Lithium-ion batteries are the main energy source of devices, and the estimation of their state-of-health (SOH) has become a hot point in prognostics and health management. However, many existing methods assume that training and testing data follow the same distribution. The model based on dataset under one working condition may be ineffective for the dataset under another working condition due to the distribution discrepancy. Thus, this article proposes a novel battery health prognostic model based on transfer learning. First, a novel transfer learning-based prognostic model, called deep domain adversarial network, is developed for SOH estimation of Lithium-ion batteries. Second, an unsupervised feature alignment metric is proposed, where maximum mean discrepancy and correlation alignment are considered simultaneously. Moreover, a generative adversarial learning is developed to guide the feature generator to provide the domain-invariant features. Finally, a novel feature generator, called dense bidirectional gated recurrent unit, is proposed to extract discriminate features from sensor signals. The effectiveness of DDAN for SOH estimation is verified on a battery dataset. The experimental results indicate that DDAN can effectively predict SOH of Lithium-ion battery, and significantly improve the performance of feature learning and knowledge transferring.


Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children is a rare, aetiologically diverse condition that results in growth failure and short stature. Inadequate response to two different growth hormone stimulation tests (GHST) is required for the diagnosis of GHD. Macimorelin acetate, a potent, orally administered growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, is approved by the FDA and EMA for the diagnosis of adult GHD. Study AEZS-130-P01 is the first of two studies to investigate macimorelin acetate as a diagnostic test in children with suspected GHD.
 This was an open-label, group comparison, dose escalation trial to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single-dose 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg oral macimorelin acetate in paediatric subjects with suspected GHD. The macimorelin GHST was administered between two standard GHST, conducted as per local clinical practice, with a recovery period of 7-28 days between tests. Blood samples were collected pre-dose (±15 min) and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 360 minutes after macimorelin acetate intake.
 Overall, 24 paediatric subjects (8 per cohort [C1, C2, C3]) were included in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis. Five males and 3 females were observed in C1 and C2, 7 males and 1 female in C3. In all three cohorts, at least 3 subjects represented Tanner stages I or II. All 24 subjects (100%) were white, with a median age of 9.8, 9.0 and 10.5 years (range 4-15 years) and a median body-mass index of 16.1 kg/m2 (12.4-21.4 kg/m2) at screening. Overall, 88 adverse events were reported, many related to the standard GHST; none were considered related to the macimorelin test. Maximum plasma concentrations for macimorelin were mainly observed between 30-45 min. The mean Cmax values were 3.46, 8.13 and 12.87 ng/ml for C1, C2, and C3, respectively. The AUCs increased with dose; the mean AUC0-6 values were 6.69, 18.02 and 30.92 h*ng/mL. The mean elimination half-lives were 1.22, 1.61 and 1.71 h, respectively. PK and PD profiles for all three cohorts were comparable, with peak GH levels mainly observed within 30-60 min following macimorelin intake.
 Macimorelin acetate was safe and well tolerated in all dosing cohorts. A dose-dependent increase in macimorelin Cmax and AUC in children and adolescents correlated well with data from adult subjects. A robust dose-proportional GH response was also achieved. PD results showed that GH response was comparable in all dose groups, with a slight shift to earlier tmax at higher macimorelin doses.


If we started off to understand that Colombia is a country done of parts, multicultural and completely heterogeneous, it is comprehensible that an unified vision does not exist since it is a country that is being torn and without clear perspective as far as a solution that it shelters all the nation. This article tries to contribute to the intention to create solutions exposing an experience of Territorial Ordering in the Colombian Pacific specifically in the municipality of Baudo, that by its special characteristics as much of location as of socio-cultural conformation raises a deep reflection in the subject leaving restlessness for future actions.


ABSTRACT The tourism industry, research activities, and governing institutions are often seen as three very different, independent, and partly antagonistic activities and sectors – tourism as pure profit-pursuing, research as indifferent to business, and governing as controlling both. In this paper, it is argued that this is not the case on Svalbard, where a symbiotic relationship exists between the three sectors. Tourism to the islands emerged in the wake of the exploration of the Arctic in the late 1800s, but for a long period tourism rates were low, mostly due to a strict environmental regime supported by researchers in the natural sciences as well as the government. However, tourism has increased over the past 20 years, partly due to changes in the relationships between the tourism industry, researchers, and governing bodies. The involvement of research in different types of governance and its influence on tourism development will be demonstrated using theories of modern governance as points of departure for an analysis of the current situation; how tourism has provided governors with activities to govern and researchers with a rationale for comprehensive research activity. This case study shows how a symbiosis between tourism, research, and governance can be seen to emerge.


As examiner in pediatrics for the National Board of Medical Examiners, I would like to bring to the attention of the pediatricians an important change in Part III of the examination, as it involves pediatrics. This is the oral examination given at the end of a year's internship by "subsidiary boards" in 29 medical centers throughout the country. The clinical nature of the examination provides an opportunity to determine the candidate's ability to apply the knowledge which he has previously demonstrated in the written examination of Parts I and II.
 For many years the examination has included medicine, surgery, and obstetrics as major subjects, while pediatrics has been included in a group of specialties as being of minor importance.


In a wireless network, connectivity is arguably the most critical issue that requires significant study since a network can hardly function well if it is disconnected. On the other hand, there are extraordinary interests in exploiting cooperative techniques in wireless networks in recent years. This paper studies the connectivity problem of large cooperative ad hoc networks. Unlike traditional cooperative networks where all nodes are willing to transmit in a collaborative manner, the cooperative network we considered does not assume that all nodes would like to transmit cooperatively when relaying other nodes' traffic. In other words, each node exhibits some sense of selfishness. Specifically, we model nodes in such a way that each node cooperatively transmits with $p$-selfishness or location-based $p$-selfishness when relaying other nodes' traffic. For the considered network, we assume that nodes are generated according to a Poisson Point Process (PPP) and techniques based on stochastic geometry and percolation theory are used to analyze the connectivity in such system. To quantify the performance of the cooperative ad hoc network with selfish behavior, we provides an upper bound of node density for such network to maintain connectivity.


This paper investigates the usage of passive harmonic filters to mitigate harmonic distortions when two resonant points are present in a system caused by shunt capacitors used for power factor correction and bus voltage regulation. Six scenarios were investigated using DIgSILENT 14 Power Factory software. The investigations are with and without power factor correction and capacitors used to increase bus voltage. Passive harmonic filters are designed to reduce harmonic distortions at the point of common coupling (PCC) to fall within the IEEE 519 harmonic voltage and current limits caused by parallel resonance. The results of the case studies are analysed to evaluate the effectiveness of the filter design.


The purpose of this paper is to present the necessary
information for the elaboration of a study plan for a family
hospital: Espiritualistic Institution in Our Home for the Criciuma
Service in order to serve a local population as well as the nearby
authorities. The researches were carried out with the objective of
obtaining an updated and updated database on the research
and insertion area. A. An analysis was made to identify the
appropriate site for the. The present description also includes a
technical and design foundation, demonstrating an influence
and importance of each item. Finally, the main thing is to
determine the leadership program with the ideas directed to it.


Accurate evapotranspiration (ET) estimation plays a central role in better understanding the allocation of water resources in a time of increasing scarcity; however, ET estimation remains many challenges. To enhance the accuracy of ET prediction, this study proposes an enhanced gross primary productivity (GPP)‐based Priestley–Taylor algorithm (GPP‐PT) that uses GPP to compute fractional vegetation cover (fV). In terms of soil moisture fraction (fSM), it is described by using either diurnal temperature (DT) or soil moisture index (SWI), conducting two variations of the proposed model (i.e., hereafter called GPP‐DT and GPP‐SWI, respectively). These two improved algorithms were compared with their previous models, the GPP‐DT with a modified satellite‐based Priestley–Taylor model (MS‐PT), and the GPP‐SWI with a soil water index (SWI)‐based Priestley–Taylor model (SWI‐PT). Datasets from 42 flux towers covering different land cover types were used to investigate the performance of these algorithms. The GPP‐DT algorithm was found to be superior to the MS‐PT model, with 12.60% and 10.42% reductions in the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), respectively, and with 9.05% and 2.19% increases in the determination coefficient (R2) and index of agreement (IOA), respectively. Similarly, the GPP‐SWI model yielded RMSE and MAE reductions of 10.95% and 10.67%, respectively, and R2 and IOA increases of 8.88% and 3.72%, respectively, compared to the SWI‐PT model. In the direct comparison between the two newly proposed models, the GPP‐DT model performed better in shrubland and forest, whereas the GPP‐SWI model performed more efficiently in grassland. Sensitivity analysis found that soil moisture was more sensitive to both evaporation and transpiration than DT in most land cover types, and the GPP had a stable relationship with transpiration in different biomes. The newly improved GPP‐PT models were robust and effective for estimating ET and might thus be used as a reliable input for hydrological models.


The popularization of higher education needs suitable career guidance service system. This paper, mainly in the aspects of guiding ideology, leadership system, working mechanism, marketing system, and the construction of subject and team, talks about the tentative idea of the establishment of guidance and service system for the graduates after enrollment increase.


In this paper, we introduce a new class of discontinuous Galerkin methods for the Stokes equations. The main feature of these methods is that they can be implemented in an efficient way through a hybridization procedure which reduces the globally coupled unknowns to certain approximations on the element boundaries. We present four ways of hybridizing the methods, which differ by the choice of the globally coupled unknowns. Classical methods for the Stokes equations can be thought of as limiting cases of these new methods.


