance and aggregation. All these concepts have enormous assistance to the software developer in code reuse. Also these techniques can be used to build applications which can be delivered to customers in a record time. In this research a critical study, review and implementation of software building and enhancement using aggregation and inheritance. A module is built with attributes defining it properties and methods its characteristics. Incrementally more modules were added to the previous modules using either aggregation or inheritance technique. This incremental approach has proven tremendous success in software development. This as buttressed by many software development theories have shown that: software is built not manufactured; software is a collection of programs with functions and attributes based on its enhancement, also incremental software development which involves building systems from sub-systems gives a better understanding of software development process. Also the process of writing bug-free programs can be achieved with lesser difficulty which can be achieved when programs are built using modular or incremental software development approach, which employs mostly aggregation while moderately using inheritance only if all the properties and methods of those modules are needed wholesomely in classes. The result from the research will help programmers to enhance codes with much mastery.


Two promising culture-independent approaches that have been employed to assess the function and metabolic potential of uncultivated microorganisms are stable isotope probing (SIP) and metagenomics. This chapter discusses the methodology of metagenomics within the context of DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP), and provides a description of the possible limitations and how these limitations can be overcome, summarizes the combined DNA-SIP and meta-genomic studies to date, and highlights future directions. The chapter also focuses on metagenomics as it relates to SIP and highlights some of the methodological considerations for cloning and characterization of labeled DNA from active and uncultivated microorganisms. A study using SIP and metagenomics with increasingly low substrate concentrations to characterize marine methylotrophs involved in C1 cycling of surface seawater was a proof-of-concept approach that utilized multiple displacement amplification (MDA) for the first time in association with DNA-SIP and metagenomics. The study also demonstrated that DNA-SIP employing near-in situ substrate concentrations may be used because the resulting low yields of DNA are still amenable to metagenomic analysis through MDA amplification. The combination of SIP, MDA, and metagenomics provides powerful access to the genomes of active-but-uncultivated microorganisms. An alternative approach for combining SIP and metagenomics is to profile the purified 13C-labeled DNA with high-throughput sequencing of cloned DNA fragments. DNA-SIP paired with metagenomics is expected to yield invaluable insight into the uncultured microbial world as the techniques become increasingly commonplace, isotopes become increasingly available and affordable, and experiments become increasingly well designed.


Three kinds of heterometal assemblies, {Ln[Cr(ox)3]⋅10H2O}x (Ln=La, Pr or Nd), were prepared by the reaction of K3[Cr(ox)3]⋅3H2O with Ln(NO3)3⋅6H2O in water. These compounds were regarded to have the oxalato-bridged three-dimensional lattice. The thermal decomposition behavior of these assemblies was investigated in an air stream. The behavior was similar to each other. The mixed oxides, LnCrO4, and the perovskite-type oxides, LnCrO3, were found to form in the temperature range of 823 to 973K and above 1023K, respectively. Specific surface areas of LaCrO3, PrCrO3, and NdCrO3 obtained by calcining the corresponding complex assemblies at 1073K were 1.82, 1.85, and 1.91m2⋅g-1, respectively. The effective magnetic moment per LaCr unit of LaCrO3 increased from 1.98μB at 296K to 2.79μB at 285K, and then the moment decreased below 285K because of the phase transition. PrCrO3 and NdCrO3 showed ferrimagnetic behavior. That is, the magnetic moments per LnCr units of PrCrO3 and NdCrO3 increased drastically below 240 and 225K, respectively, also due to the phase transition. The moments of PrCrO3 and NdCrO3 were 9.79μB at 219K and 18.98μB at 223K, respectively, which were much larger than those expected from the respective total spin states, ST=5/2 for PrCrO3 and ST=3 for NdCrO3.