Existing approaches to traffic assignment focus mainly on approximating the user equilibrium. However, nowadays, with the increasing number of traffic information reaching drivers, traffic authorities have a unique opportunity to try to recommend route choices that are as much as possible aligned with the system optimum. In this paper, we formulate traffic assignment as a multi-objective optimization problem and engage an evolutionary approach to find route solutions for all users in the network. The aim is to discover a good approximation of an optimal distribution of vehicles to alternative routes between their origin and destination, from the perspective of the overall system, while still considering individual needs. Several multi-objective models are defined for this purpose and integrated in a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm. Computational experiments performed support the ability of the proposed approach to detect efficient route assignments in terms of network performance, while also considering the user perspective. efficient route assignments in terms of network performance, while also considering the user perspective.


The author uses a comparative presentation of Relational Database Management Systems (RDMS) and Object Oriental Database Management Systems (OODBMS). The presentation of the two types of systems was made having in view: The evaluation rules of the two types of systems elaborated by E.F. Codd and OMG; Data Modeling; The objectives of the Systems. In the end the article contains conclusions referring to the two types of systems.


:  The present study examined the effects of voluntary and automatic orienting after a relatively long interval in an attentional cueing paradigm. Facilitation of return was observed after the voluntary orienting to a designated color (Experiment 1) and motion direction (Experiment 2), whereas inhibition of return was observed after the automatic orienting to an abrupt stimulus onset (Experiment 1). These results suggest that the voluntary orienting to a visual attribute modulates subsequent processes differently from the automatic orienting to an abrupt onset. In the voluntary orienting to visual attributes, it would be advantageous to return attention to the previously attended location, which is a potential source of information.


PURPOSE
To describe the radiologic findings of susceptibility changes in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) thromboembolism detected with three-dimensional (3D) susceptibility-based perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to compare the detectability and clinical value of this sign with those of the hyperdense MCA sign at computed tomography (CT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-three patients (mean age, 55 years) underwent CT and MR imaging within the first 6 hours after the onset of acute MCA stroke. The hyperdense MCA sign at CT and the presence of susceptibility changes in acute thromboembolism as depicted on T2*-weighted 3D perfusion MR images were assessed. The presence of each sign was correlated with clinical presentation.

RESULTS
The sensitivity of the hyperdense MCA sign at CT was 54% (negative predictive value, 71%) compared with 82% (negative predictive value, 86%) for the susceptibility changes at MR imaging. There were no false-positive CT or MR readings. The presence of the MCA susceptibility sign correlated positively with the initial clinical presentation (chi(2) = 7.987, P =.009, Spearman rho = 0.589). However, neither of the signs was a predictor for clinical outcome in cases of spontaneous MCA stroke.

CONCLUSION
In addition to the information traditionally provided with reconstructed perfusion parameter maps, 3D susceptibility-based perfusion MR images allow the identification of acute MCA thromboembolism with a sensitivity higher than that of CT.


ABSTRACT Copper sulphide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) were in situ synthesised via irradiation process, using Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as host polymeric matrices. The as-prepared CuS/PVA nanocomposite films were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both UV-VIS spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of CuS nanoparticles. The FTIR spectrum indicates the coordination between CuS nanoparticles and the OH groups of the PVA chains. The TEM image showed that the obtained CuS nanoparticles have spherical shape, monodispersed and uniform particle size distribution. The CuS/PVA nanocomposite film was successfully applied in the reduction of p-nitrophenol into p-aminophenol as a catalyst using NaBH4 as reducing agent. The catalytic test indicates that CuS/PVA nanocomposite film has high activity for the conversion of P-NP into P-AP and effectively recycled and reused for several times.


Electrically treated water (ETW) has a character of nanotechnology. It is produced by special equipment for dissociation of water molecules. The practice of adding ETW to the wet diet of growing pigs was subjected to an experiment. A control group of pigs that did not receive any ETW was matched by two experimental groups, one getting 4% of ETW in the total feed (Exp44%), and the other 8% (Exp48%). The dosag e was maintained throughout the entire fattening period up to the slaughter. Meat quality was assessed by technological and sensory evaluation. The tests did not reveal any negative effect of ETW addition on meat quality in either experimental group.


To overcome the different issues connected with security and limited bandwidth during transmission of images, compression and encryption play an important role. To measure the effect on the performance of compression technique followed by encryption techniques is a challenging task. In this paper, biorthogonal discrete wavelet transform (DWT) technique is proposed for compression which is followed by advanced encryption standard (AES) and data encryption standard (DES) technologies to achieve secure transmission of data. The performances of DWT-AES and DWT-DES Compression-encryption (CE) algorithms are analyzed based on statistical and differential parameters. We illustrate the authentication of results by applying the proposed CE algorithms over five standard test images and also by comparing with different state of the art methods. The results show that combination of DWT-DES CE methodology provides high quality of reconstructed image with robustness against different attacks.


Objective To explore the mechanism of Montelukast combined with Huang Qi Huai in the treatment of asthma.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were chosen and randomly divided into five groups:control group (Control),model group (Model),Montelukast group (MK),Huang Qi Huai group (H),Montelukast + Huang Qi Huai group (MK + H),each group has 8 rats.The other four groups except the control group were built to chronic rat asthma model.The treatment groups were administered intragastrically with Montelukast,Huang Qi Huai and Montelukast + Huang Qi Huai respectively.All animals were sacrificod; plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and superior lobe of right lung tissues were collected.Superior lobes of right lung tissues were used to measure the expression of IL-17 in lung tissue by immunohistochemistry.The airway inflammation was analyzed by histochemistry staining with H.E.Total cells score and differential score in BALF were counted.The levels of IL-17 in the plasma and BALF were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Compared with the control group,the degree of inflammatory cell around the airway in the model group were significantly higher (P < 0.05).Compared with group model,the degree of inflammatory cell around the airway in the Group MK,group H and group MK + H were significantly ameliorated ( P <0.05).Compared with Group MK,the degree of inflammatory cell around the airway in group MK + H was significantly ameliorated ( P <O.05),the expression of IL-17 in lung tissues was significantly lower ( P <0.05),the numbers of total cells and the concentration of IL-17 in plasma and BALF were decreased too ( P <0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the level of IL-17 in the plasma and BALF was positively correlated with the level of IL-17 in the lung tissue( P < 0.05 ).Conclusions Combined Huang Qi Huai adjuvant Montelukast treatment of asthmatic rat further reduced the concentration of IL-17 in the plasma and BALF,reduced the expression of IL-17 in lung tissue,improved the airway inflammation.Down regulation the expression of IL-17 was probably one of the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory.

Key words:
FRUCTUS LYCII/PD;  POLYGONATUM KINGIANUM/PD;  Leukotriene antagonists/PD;  Quinolines/PD;  Asthma/PA/ME/ZJ;  Respiratory tract diseases/PA;  Interleukin- 17/ME


This paper presents a new method to improve the performance of envelope tracking (ET) power amplifiers (PAs). The method consists of combining the supply modulation that characterizes the envelope tracking architecture with supply shaping and dynamic biasing. The inclusion of dynamic biasing allows a dynamic minimization of the current consumption while imposing simultaneously a constant gain condition. In such a way we maximize the efficiency of the ET transmitter maintaining a considerable linearity. Bias and supply voltages are modulated applying specific waveforms obtained as a function of the input envelope by means of two shaping functions jointly designed on the basis of a single-tone characterization. The presented technique is demonstrated by means of measurements on a commercial GaAs HBT power amplifier. Measured results showed a PA power added efficiency (PAE) of 51.9%, an error vector magnitude (EVM) of 1.2% and an adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of -39.4/-43.5 dBc. The presented transmitter architecture allowed an improvement of 12% PAE compared to a classical ET transmitter where the measured PA was biased in class-AB, maintaining the linearity indicators.


Recently, CdSe quantum dots (QDs) have been studied extensively with the aim for the application in opto-electronic devices. It is well known the self-assembled CdSe dots on ZnSe[100] grow by Stranski-Krastanow (SK) mode. One of the problems in CdSe dot preparation is how to control the dot size. In the previous study, monitoring the specular beam intensity during the growth, we confirmed the SK dots originate immediately after the third CdSe monolayer is formed on 2ML-CdSe. In other words, only the third CdSe monolayer converts to dots and 2ML-CdSe (WL: wetting layer) remains on ZnSe, and dot size becomes large by ripening during the third layer deposition. Since primary dots originate by the condensation of CdSe monolayer, it is expected that dot generation depend on the shape of the surface terrace. Here CdSe dots were fabricated by an alternate molecular beam supply on ZnSe buffer layer grown on GaAs[100]. Photoluminescence (PL) was measured at the liquid He temperature by an excitation of the He-Cd laser.


The increase of MSMEs in the food and beverage industry recently experiencing significant growth, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to statistical data released by the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) in November 2020, the food industry dominated Micro and Small businesses in 2019 for 36.23%. The increasing number of MSME businesses in this sector becomes an opportunity for the processing services industry (contract manufacturer) to help MSMEs with all limitations. This study conducted a case study on PT. Krispindo as a company engaged in processing services (contract manufacturer) in the snack sector. This research aims to assess (valuation) new business proposed by PT. Krispindo in terms of optimal use of debt and equity for the company and also investment returns that can be given to investors. In addition, this research also aims to assist the company in making decisions for the following period project, decision to continue or discontinue the business. This study used optimal Cost of Capital (WACC) and Debt-to-Equity Ratio (DER) in setting optimal business capital. To measure investment return expectations for investors, the study used the company's Net Present Value (NPV), Free Cash Flow to Firm (FCFF) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) approaches. To find out whether or not the business is further, this study uses Terminal Value Asset (TVA) and On Going Concern Value from the business obtained when the project ending. The results prove using debt in capital has more benefit for the company and the business can continue after the projection period ends.

Keywords: New Business Valuation (NPV), Debt-to-equity ratio (DER), Average Cost of Capital (WACC), Free Cash Flow to Firm (FCFF), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Terminal Value Asset (TVA) and On Going Concern Value


Abstract This article addresses questions concerning Enlightenment universalism and cultural diversity by focusing on the views of China held by Pierre Bayle and the Baron de Montesquieu. In contrast to the characterizations of Enlightenment thought as insufficiently attentive to cultural diversity and as providing pretexts for imposing European values on non-European cultures, recent scholarship has sought to uncouple Enlightenment thought from imperialism and colonialism. An examination of the perspectives, positive and negative, of Bayle and Montesquieu on China suggests that Enlightenment thinkers attempted to reconcile ethical universalism and cultural diversity, but also shows the limitations of such attempts. Thus, while dismissals of Enlightenment thought as universalistic and even imperialistic fail to consider Bayle's and Montesquieu's subtle engagements with Chinese culture, their accounts of China arguably fall short of being robust cross-cultural or anti-colonial perspectives.


This paper deals with investigation of high-performance concrete (HPC) with full replacement of the silica powder by the waste glass powder. The silica powder was replaced by two types of the waste glass powder, originated from different sources (waste glass powder from grinding jewelry and milling of municipal waste glass). The properties of the waste glass powder were examined and compared with the silica powder. The mechanical and durability properties of three HPC mixtures were experimentally verified. The bulk density, flexural strength, and compressive strength were tested on beams 40 × 40 × 160mm at age 28 and 60 days and after 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 freeze-thaw cycles. There were observed slightly worse properties of mixtures with the waste glass powder in comparison with reference HPC.


This nonrandomized controlled trial ancillary study evaluates the survival outcomes associated with corticosteroid use during nivolumab treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.


Low-temperature heat capacities of the complex Zn(Phe)(NO_3)_2·H_2O(s)(Phe:phenylalanine)have been precisely measured with a small sample precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 370 K.The initial dehydration temperature of the complex(T_0=(324.27±0.37)K)has been obtained by means of the analysis of the heat capacity curve.The experimental values of molar heat capacities have been fitted to a polynomial equation of heat capacities(C_(p,m))vs the temperature(T)with the least square method.The smoothed heat capacities and the thermodynamic functions of the complex have been calculated on the basis of the equation.In accordance with Hess law,dissolution enthalpies of the mixtures{ZnSO_4·7H_2O(s)+2NaNO_3(s)+L-Phe(s)}and{Zn(Phe)(NO_3)_2·H_2O(s)+ Na_2SO_4(s)}in 2 mol·L~(-1) HCl were measured to be:Δ_dH_(m,1)~0=(69.42±0.05)kJ·mol~(-1) andΔ_dH_(m,2)~0=(48.14±0.04)kJ·mol~(-1), by using an isoperibol solution-reaction calorimeter.Furthermore,the standard molar enthalpy of formation for the complex was determined as,Δ_fH_m~0=-(1363.10±3.52)kJ·mol~(-1),by designing a thermochemical cycle.In addition,the reliability of the designed thermochemical cycle has been verified by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the data of the refractive indices.


1 To investigate the role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in the immediate asthmatic response, we examined the bronchial reactivity to histamine after administration of PAF to guinea‐pigs or antigen challenge to passively sensitized guinea‐pigs. 2 A bolus injection of PAF (20–40 ng kg−1), which did not cause a significant increase in intrathoracic pressure (ITP), augmented the bronchial response to histamine almost 8 fold. This airway hyperreactivity was observed even 1 min after PAF treatment. 3 A subthreshold dose of antigen (0.01 mg kg−1, i.v.) also provoked hyperreactivity to histamine, which became significant 6 and 11 min after the antigen treatment. 4 The specific PAF‐antagonists, SM‐10661 and CV‐6209 (i.v.) dose‐dependently inhibited both PAF‐and antigen‐induced airway hyperreactivities to histamine. 5 These results suggest that PAF plays an important role in antigen‐induced acute airway responses by augmenting the activities of spasmogens.


Calcium (Ca2+) is a second messenger essential for cellular homeostasis. Inside the cell, Ca2+ is compartmentalized and exchanged among organelles in response to both external and internal stimuli. Mitochondria‐associated membranes (MAMs) provide a platform for proteins and channels involved in Ca2+ transfer between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Deregulated Ca2+ signaling and proteins regulating ER–mitochondria interactions have been linked to liver diseases and intensively investigated in recent years. In this review, we summarize the role of MAM‐resident proteins in Ca2+ transfer and their association with different liver diseases.


This article examines incidents in which the miracle-working properties of a source of water or other substance are discovered, thereby sparking unauthorized visits by hundreds or thousands of people to gain access to it. The article examines: the meanings of holy water and the motivations of those who set off in search for it; the sociological dimension of these quests; the extent to which such episodes were a deliberate attempt by enemies of the regime, principally redemptive religious sects (huidaomen), to sow disorder; the reaction of the authorities to outbreaks of holy water fever and the measures they took to deal with it; and what such outbreaks reveal about the nature of the local state and about popular attitudes to it in the first decade-and-a-half of the People's Republic of China.


Due to the development of GPS technology, nowadays we are able to determine geodynamic plate motion around the world. Using an appropriate noise technique and understanding all the stochastic effects we are able to do a proper GPS time series analysis in which the sources of noise can be classified as: white noise, flicker noise and random walk. We study the area from the Caribbean Sea, taking the data from two GPS stations for a period of 7.5 years. We use spectral analysis and Maximum Likelihood Estimation. In the first part of the analysis we simultaneously estimate the velocity and amplitudes of the noise with integer spectral index and in the second part we estimate the spectral index. The noise model that presented the higher values of the log likelihood is a combination between power law and white noise which best describes the noise characteristics of all three components. In all the cases the noise amplitudes presented higher values for the vertical component. Also, the rate uncertainties for the power law plus white were higher by a factor of 10, then by using only white noise model. ARTICLE INFO


Kristy Hess and Lisa Waller argue that media reform is a chance for Australia to move on from archaic laws drafted "in an analogue world" to create a media monopoly board that is set for the digital era. Read the full article on The Conversation.


authors argue that cryptography is both practical and inexpensive, and most in the commu nity of professors, computer scientists, and engineers likely would agree with this statement. However, one wonders about those who remain largely outside this discussion, without the type of training and education that would provide, at the very least, the confidence and the wherewithal to enter the debate. As this society continues to sort out how it will balance pri vacy rights in cyberspace with security concerns, it also needs to consider developing an electronic variant of the Miranda warning—"You have the right, and the tools, not to leave electronic footprints strewn throughout cyberspace." The poor, the uneducated, and the mar ginalized always have been less secure in their private space, in the aggregate, than have those able to live in nice neighborhoods with fancy security devices. However, although this physical vulnerability might arguably be an inevitable downside of either capitalism, the human condition, or both, Diffie and Landau suggest that it need not necessarily be repli cated in cyberspace. The issue of privacy haves and privacy have-nots, therefore, becomes a critical corollary to the more general issue of information access.


Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression. In this study, we explored the association between the expression of lncRNA AC007128.1 and TB susceptibility. Methods Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs12333784, rs6463794, and rs720964) of lncRNA AC007128.1 were selected using the 1000 Genomes Project database and offline software Haploview V4.2, and were genotyped by a customized 2×48-Plex SNPscan™ Kit. Results We identified two differentially expressed lncRNA including AC007128.1 and AP001065.3 in comparisons of expression profiles between ATB vs. LTBI, LTBI vs. HCs, and AC700128.1 expression was specifically and significantly up-regulated in TB patients by verification of external data. Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis and co-expression network showed up-regulated mRNA was mainly involved in negative regulation of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway, and FPR1 and CYP27B1 were involved in the co-expression of AC007128.1. Using the 1000 Genomes Project, software Haploview V4.2, and SNP genotype, we screened out SNP rs12333784 which locus at 7p21.3 in AC007128.1 associated with TB susceptibility. The G carrier of rs12333784 was then finally verified to be significantly associated with pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) susceptibility (pBonferroni =0.03878), and a similar but more significant effect was observed under the dominant model analysis (pBonferroni =0.013, OR =1.349, 95% CI, 1.065–1.709). In addition, the GG + GA genotype of SNP rs12333784 was significantly correlated with higher glucose (GLU) (P=0.03), higher gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (P=0.05), and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P=0.05). Conclusions Our findings show lncRNA AC007128.1 can be regarded as biomarkers discriminating between ATB and LTBI and may also be a diagnostic biomarker for LBTI. These findings may aid clinical decision making in the management of TB.


The invention is referred to a kind of class B.F. universal epoxy-polyester resin for solvent-free impregnating, which contains bisphenol A epoxy resin, eleostearic anhydride-phenyl maleimide, meta-unsaturated polyesters, butanol etherified phenol formaldehyde resin, diluent, peroxides initiator and polymerization retarder. It is used for insulating-dipping freatment for coils of electric machine and electrical equipment. It has characteristics of higher grade of heat-resistance capability of being quick cured, wide scope of application, lower prodn. cost and higher adhesive strenght, etc.