The wet tropospheric correction (WTC) retrieved from the onboard calibration microwave radiometer (CMR) of Haiyang-2A (HY-2A) is critical in monitoring the global sea level. However, the CMR WTC became significantly biased from June 2017 due to the failure of the 18.7-GHz band, which caused massive errors in the sea surface height (SSH) measurements. We investigate the accuracy of the CMR WTC derived from the two remaining bands to address this problem. A comprehensive evaluation using multisource data demonstrates that the dual-band + backscattering coefficient (BC) algorithm achieves comparable accuracy to the three-band algorithm, and it does not suffer from any large errors when the equipment works well. Hence, we calibrated the HY-2A CMR data with the dual-band + BC algorithm when the 18.7-GHz band failed, and the accuracy of the CMR WTC is improved from 2.34 to 1.39 cm compared with European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA5 data. In addition, the SSH measurements are improved significantly by a maximum of 2 cm in mean value using the dual-band + BC WTC during the failure period of HY-2A CMR. Compared with Jason-3 SSH measurements, the HY-2A with dual-band + BC shows a slightly larger difference than HY-2A with three-band by 0.1 cm in rms. This method prolongs the operational lifetime of the HY-2A CMR and could be used in the reprocessing of HY-2A observations.


Abstract : The fielding of large numbers of small computers throughout the Air Force has precipitated the need for a small computer security handbook. Unlike traditional large computer systems, small computers are being used extensively by functional users in non-controlled environments. As a result, users of these small systems must be made aware of their security responsibilities in safeguarding the small computer and the data it processes. This handbook highlights small computer security issues and makes users aware of their security responsibilities in using a small computer. Issues include life cycle management, risk analysis, contingency planning, protection of hardware and software, safeguarding sensitive data, computer abuse, appointment of a TASO, TEMPEST integrity, sensitive markings, samples logs. It supersedes A Small Computer Security Handbook published by the Air Force Small Computer/Office Automation Service Organization in 1983.


This paper presents methods for 3D object detection and multi-object (or multi-agent) behavior recognition using a sequence of 3D point clouds of a scene taken over time. This motion 3D data can be collected using different sensors and techniques such as flash LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), stereo cameras, time-of-flight cameras, or spatial phase imaging sensors. Our goal is to segment objects from the 3D point cloud data in order to construct tracks of multiple objects (i.e., persons and vehicles) and then classify the multi-object tracks as one of a set of known behaviors, such as "A person drives a car and gets out". A track is a sequence of object locations changing over time and is the compact object-level information we use and obtain from the motion 3D data. Leveraging the rich structure of dynamic 3D data makes many visual learning problems better posed and more tractable. Our behavior recognition method is based on combining the Dynamic Time Warping-based behavior distances from the multiple object-level tracks using a normalized car-centric coordinate system to recognize the interactive behavior of those multiple objects. We apply our techniques for behavior recognition on data collected using a LIDAR sensor, with promising results.


Perturbation theory, simulations, and scaling arguments predict that there should be no static friction for two weakly interacting, flat, atomically smooth, clean solid surfaces. The absence of static friction results from the fact that the atomic-level interfacial potential energy is much weaker than the elastic potential energy, which prevents the atoms from sinking to their interfacial potential minima. Consequently, we have essentially two rigid solids, for which the forces at randomly distributed "pinning sites" cancel. It is shown here that even fluctuations in the concentration of atomic-level defects at the interface do not account for static friction. The sliding of contacting asperities, which occurs when the problem is studied at the multi-micrometer length scale, relative to each other, however, involves the shearing of planes of atoms at the interface between a pair of asperities from the two surfaces in contact. Since this results in a force for the interaction of two in contact asperities which varies over sliding distances of the order of an atomic spacing, the contacting asperities at the surface are able to sink to their interfacial potential minima, with negligible cost in elastic potential energy. This results in static friction.


On the basis of the explanation of intercultural sensitivity and the content of cultural competence,the introduction of cultural knowledge teaching to combine language knowledge with pragmatic competence is discussed,so as to overcome cultural conflicts in cultural communication,and the cultivation strategies of intercultural sensitivity and intercultural communication competence are raised.


During the past two decades the number of repetitive strain injuries has grown with the spread of repetitive motion and computer-automated work in both blue-collar and white-collar sectors of the economy. These injuries now represent the leading safety and health hazard on the job, but many of them can be prevented through the science of ergonomics. Organized labor, women's groups, and committees on occupational safety and health fought for two decades to secure the ergonomics standard, but President Bush repealed it in two months. The attack on, and defeat of, the ergonomics standard was part of a larger corporate effort to discipline the labor force and limit workers' rights.