The new time of Web and Internet of Things (IOT) worldview is being empowered by the usage of different gadgets like sensors, RFIDs, and actuators. Brilliant (gadgets having noteworthy computational capacities, changing them to 'smart things') are inserted in the earth to screen and gather encompassing information. In this modern restless world where people don't have proper time to eat and to sleep, they almost forget about how much proper garbage management is important for their healthy being. In this paper we have discussed about how Internet of Things can help us to solve a major problem of proper garbage management using various Wireless sensors. This paper guides about how these sensors and IOT can together be used to properly optimize the various challenges of proper Garbage Management and give the best of the results with efficiently evaluated distribution of the containers


The results of investigations on the betatron coupling of the SPring-8 storage ring are described, which imply that the coupling of the normal operation is less than 0.1%. The correction scheme of the vertical dispersion, which limits the vertical emittance as well as the betatron coupling, is also presented.


In this paper, we derive the exact closed-form expression for the symbol-error rate (SER) of carrierless amplitude and phase/quadrature amplitude modulation (CAP/QAM) where the number of symbols is an odd power of two. The presented formula is simply in the form of the well known Gaussian Q-function and its second power. In the low signal-to-noise ratio range where the bounding techniques fail, our expression accurately predicts the SER. Furthermore, based on this expression, we introduce a simple upper bound for the SER which is tighter and more accurate than the existing bounds.


This research explores how teachers can validate True/False questions in a foreign language reading term-exam. Two English teachers from Japanese junior and senior high schools and six Japanese graduate students majoring in Foreign Language Education participated in a case study (Study 1). The eight participants and the author of this article independently classified five reading questions into text-explicit and text-implicit types using two criteria. The first criterion was to determine whether the question requires students to make inferences to understand implicit information; the second criterion was to determine whether test-takers need to read only one sentence or more than one sentence to answer the question correctly. Although the participants were not informed that the two criteria were designed for the same purpose (i.e., distinguishing text-explicit and -implicit items), the final results of item classification using the two criteria were identical, with a high interrater reliability. A further case study was conducted using the same five questions (Study 2). These reading questions were given to 80 undergraduate students as a part of a term-exam. The term-exam was an achievement test that was designed to measure how well the examinees understood what they had learned; the students had already read the text during a previous lesson, but they had never solved the five questions before. On average, the questions that had been classified as text-implicit items were more difficult for the students than the text-explicit questions. The test was composed of both easy and difficult items, as intended by the test creator. The validity, reliability, and practicability of the taxonomy of question types proposed in this research were further discussed based on the data.


Substation is part of an electric power transmission system that serves to reduce voltage. In operating the substation requires a DC power supply as a control of substation performance support equipment. The direct current (DC) source at the substation is obtained from the rectifier and the battery installed in the installation is arranged in parallel with the load or commonly called the DC system. The battery is a backup DC power supply that is used to provide DC supply to protection equipment, PMT and PMS motors, and telecommunications equipment. To maintain battery reliability in providing DC supply when a fault occurs, routine maintenance is needed so that the battery can work with maximum performance. Battery maintenance is carried out by measuring voltage, specific gravity, electrolyte temperature, and testing battery capacity. This research was conducted to find out how reliable and feasible the 110v battery was at the Klaten substation after maintenance. The results showed that the voltage of each battery cell in a boost charge condition is still at a nominal value. For electrolyte conditions the battery is still in good condition with a temperature of 29oc and specific gravity of 1.20gr / cm³. Testing the voltage capacity of each cell of the battery consists of two cells whose voltage drops and is measured at 0.24V in cell 20 and cell 47, so it is necessary to repair the damaged cell. After discharge for 5 hours, the total battery voltage is measured at 92.7 V and still meets the minimum standard discharge value of 80% full voltage. Overall from the results of testing the battery capacity it can be said that the condition of the 110V battery at the Klaten 150 kV substation is still good and can be relied upon when a fault occurs.


Most of components in industry are made of carbon steel which has low corrosion resistance. Therefore, the industry's equipment is highly susceptible to corrosion. This study is focused on the characterization of carbon steel corrosion in flowing NaCl solutions with H2S impurities. The corrosion rate was measured by using potentiostat. H2S gas was generated from the Kipp apparatus to produce a concentration of 600 ppm. The NaCl concentration was varied at 50, 40, 000, and 60, 000 ppm. The flow rate was varied at 0.5, 2.3 and 4.1 ft/s by utilizing a Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE). Corrosion mechanism was predicted by utilizing Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and confirmed by analysing the composition of the corrosion product using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The experimental results indicate that the breakaway velocity for NaCl solutions containing H2S of 600 ppm are around 4, 500 rpm. At low level conductivity, corrosion rate increases as NaCl concentration increases. Then, after reaching 40, 000 ppm, NaCl corrosion rate decreases along with the increase of NaCl concentration. The flow rate, NaCl concentration, and interaction between both variables are influential variable for corrosion rate. There is antagonistic influent to corrosion rate at 1000 rpm flow rate, 50 ppm NaCl, and 60, 000 ppm NaCl.


The purse seine fishery in the Western Indian Ocean is dominated by Spanish and French vessels that rely heavily on the use of drifting fish aggregation devices (DFADs) to capture tropical tuna species (skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna). This study uses local ecological knowledge (LEK) obtained through standardized interviews of fishing masters to compare and characterize the body of local ecological knowledge, fishing technology and fishing strategies of both fleets, with the goal of obtaining useful information for the management of the fishery. A notable difference between fleets was the number of DFADs actively monitored per vessel at any given time, which was much higher for Spanish vessels (ca. 60 versus 20 DFADs). Spanish vessels also achieved higher vessel CPUE (catch per DFAD set) than their French counterparts. The use of supply vessels to manage, monitor and protect productive DFADs, and the latest satellite-based technology to track and remotely monitor DFAD aggregations is restricted to the Spanish fleet. The French do not use supply vessels and deploy less sophisticated tracking buoys. These technological disparities resulted in some fishing strategy differences between both fleets, but few differences were found in the knowledge of tuna behavior accumulated by the fishers.


Distribution channels play an important role in the marketing mix, as they make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of companies in the market, particularly in the hotel sector. Electronic distribution channels are important tools that facilitate the distribution of services provided by hotels, to the final customer. It is noteworthy that the significant increase in the use of marketing channels in hotel industry poses a great challenge to business segment. There is a need to adapt to a business tool that has occasionally contribute and at other times compete with the developments themselves. This qualitative, exploratory study analyzes the distribution channels used by a small hotel. It uses the case study method, taking as its object of study the Hotel Casa de Praia. The research results show that for the business studied, electronic distribution channels are very important tools. The research evidences the consolidation of electronic distribution as one of the main business tools currently used by the hotel sector.


Acute neuroimaging of seizure patients in the emergency department is a matter of some practice variation. The American Academy of Neurology attempted


In this study, we investigated the possibility of forming three-component nanoparticles using Sn–58Bi and Cu wires simultaneously. We placed Sn–58Bi and Cu wires parallel to each other and investigated the effects of various conditions such as voltage, pressure, and diameter on nanoparticle formation. For the synthesis of the three-component nanoparticles, pulsed wire discharge was used to sublimate the wires. In this system, the K factor is of utmost importance and can be defined as Ec/Es, where Ec and Es are the applied energy and the sublimation energy of the system, respectively. The experimental parameters were varied under N2 atmosphere as follows: 2–6 kV voltage, 50–100 kPa pressure, and 0.03–0.1 mm wire diameter. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy along with energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to investigate the structure, particle size, collection rate, and nanoparticle composition.


This article presents LastLayer, an open-source tool that enables hardware and software continuous integration and simulation. Compared to traditional testing approaches based on the register transfer level abstraction, LastLayer provides a mechanism for testing Verilog designs with any programming language that supports the C foreign function interface. Furthermore, it supports a generic C interface that allows external programs convenient access to storage resources such as registers and memories in the design as well as control over the hardware simulation. Moreover, LastLayer achieves this software integration without requiring any hardware modification and automatically generates language bindings for these storage resources according to user specification. Using LastLayer, we evaluated two representative integration examples: a hardware adder written in Verilog operating over NumPy arrays, and a ReLu vector-accelerator written in Chisel processing tensors from PyTorch.


The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the body composition and the cardiorespiratory performance as well as to examine the isokinetic muscle strength of the lower extremities and the vertical jump performance in professional, semi-professional and amateur Greek soccer players of the same club. Subjects formed three groups: professionals, U-21 and U-17. All subjects underwent anthropometric measurements, body fat assessment and performed a maximal exercise test on treadmill to determine VO2max. Jumping ability was measured with two different tests and muscle strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings was examined at three angular velocities. The absolute values of VO2max (ml/min) were higher in professionals compared to U-21 and U-17 (p<0.05, p<0.001) while the relative values (ml/kg/min) did not differ between groups. Professionals presented significantly higher values in SJ and CMJ compared to U-21 by 11.3% and 10.5% and U-17 by 10.5% and 9.4%, respectively (p<0.001 and p<0.01). Professionals and U-21 demonstrated higher peak torque values at all angular velocities of knee flexors and extensors compared to U-17 (p<0.05, p<0.001). Conclusively, the professionals obtained higher values in muscle strength and jumping ability. These findings can be attributed to age, training experience, and specific strength training program. Moreover, the cardiorespiratory performance and body composition may be improved if the specific training program is followed by a balanced diet too.


Comparative research on welfare states has most focused on social transfers as the depen dent variable. As demographic changes make social services increasingly important ingredi ents of welfare state production, however, it will be necessary to shift the research agenda accordingly, and to take servtces more system atically into account. Building on Stein Rok kan's approach to the study of European political development, this article specifies some tasks for the comparative study of social services. Following a short overview of the topics and phases of comparative welfare state research, it proposes a set of variables for the mapping of variations in service supply as well as a check-list of variables which might help to explain such variations. The new research per spective is then applied to a comparative analysis of services for elderly people in Euro pean countries, which is based on a re-analysis if the country reports for the European Com mission's Observatory on Older People in Europe. Denmark and the Netherlands are shown to have more highly developed levels of social service supply than Germany. Such cross-country variations are related to differ ences in the modes of regulation, of financing, and of service delivery, and to the degree that decision makers at these crucial points are related to consumer interests. A theoretical conclusion relates the proposed new perspec tive to the work of Stein Rokkan. It is argued that variations of social transfer provisions could be analysed in terms of the class cleavage and of the power relations between capital and labour, but that the study of social services requires a shift in the theoretical perspective which puts more emphasis on centre-periphery relations and on church-state relations.


Pre-eclampsia is defined as a multi-system disorder of pregnancy presenting as raised blood pressure plus proteinuria. Preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of pregnancies. We have studied 100 patients with severe preec- lampsia who have been given 4g intravenous MgSo4 on admission. The loading dose is prepared by diluting 4gm of MgSO4 in 12ml sterile water given over 5-10mins slowly with strict vitals monitoring and FHS monitoring. All patients of severe pre-eclampsia with B.P>160/110mm of Hg &/or associated with any of the premonitory signs and symptoms were given this dose. We monitored the patient till she delivered with daily B.P, urine output; urine albumin and FHS record were maintained strictly. Incidence of convulsions was 3% in my study. Perinatal outcome was excellent with 94 live births. Single loading dose of magnesium sulphate is an efficient prophylactic in preventing eclampsia, with a success rate of 97%.


In this paper, we examine several field tests of correlated helicopter noise and demonstrate that measured vertical gradients can offer signal-to-noise improvements of 4:1 in rotor noise and 6:1 in maneuver noise over comparable total field measurements for unexploded ordnance (UXO) applications. This translates into an additional 1.5–2.0m in acceptable survey height or ordnance depth. Horizontal gradients, both transverse and longitudinal to the helicopter flight path, are also examined. These offer smaller signal-to-noise improvements over the total field (approximately 1.5:1) and have other disadvantages not found in the vertical gradient.


In this paper, we develop two algorithms for stochastic model predictive control (SMPC) problems with discrete linear systems. Participially, chance constraints on the state and control are considered. Different from the state-of-the-art robust model predictive control (RMPC) algorithm, the proposed is less conservative. Meanwhile, the proposed algorithms do not assume the full knowledge of the disturbance distribution. It only requires the mean and variance of the disturbance. Rigorous computational analysis is carried out for the proposed algorithms. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and the superior of the proposed SMPC algorithms.


The invention provides a method of monitoring the flatness of a wafer tray. A testing wafer is absorbed on the wafer tray; wherein, the method is used for monitoring whether the wafer tray is flat through monitoring whether the testing wafer is deformed. Compared with the prior art, the monitoring method provided by the invention can perform the real time monitoring to the wafer tray, and the method adopts a reference wafer to compare with the wafer absorbed on the wafer tray, the process of the method is simple, the special-purpose equipment and the software are not required, and the production cost can be effectively reduced.


This study investigated the heavy metal concentrations in different organs such as gills, muscles, liver and gatrointestinal tract (GIT) of two species of Goby: Porogobius schelegelii and Bathygobius soporator from Buguma Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria. The fish samples were collected from the creek and were preserved in ice chest box and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Samples were digested by using standard laboratory methods. The concentrations of metals were analyzed using a Varian AA240 Fast Sequential Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The Results obtained indicated that heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), and Nickel (Ni) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the liver of the two species than in the muscle, gills and the GIT. Comparatively, the concentrations of these metals were higher in the specie B.soporator than P. schelegelii in all the organs of the fishes under consideration. The heavy metal concentrations recorded in this study were above the limits recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization/ World Health Organization. The high concentration of heavy metals above permissible level suggests the need for caution during the consumption of these species from Buguma Creek due to health implications associated with heavy metals.


A momentum-space analysis of the scattering-state wave function based on a formal integral equation for the wave function in electron--hydrogen-atom ionizing collisions leads to two simple results. These solutions are correct in the asymptotic region and are exact, respectively, to first and second orders in the interaction potentials. The result may be further improved and generalized and could be used in atomic ionization studies.


Included in the Handbook are lists of the main permits required and the names of agencies and persons associated with the permits; a summary of pertinent laws, regulations, and permits; and charts outlining typical development and permitting procedures.


In this paper we use the method extensively used by Lakahmikanthum to study a, type of control problem. The method depends upon the fact that the function satisfying a differential inequality can be majorized by the maximal solution of another differential inequality.


Subsea pipelines are such a crucial part of offshore oil and gas production, therefore their design and construction should be as efficient and cost effective as possible. Proper material selection is critical for a successful operation and a longer pipeline lifespan. For the selection of a design material with the highest reliability under dynamic environment as the one obtained in the oil and gas industry, a three-stage hybrid multi-criteria model have been proposed. The hybrid multi-criteria model, which is based on an integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model and the VlseKriterijumskaOptimizacija I KompromisnoResenje (VIKOR) model, is used for the evaluation and selection of a suitable and high reliability-based design material for the subsea pipeline design by considering several operational and environmental scenario the pipes might encounter in the field. With the vast amount of engineering materials available to the design engineer, selecting a suitable and high reliability-based material for the subsea pipeline design is a tedious and demanding task especially under a dynamic environment scenario. In this paper, ten subsea pipeline material alternatives of different types, with seven criteria, have been critically examined under a three case scenario. Results from the evaluation show that, for the first case study scenario -sour service hydrocarbon transport in deep waters-, 22% Cr stainless steel is found to be the best choice material, for the second case study scenario, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer is selected as the best. While for the third case study scenario, carbons steel and polymers material is found to be the most reliable material choice.


The work of Daghestanis predominates among the examples of silversmithing and armoring by craftsmen from the Caucasus during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in museum collections in Moscow, Leningrad, and cities of the northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Is this accidental, or is it the reflection of a definite process that occurred in the history of crafts in the Caucasus? A definite answer can be given to this question only when one has studied a very interesting phenomenon in the life of the Daghestani masters - immigrant labor.


The article critically discusses the special definition of infant homicide by the mother. Unlike traditional Georgian books, this essay analyzes the causes of neonaticide and its historical, cultural and socio-economic contexts, under the influence of which it has taken the form it has today. The traditional argument for the lenient punishment of neonaticide is the direct link between a woman's psychosis and childbirth trauma, which is criti- cized in this article and supports a new understanding of neonaticide and ways to solve it, which is based on the findings of old and new research on neonaticide conducted in various countries (including Georgia). Therefore, the article supports the position that neonaticide (art. 112) should be abolished because it is sexist and consti- tutes an echo of patriarchal consciousness in law. The position is supported in the article, according to which the medicalization of neonaticide is assessed as a "legal concoction". The article focuses on the causes and contexts of neonaticide, which is important for a critical understand- ing of neonaticide and the development of Georgian criminal law in this regard. Thus, the article supports the view that neonaticide is discriminatory based on the gender and age of the child. The mitigation or complete exculpation should be based on an individual analysis of each case. This re- quires the application of the general provisions of diminished responsibility and insanity and the increase in the practice of examining them concerning neonaticide. Taking into account the analysis of the modern Georgian context, the article supports the change of the mentioned norm in parallel with the promotion and strengthening of the practical realization of women's rights by the state.


Version of relay protection construction of relative selectivity is proposed, which allows increasing its technical perfection and reliability in microgrids with distributed generation sources. This is done by increasing the dimension of the measurement space along arbitrary axes, introducing new methods of recognizing emergency modes, as well as automating the selection of response parameters. Hardware implementation of protection is described. Recommendations for calculating the settings of multidimensional protection and an example of calculation are given. Protection coordination is carried out by using graphical-analytical methods in automatic mode. Automation of the calculation, elimination of the human factor will make it possible to apply the method for adaptation of protection in the conditions of dynamic change of microgrid topology.


The employment of stochastic rounding schemes helps prevent stagnation of convergence, due to vanishing gradient effect when implementing the gradient descent method in low precision. Conventional stochastic rounding achieves zero bias by preserving small updates with probabilities proportional to their relative magnitudes. In this study, we propose a new stochastic rounding scheme that trades the zero bias property with a larger probability to preserve small gradients. Our method yields a constant rounding bias that, at each iteration, lies in a descent direction. For convex problems, we prove that the proposed rounding method has a beneficial effect on the convergence rate of gradient descent. We validate our theoretical analysis by comparing the performances of various rounding schemes when optimizing a multinomial logistic regression model and when training a simple neural network with 8-bit floating-point format.


The purpose of this research in the area of information systems is basically twofold: (1) to produce new techniques of systems analysis and systems design that will be free of many of the defects of present techniques, and (2) to program a general purpose computer to enable it to apply at least major parts of these new techniques, in a way that will enable a linkage with automatic coding techniques. The major defects of the present techniques are high cost, low validity, low reliability, heavy reliance upon intuition and experience, and slow speed of effective application.


Hybrid structures of buck DC-DC converters, using commutated capacitors or inductors, in order to obtain a higher step-down ratio, were presented in the literature. The paper is focused on a comparative study of classical buck converter (BDC) and a hybrid buck "switched inductor" DC-DC converter (HBDC), in continuous conduction mode (CCM), and at the boundary (BCM) between CCM and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Analytical aspects and digital simulations, validated by experimental results, obtained using a laboratory prototype, are presented for this purpose.


This dissertation aims at examining the Human Rights Tribunal ruling of January 26, 2016 from the perspective of an ally. This article finds that the ruling is truly momentus and a form of justice to combat the injustice committed by the federal government. In conclusion, the findings of this piece finds that the future include reconcilition between all people in order to stand in solidarity with one another.


We review recent results from X‐ray absorption line spectroscopy of diffuse hot gas in and around the Galaxy. Absorption lines of O VII, O VIII, and/or Ne IX have been detected in the spectra of LMC X‐3 as well as three AGNs and seven Galactic low‐mass X‐ray binaries. We have implemented an analysis tool, accounting for line saturation and allowing for joint fits to multiple absorption lines. Our analysis gives no significant detection of the absorption beyond the distance of the LMC. The mean temperature and density of the X‐ray‐absorbing gas are ∼ 106.4 K and 3.6 × 10−3 cm−3, assuming a filling factor of ∼ 1 and a typical interstellar metallicity as well as a collisional ionization equilibrium. These assumptions seem to be consistent with constraints obtained from diffuse O VII emission and pulsar dispersion measure observations. The spatial distribution of the hot gas can be characterized by a hot gaseous disk with a scale height of only ∼ 1 kpc and an apparent density enhancement in the Galactic centr...


Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in developing countries including India. Although investigations pertaining to TB vaccines are resurging, immunization against TB is limited to the BCG vaccine. Because sputum production and the Paucibacillary status in children remain the limiting factors to use the gold standard of microscopy for AFB for diagnosis of Tuberculosis. Aim of the study was to evaluate the Tuberculin test conversion with the progression of the BCG vaccination given at birth into scar at 3 month of age. This Prospective study was conducted over a period of 2 years on 100 Newborns. All newborns received 0.1ml of the BCG vaccine as per standard protocol on BCG administration. The infants were reviewed at 6 weeks and 3 months of age for Tuberculin testing. The presence of BCG scar was noted and correlated with tuberculin sensitivity. The study showed Tuberculin skin test reactivity in all 100 infants at 6 weeks but did not show positive conversion and at 3 months Tuberculin test conversion was 54%. The most common BCG reaction observed at 6 weeks following BCG vaccination was an ulcer. There was a positive correlation between birthweight and rate of tuberculin reaction i.e. with increasing birth weight the rate of Tuberculin reaction was also increasing. This study shows that Tuberculin skin test is a good screening test for BCG vaccination status and correlated with scar of BCG.


Recently, using the diesel engine is increased rapidly. They have several advantages as power sources giving a high efficiency and reliance. But the increment of air pollutant emitted from automotive has been serious problems.
Here it is important to analyze combustion phenomena in diesel engine, because the exhaust gas characteristic of diesel engine is closely related to combustion phenomena of its combustion chamber. This study was carried out for combustion analysis in DI diesel engine using ionization probe. As the results, the shape and characteristics of ionization, pressure signals were almost similar. With increase of engine speed and intake air temperature, the ignition delay became shorter, and the combustion duration became long. Therefore, the ionization probe can be used for combustion analysis instead of relatively expensive pressure sensor.


. The work will be primarily related to the development of state-of-the-art competencies in high-precision mechanics, optomechanics and optoelectronics, optics and optical interferometry, temperature stabilization and measurement, vibration control, analogue and digital electronics, and data analysis


To establish the suitable potato ISSR-PCR reaction system,and to know the degree of genetic difference among 7 potato varieties which are Kexin-1,Favorita,Desiree,Atlantic,Longshu-3,Qingshu-168 and Heimeiren,gradient test was used to explore and optimize the ISSR system which included primer concentration,dNTP concentration,TaqDNA polymerase concentration and Mg2 + concentration,and the plants were analyzed based on ISSR molecular marker with the appropriate selected primers.The results showed that the optimized ISSR-PCR reaction parameters were 2.0mmol / L Mg2+,0.2mmol / L dNTP,0.04U Taq and 0.4μM primer;319 bands of ISSR markers were amplified with 8 suitable primers,and the length of DNA fragment were ranged from 200 to 2000bp,and 306 bands were polymorphic,and the percentage of polymorphism bands reached 95.92%.Using the GD value of 0.51 as threshold,7 tested plants could be clustered into 3 groups: the first group including Atlantic,Desiree,Qingshu-168,Kexin-1 and Favorita,the second groups including only Longshu-3,and the third groups only including Heimeiren.


Introduction. Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is an extramedullary tumor composed of immature myeloid cells. Some GS patients develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the outcomes of these two diseases have never been compared. The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to compare the rates of response, survival and event-free survival (EFS) of patients treated for GS and patients treated for AML, after adjusting for presenting characteristics.

Patients and Methods. We identified 1720 AML and 24 GS patients who presented at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1990 to 2004. All the AML patients and 17 of the GS patients received ara-C + idarubicin or fludarabine. After comparing outcomes in these patients, we accounted for possible differences in underlying prognosis by matching treated GS and AML patients, using cytogenetics, age +/− 3 years, Zubrod performance status (0–2 vs. >2), and time of treatment +/− 3 years as the criteria for matching. Among 9 GS patients age ≤60 years, cytogenetic abnormalities were found at the sarcoma site or in the bone marrow in 5 patients; 4 of these 5 patients had a +8 abnormality, so we matched GS patients ≤60 years with cytogenetics that were "normal" in bone marrow but not assessed in GS tissue with AML patients with a +8 abnormality, assuming the "normal" karyotype in the GS patients was possibly non-informative and thus falsely negative. Among 15 GS patients <60 years old, cytogenetic abnormalities were inv(16) in 2, +8 in 2, 11q del in 1, −7 in 1, and miscellaneous in 2; 7 patients had normal bone marrow cytogenetics but no assessment in GS tissue. On the basis of the frequency of known cytogenetic abnormalities, we matched each of the 7 non-informative GS patients with better-, intermediate-, or worse-risk AML patients. EFS duration was compared in pair-mates of patients, and the Bayesian posterior probability that GS is associated with longer EFS duration was computed.

Results. Among treated patients (GS 17, AML 1720), complete response rates were 71% and 57% in GS and AML, respectively (p=0.28). The respective 2-year EFS rates were 82% and 63% (p=0.049), and 2-year overall survival rates were 94% and 77% (p=0.16). Matches could be found for 14 GS patients, who were matched with 91 AML patients (including 3 matched with 2 different GS patients each). The median number of matches was 4 (range, 3–21). EFS duration was longer in 27 AML pairmates, shorter in 55, and unevaluable owing to censoring in 9. Assuming a beta distribution and a priori that 41 matches would have favored GS and 41 AML if EFS was the same in GS and AML, the posterior probability that EFS duration was longer in GS was 0.99. Eliminating the matches involving 1 GS patient and 21 AML patients led to a 0.92 posterior probability of longer EFS duration in GS.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that GS is associated with better prognosis than AML based on the superior EFS of GS patients. Differences in rates of CR and survival did not reach statistical significance, possibly because of the small number of patients with GS.


This paper designed a Ku band frequency synthesizer, output 15.5GHz ± O.2GHz, can be applied to MMW antenna receiving and receiving front end of the frequency synthesizer channel extension. The phase-locked loop synthesis technology is adopted to achieve low phase noise, low stray and miniaturization through reasonable frequency planning and frequency division ratio design. The phase noise is $\leq 104dbc-lkHz \leq -105dBc-10kHz$, and the in-band stray is better than 65dB. With reference clock output, bias protection circuit is introduced, which has good engineering reference and application value.


The glow discharge in pure helium at atmospheric pressure is investigated and based on one-dimensional self-consistent fluid model. By solving the continuity equations for electrons, ions, and excited atoms, with the current conservation equation and the electric field profile, the time evolution of the discharge current, gas voltage and the surface density of charged particles on the dielectric barrier are calculated. The simulation results show that the peak values of the discharge current, gas voltage and electric field in the first half period are asymmetric to the second half. When the current reaches its positive or negative maximum, the electric field profile, and the electron and ion densities represent similar properties to the typical glow discharge at low pressures


1 The e(cid:128)ect of the i.c.v. administration of pertussis toxin (PTX) and antisense oligodeoxynucleo-tide directed against the a subunit of di(cid:128)erent Gi-proteins (anti-Gi a 1 , anti-Gi a 2 , anti-Gi a 3 ) on amnesia induced by morphine was evaluated in the mouse passive avoidance test. 2 The administration of morphine (6– 10 mg kg 7 1 i.p.) immediately after the training session produced amnesia that was prevented by PTX (0.25 m g per mouse i.c.v.) administered 7 days before the passive avoidance test. 3 Anti-Gi a 1 (6.25 m g per mouse i.c.v.) and anti-Gi a 3 (12.5 m g per mouse i.c.v.), administered 18 and 24 h before the training session, prevented the morphine amnesia. By contrast, pretreatment with anti-Gi a 2 (3.12 –25 m g per mouse i.c.v.) never modified the impairment of memory processes induced by morphine. 4 At the highest e(cid:128)ective doses, none of the compounds used impaired motor coordination, as revealed by the rota rod test, nor modified spontaneous motility and inspection activity, as revealed by the hole board test. 5 These results suggest the important role played by Gi 1 and Gi 3 protein subtypes in the transduction mechanism involved in the impairment of memory processes produced by morphine. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 133, 267 –274


SUMMARY This paper discusses the application of a parallel processor to the speed up of computation in various control appl i cations.


Significance: R207910 is a selective inhibitor of the ATP synthase proton pump of both drugsensitive and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The synthesis of R207910 depicted features two novel transformations: (1) a catalytic enantioselective proton migration using a bimetallic Y complex (A → C) and (2) a CuF-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation reaction (C → E). Comment: Mass spectrometric evidence suggests that the active catalyst in the enantioselective proton migration reaction (A → C) is a ternary complex comprising two ytterbium atoms, three molecules of the ligand B and one molecule of 4-methoxypyridine N-oxide. A catalytic cycle for the reaction is postulated. The allylation step could be performed with as little as 1 mol% of the CuF complex at the expense of a diminished dr (5.6:1). A C E


IoT enables the communication of electronic devices and sensors with the Internet using standard protocols to achieve autonomy, robustness, and reliable data exchange among devices and real applications. The wide variety of IoT devices has led to raising concerns about the security of interconnected devices. IoT manufacturers have been increasing recently, which has resulted in building IoT devices with different standards, protocols, features, and technologies. However, the lack of implementation of security features for IoT devices has led the IoT devices to be susceptible to attacks and targeted by adversaries. In order to provide an efficient honeypot-based solution, it should benefit from the malicious traffic in the filtering phase to detect zero-day attacks. In this paper, we propose IoTZeroJar, a honeypot system to detect the attacker's malicious activities and analyze zero-day attacks.


Couplings in Si based RFICs result from the combination of the effects of the substrate resistivity, homogenous and localized buried diffusions as well as metallic losses. A fullwave analysis is performed and longitudinal and transverse coupling coefficients are defined from a generalized equivalent circuit. Concurrently, considerable improvement of isolation performances are demonstrated by inserting localized buried diffusions.


Environmental resources related rights are intended for enhancing economic development and coping with the crisis of environmental resources.They are not concrete and specific rights,but a bunch of rights related to environmental resources.The launch of the concept of Environmental Resources Related Rights will efficiently conquer hard problem and insufficiency of environmental rights.The function of value of Environmental Resources Related Rights has two aspects:one aspect is that it is the reason for modern environmental problems;the other aspect is that it can ease and resolve crisis of environmental resources.


This note announces some results that will be presented in the forthcoming paper [10]. In continuation to these studies we discuss a constructive approach for the generation of harmonic conjugates to find nullsolutions to the Riesz system in R3. This class of solutions coincides with the subclass of monogenic functions with values in the reduced quaternions. The algorithm for harmonic conjugates is presented by means of an integral representation. Additionally, we discuss the weighted (monogenic) Hardy and Bergman spaces on the unit ball in R3 consisting of functions with values in the reduced quaternions. We end up showing the boundedness of the underlying harmonic conjugation operators in certain weighted spaces.


Introduction: Lava tubes are potential sites for habitation on the Moon and other bodies, as long as their roofs are intact. Tubes form where surface flows develop solidified insulating roofs, allowing long-distance transport [1,2], and frequently erode down into their substrate [3,4]. There are more than 200 sinuous rilles on the Moon, thought to be channelized lava flows, and thermal erosion was probably the dominant incision mechanism in over 75% of these [5]. While the vast majority of rilles are associated with the lunar mare and Procellarum-KREEP terrane, some emerge from the anorthositic highlands and flow into the mare [5]. Potential lava tubes have also been identified by the presence of pits interpreted as skylights in an impact melt sheet associated with the crater Philolaus near the lunar north pole [6], although most pits in impact melts may result from collapse into voids formed during protracted cooling of a stationary melt sheet [7]. Controls on Thermal Erosion: The efficiency of thermal erosion depends strongly on magma physical properties including viscosity and density, thermal properties including heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and enthalpy of crystallization, and on environmental factors including ground slope and substrate composition [8]. The physical and thermal properties depend strongly on magma composition [9, 10, 11], which on the Moon include several subgroups of lunar mare basalt, and KREEP basalt. Once lavas begin to crystallize, their rheology depends on strain rate as well as the shapeand size-distribution of the crystal cargo [9]. Models require increasingly large and tenuous extrapolation, and the best approach is direct measurement. An example using KREEP: We studied the rheological evolution of a crystallizing lunar KREEP analog by concentric cylinder viscometry. At the liquidus temperature of 1220 ̊C, liquid viscosity is ~50 Pas, similar to Hawaiian lavas [10]. At successively lower temperatures, crystal fraction and effective viscosity both increased (Fig. 2). By 1177 ̊C the crystal fraction was ~17 volume %, and the viscosity had increased to >1000 Pas. Figure 1. Rheological data and best-fit flow curves. Note non-Newtonian behavior (shear-thinning) at lower temperatures and higher crystal fractions.


Taking the historical and cultural sites,literary works,as well as the formed Dongpo Culture,which are caused by SU Dong-po's living in Huizhou(SU Dong-po is a great writer and poet in Song Dynasty of China),as source materials,the plan and layout has been rationally made,and the gardening scenic spots has also been refined.Through combining the emotion with the landscape,the theme park which enjoys rich Dongpo culture atmosphere has been built up.All these will enrich the culture connotation and tourism resources over Huizhou and the West Lake Area.


The institution of proration is vital to the welfare of the oil-producing industry in the United States; yet its essential function is so commonly misinterpreted that its usefulness and even its continued existence are gravely menaced. Petroleum geologists are particularly concerned with the success of true proration and should not fail to understand its fundamental character. Oil producers too generally regard proration as a form of curtailment designed to prevent overproduction of crude oil and thereby to secure and maintain higher prices. In contrast to this generally held concept, proration in Texas, where it has been applied most widely and drastically, rests solely on (1) the conservation laws for the prevention of physical waste of oil and gas, and (2) the police powers of the State for the protection of the citizen in his basic property rights. Even the provision for the "limitation to market demand," frequently denounced as "production control," is in fact fully justified as a means of preventing physical waste. Proration in Texas, then, can be employed only to prevent physical waste. In accomplishing this purpose it neither supersedes nor suspends the "law of capture." Nevertheless, it ameliorates the excesses and inequities that have arisen out of the application of the law of capture in the past. If the industry adopts an attitude that proration is to be used by the individual states or by the Interstate Compact to curtail production for the purpose of "stabilizing the industry" or "improving the price level," it will force the courts to condemn a concept which in preventing physical waste renders great service.


The present study was conducted to study the crenellation patterns of semen and their relation with different seminal characteristics and post-thaw motility. Dried semen samples were classified into 6 grades (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) based on the crenellation patterns. The study showed that breeds/strains had highly significant (P< 0.01) effect on different seminal traits. Significant (P< 0.05) effect of month of collection on sperm concentration and post- thaw motility was also observed. Crenellation patterns had highly significant (P< 0.01) effect on sperm concentration, initial motility and post-thaw motility. Sperm concentration, Initial motility and post-thaw motility was superior in A1, A2 and B1 grade and inferior in C1 and C2. B2 grade was of intermediate quality semen. A1, A2 and B1 grade ejaculates gave best post-thaw motility after cryopreservation. Poor post-thaw motility was found in C1, C2 and B2 grade ejaculates. Thus the crenellation can be effectively used as an indicator for simple and quick evaluation of semen quality in any semen laboratory as well as, at field level.


Regarding the control of micro- and nanogrids, LC- or LCL-filtered power inverters (acting as interfaces with distributed energy resources such as photovoltaic or wind) commonly perform as grid-forming or grid-supporting units to maintain both the frequency and voltage within pre-set standards. Nevertheless, these power inverters are assumed to be connected at the same point of common coupling directly or via radial feeders; thus, the voltage references are the same for each parallel power inverter, thus requiring a virtual impedance loop. In addition, classic power sharing techniques comply with their individual power rates, and circulating currents among distributed generators are not considered. Under these circumstances, energy trading among prosumers and peer-to-peer contracts is not feasible in autonomous AC micro- and nanogrid operations. This paper proposes a reformulated power flow problem, adapted to autonomous droop-controlled AC microgrids, to be used as a secondary control layer. The entire hierarchical control is implemented and experimentally validated in a laboratory-scale nanogrid with energy storage systems, photovoltaic generators and power converters. The obtained results demonstrate the proper performance of the proposed approach, with successful operation of primary and inner controllers.


This paper considers the problem of joint encryption and error-correctioncoding and proposes a solution using D-sequences,which are 'decimal' expansions of fractions. The encryption operation considered is equivalent to exponentiationwhich forms the basis of several public-key schemes. Several new results on D-sequences are also pre– sented which make the applications to encryption and error coding possible.


It is of great practical significance to study intelligent robots for crack detection of urban underground pipes instead of manual detection, which not only can save time and cost, but also can improve the accuracy rate of identification. The system consists of two parts: mobile platform and system detection platform. The mobile platform is obstacle-avoiding by ultrasonic module, segmenting the pipeline color by camera and issuing platform steering command. The system detection platform adopts Raspberry Pi as the core control system, and collects the pipeline leakage audio through the pickups, and the collected audio is passed through Gaussian mixture model-Hidden Markov model (GMM -HMM) and Deep neural networks- Hidden Markov model (DNN -HMM) respectively in Raspberry Pi model (DNN -HMM) for the purpose of detection. The accuracy and running speed of the two methods were tested separately through simulation experiments. GMM -HMM achieves 74.1% accuracy and 14 (frame/s) running speed, while DNN -HMM achieves 80.6% accuracy and 9 (frame/s) running speed, DNN -HMM has higher accuracy and running speed to meet the real-time requirements for pipeline leakage audio detection.


Abstract This article adopts a constructivist approach to explain how and why the Obama administration shifted its policy narrative and practices towards Afghanistan from 2011 onwards. It recognizes that the 'Global War on Terror' narrative helped pave the way for a set of institutionalized militarized practices and collectively held beliefs that have structured the post-9/11 world. At the same time, the article argues that the Obama administration's 'selling' of its Afghan policy provided the space for an evolving approach. This policy narrative involved the 'existential threat' of transnational militant actors operating out of an Afghanistan–Pakistan ungoverned space being downgraded to a 'containable' one. Three key factors prompted this change: the administration's discursive decoupling of the Taliban and al-Qaeda; the changing perception that the threat posed by 'al-Qaeda and its affiliates' was a decentralized one; and the United States' changed conception of Afghanistan as a 'safe haven' for transnational terrorists.


A method of producing a fine structure body, the method being capable of precisely controlling a position where a tubular structure made of carbon etc. is formed. A circular cylindrical projection section (11) is formed on a base plate (10). Then, a catalyst substance (20) such as iron (Fe) is adhered to the base plate (10). After that, the base plate (10) is heat-treated so that the catalyst substance (20) is melted and caused to cohere on a side face (11A) of the projection section (11). This results that an annular catalyst pattern made of the catalyst substance (20) is formed on the side face (11A) of the projection section (11). Then, a hollow-cylindrical tubular structure (30) is caused to grow using a catalyst pattern. The tubular structure (30) rises from the side face (11A) of the projection section (11) and grows to be a carbon (nano) pipe with the head (30A) open. The tubular structure (30) precisely corresponding to the position of the projection section (11) can be formed.


Abstract : This represents a short but compact course in Honduran culture by means of a special kind of programmed instruction called a culture assimilator. The culture assimilator is designed to increase the effectiveness of social interaction when people from different cultures are involved. It does not merely provide the learner with facts about the culture he is studying. Instead, along with some pertinent facts, the learner is given the opportunity to learn the culture by participating in significant situations which he is asked to consider, analyze, interpret, and respond to in various ways. Then the learner is given evaluative feedback about his responses, which help him to see the effect that his interpretation of and response to the situation might have had in actual cross-cultural interaction. The burden of the learning is, of course, on the student.


Morphine and diamorphine might not be the best choice of analgesic for people who are terminally ill and have renal impairment.


In this paper we will discuss phonological structure in the light of first language acquisition data obtained in a case study. These data exhibit cluster reduction (henceforth: CR) and compensatory lengthening (henceforth: CL). The main problem here is that for the description and explanation of these different phonological processes, different models seem to be more adequate than others. Working within the framework of Universal Grammar (UG), with its generalizations and economy of representation, this should raise some eyebrows. Do we believe that a child is endowed with different models for the same phonological domain? Obviously, in UG there is only one way that leads to Rome; of all possible grammars, one should meet the UG-criteria best. This paper is organized as follows. In section 2 we introduce a constituent syllable model (Cairns and Feinstein 1982) and a model that incorporates weight in the syllable representation (Hayes 1989). In section 3 we will show that the former model seems to be better equipped to account for CR-data and in section 4 we will discuss the claim that CL is best accounted for by the latter. In this section we will also discuss some fundamental flaws of this model. We will propose an obvious synthesis of the different models in section 5. However, this synthesis will prove to suffer from the same demerits as the original models on which it is based. Section 6 deals with a recently proposed foot-based account of CL by Schane (1994) and we will see how our data fit in. Schane's account can be converted to the recently proposed framework of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993) (henceforth: OT) (section 7). Because OT also enables us to deal with CR, it will prove to provide us with the most general account of the different data discussed in this paper.


The notion 'chemical reaction distinguishes chemistry from other sciences and is an important preliminary to developing sound understanding of the subject. The idea that 'a chemical reaction produces new products is also important. Many sound points on these themes can be presented using demonstration reactions. Practical details for a wide range of such reactions are given here, with descriptions of music and illustrations designed to help illuminate and engage an audience. The reactions are presented as a series of interconnected sections which, taken together. show how chemists seek to control chemical reactions in order to produce the everyday products we take for granted. In this article, demonstrations to illustrate the origins of the chemical elements, that elements exist in finite quantities, that chemical reactions involve breaking and making chemical bonds and examples of chemical reactions are presented. A subsequent article will provide demonstrations to help with teaching the mole, controlling chemical reactions, introducing entropy and making new products.


(57) Abstract: two-stage filtration system and method of using it comprises a first and second filtration cartridge particularly suitable for hemodiafiltration and / or hemodialysis (122 and 138). The fluid enters the first cartridge (122), the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is lowered by exposing it to an acidic solution such as citric acid through a first membrane (124). This step, such as a protein binding agent that further easily separated from the protein at low pH, to improve the removal of certain toxins in the fluid. Since filtered fluid enters the second filter cartridge (138), pH of the fluid is restored to a normal level before being injected into the patient.


Aim at the intelligence small area building dish that the real estate market release currently,discuss the basic composing of small area of intelligence from the professional angle first;But face the small area of the intelligence residence to can keep on the problem appear in the process of the development currently,how make the residence intelligence turn the healthy development,provide to the reader what time thinking.


In dealing with the current problems in higher vocational ESP teaching material development in China,this article articulates that higher vocational ESP teaching material development should cater to higher vocational students' future employment needs and industry's requirements by promoting the English proficiency related to higher vocational graduates' future professions and jobs.A clear vocational orientation in ESP teaching should be clarified,the special teaching methods should be explored and studied,a multi-disciplinary,interdisciplinary cooperation should be carried out,the important role of ESP corpus should be highlighted and information-based and three-dimensional vocational ESP material development should be realized.


Social media marketing in hotel organizations and the process of creating value in a cross-cultural environment : an international case study


Section 26(1) gives explicit effect to the Act's purpose in relation to minor or dependent children of the relationship by directing the court to have regard to their interests in any proceedings under the Act. So, while the main purpose of the Act is to divide the relationship property of the spouses or partners, a just division must take account of the interests of minor or dependent children of the relationship.1 Section 1M(c) is not confined to minor or dependent children. It is capable of applying to all children of the relationship. Yet, in spite of the Act's stated purpose and the mandate in s 26(1), children's interests, including those of minor or dependent children, have not played a prominent role in relationship property proceedings.2 To the extent that children's needs and interests require protection, the courts have generally adopted a minimalist approach to avoid depriving


A calculus procedure is suggested based on integral transformations for obtaining a solution in a closed analytical form of the nonlinear mathematical model of active filters. The analytical solution expresses the reactive power and harmonic compensation of active filters as functions of filter parameters. Therefore this solution can be successfully used for obtaining design guidelines. The theoretical procedure is completed by a numerical analysis.


Study Design A retrospective review of a case series. Objective To describe a novel surgical technique for a minimally disruptive lateral transthoracic transpleural approach to treat thoracic disc herniations. Summary of Background Data Thoracic disc herniation is a relatively uncommon spinal condition, and surgical treatment is indicated for patients with myelopathy or radiculopathy that failed to respond to conservative therapy. Presently there is no consensus about the best approach to address thoracic disc herniations. Using the novel retractor system (MaXcess), the authors describe a novel minimally disruptive approach that allows the surgeons to perform a standard anterior discectomy and fusion with instrumentation while minimizing approach-related morbidity. Methods A series of 12 patients with single-level thoracic disc herniations who underwent anterior spinal cord decompression followed by instrumented fusion through a novel retractor system is being reported. Demographic and radiographic data, perioperative complications, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Results Twelve patients were enrolled with an average age of 51 years (range, 23 to 67 y). The average follow-up was 28 months (range, 12 to 33 mo). The average length of hospital stay was 5 days (range, 2 to 12 d). The average preoperative visual analog scale pain score was 9 (range, 7 to 10), which later decreased to 3 (range, 0 to 5) at final follow-up. All patients with myelopathy and/or sphincter dysfunction had significant improvement of their symptoms. One patient had pleural effusion and 1 patient had intercostal neuralgia. Conclusions Anterior decompression using a transthoracic transpleural approach provides excellent exposure and allows consistent decompression of thoracic disc herniations. This study demonstrated that a new minimally invasive, transthoracic transpleural decompression technique can be safely performed for single-level thoracic disc herniations. The early results showed that this technique allows less dissection, along with the advantages of conventional thoracotomy.


To get the quantitative relationship between flood response time(velocity) and water breakthrough time(velocity),based on the regularity of flood response time and water breakthrough time,the relationship between flood response time(speed) and water breakthrough time(speed) in the square invert nine-spot pattern of low permeability reservoirs is derived.Based on the practical production data of Erdos basin,calculation results are given.It is concluded that under the same conditions,flood response time is less than water breakthrough time,however,flood response speed is larger than water breakthrough speed;flood response time is proportional to water breakthrough time,water breakthrough speed is proportional to flood response speed and a rapid flood response means a rapid water breakthrough;as the distance far away from water injection wells increases gradually,at some two positions appear a peak value of the ratio of flood response time to water breakthrough time and a peak value of the ratio of water breakthrough speed to flood response speed,which reminds that well pattern arrangement should avoid these two positions and this point should be fully considered in preparing FDP.The study provides a basis for the preparation of FDP for low permeability reservoirs with water injection and optimal FDP remodeling during development.


The patients safety is a topic that has gained great importance in the last decade, studies have been done in order to identify which areas of patient attention are involved in the generation of adverse events, being outlined the mistakes in the clinical laboratory practices. It is important to identify which are the mistakes and the frequency in wish they are made inside the cycle of control of the laboratory, in order to take preventive and corrective measurements to guarantee the patient´s safety and attention. It was done a review of literature avaliable in the scientific, national and international databases, beside of reports supported by recognized worldwide institutions. It was determined that the most frequent mistake in of the clinical laboratory practices is the receipt and processing hemolysed samples, the majority of these mistakes have a negative impact of high severity toward the patient. It was determined that the mistakes committed with more frequency happen during the phase pre and post analytical extralaboratory. The committed mistakes must be associated with its negative impact in the patient and not only with the phase of control in which they appear the most.