Niching methods extend genetic algorithms and permit the investigation of multiple optimal solutions in the search space. In this paper, we review and discuss various strategies of niching for optimization in electromagnetics. Traditional mathematical problems and an electromagnetic benchmark are solved using niching genetic algorithms to show their interest in real world optimization. Index terms-Genetic algorithms, niching methods, sharing, crowding, clearing, shape optimization, magnetizer.


This paper develops a novel robotic joint mechanism by means of twisting a small-diameter round-belt, which enables slow movements of joint rotation unlike direct-drive actuator mechanisms. The actuator mechanism proposed in this manuscript is composed of two small-diameter round-belts located near the joint with opposite configurations. The two round-belts are twisted by DC motors placed on a motor stage, which can be activated by a step motor. This novel mechanism realizes movement of the robotic joint around its axis due to contraction forces generated by twisting both round-belts. That is, these round-belts act as agonist and antagonist actuators for the robotic joint, which give a human-like compliance to the rotational motion of the joint. Experimental results using the proposed one-link robot show that a high position resolution of the joint control can be achieved by increases and decreases in the amount of twisting. In addition, we clearly indicate a linear relationship between twisting and the joint angle of the robot. Finally, this paper reveals that the antagonistic twist-actuator system has a secondary role as a gear reducer that is capable of largely decreasing the velocity of joint movement.


In the application of Z‐number, how to generate Z‐number is a significant and open issue. In this paper, we proposed a method of generating Z‐number based on the OWA weights using maximum entropy considering the attitude (preference) of the decision maker. Some numerical examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results show that the attitude (preference) of the decision maker can give an optimal possibility distribution of the reliability for Z‐number using maximum entropy.


This study was grasped an instance of a leisure activities about a construction engineers through the questions as to a need, a plan, a preference, a time and a main cause of a leisure activities. An increase of an income and a reduction of a work time have investigated an influence on a leisure cost and time. This study suggested a good method for an improvement of a leisure activities.


By studying phase transitions in supersymmetric gauge theories with Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation, a natural relation is found between sigma models on certain non-Kahler manifolds with intrinsic torsion and asymmetric Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds. In these orbifold limits, a quantum anomaly of the orbifold action is cancelled by discrete phases in the partition function. These intrinsic torsion phases are derived by blowing down cycles supporting non-trivial H-flux in the linear model. This correspondence extends the CY-LG correspondence to special non-Kahler manifolds and provides computational tools with which to study the spectra of associated heterotic flux vacua.


This chapter discusses Lee Morgan's musical developments under the influence of the drummer and bandleader Art Blakey, and influenced by the context in which he worked.


Purpose: Effective and objective method for decide the location of primary headache is needed. In this study we used corresponding points on the middle finger of hand of Korean Hand Therapy (KHT). Subjects and Methods: The 600 outpatients with primary headache were included. History, physical exam and routine laboratory tests were performed. On physical examination, we palpated head and middle finger together and compared with each other. We decided the right or left side and sites of one side. The palpated points were bilateral forehead, periorbital, preauricular, temporal, parietal, and occipital, 2-3 centimeter apart from midline of head and neck from forehead to occipital. On the middle finger we pressed KHT points such as Urinary Bladder micromeridian(I) I-1, I-2, I-3 and Gallbladder micromeridian(M) M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, M-5, and M-6 using tip probe and or roller stimulator. Results: Among 400 migraineurs, 48 had pain sensitive points on the both sides of head and middle fingers, 196 had on the right side and 156 had on the left side. The painful sites were diffuse rather than localized. Among 200 patients with tension type headache, 67 had sensitive points on the right side along midline of head and middle finger, 105 had sensitive points on the left side along midline and 28 had sensitive points on both side along midline. Conclusion: For diagnosis and treatment of primary headache objectively and effectively, we can save the time to decide and to confirm location during physical examination if we apply corresponding points of KHT.


Flat panel image display devices such as TFT LCD and PDP have required more large area and high quality control components, To control the qualities of the components, measurements of the flatness of a plate glass has been required, In order to measure the shape of the specular objects. Non-Contact Optical Sensor using Hologram laser unit was proposed, The sensor has a optical system that is composed of a Hologram laser and objective lens, The temperature of the sensor body is controlled by TEC(Thermoelectric Cooler) to maintain the same wavelength of the diode laser. In this research, we proposed the calibration scheme to make sensor real time measuring sensor. From the experimental results we see that the proposed sensor unit can measure the position of the glass surface in real time.


Assistive Exoskeleton is a type of ergonomic product that is based on exoskeleton support and is a chair. Standing for five hours or more each day, according to a small study, increases the risk of considerable and prolonged lower-limb muscular fatigue. Long-term back pain and musculoskeletal problems may be increased as a result of this. Meanwhile, the researchers discovered that persons who primarily stand at work are several percent more likely than "predominantly sitting populations" to suffer heart disease. Because of its big size, high weight (5 to 7 kg), and hard frame, the traditional chair is inconvenient to transport to different working locations. As a result, they are unsuited for workplaces with limited space. Because lightweight members are used, the flexible wearable chair may have a gross weight of 3 kg. It has to be constructed in such a way that workers may be comfortable while performing their activities and can adjust their sitting posture to any angle between 90 and 160 degrees. This exoskeleton can be used as an extra pair of legs to allow a person to sit without using a chair or to adopt a more comfortable position for certain occupations. Workers can walk around normally, but they must adjust and secure the supporting structure in the proper position if they want to sit or lean. The weight is then balanced on the floor by their movable frames. It's designed for factory workers who must stand for extended periods of time in work and occasionally bend into unusual positions to build a product. Spatial management is a critical aspect in every industry. By optimizing the utilization of an Assistive Exoskeleton, superfluous chairs and resting areas can be avoided.


Long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are being replaced by short-chain PFASs and fluorinated alternatives. For ten legacy PFASs and seven recently discovered perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs), we report (1) their occurrence in the Cape Fear River (CFR) watershed, (2) their fate in water treatment processes, and (3) their adsorbability on powdered activated carbon (PAC). In the headwater region of the CFR basin, PFECAs were not detected in raw water of a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), but concentrations of legacy PFASs were high. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's lifetime health advisory level (70 ng/L) for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was exceeded on 57 of 127 sampling days. In raw water of a DWTP downstream of a PFAS manufacturer, the mean concentration of perfluoro-2-propoxypropanoic acid (PFPrOPrA), a replacement for PFOA, was 631 ng/L (n = 37). Six other PFECAs were detected, with three exhibiting chromatographic peak ar...


Background : For patients requiring chronic hemodialysis, the preferred site for vascular access is an autogenous arteriovenous fistula. Although a properly formed fistula is advantageous because it is less susceptible than other types of vascular accesses to infection and clot formation and can last longer than any other types of vascular access, AV fistula has a high rate of early failure that can increase immediate cost and complications. In this study, the prognostic value of physical examination of arteriovenous fistula by the surgeon at the end of the surgery was evaluated. Methods : In the general surgery ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 326 chronic renal failure patients, 354 arteriovenous fistula operations were accomplished by two surgeons from 1377 to 1381 (ca. 1998 to 2002). The performance of each fistula was divided into the following groups by the surgeon at the end of operation: 1) systolic and diastolic thrill, 2) systolic thrill 3) souffle 4) pulse 5) not functional. Clinical function of the fistula was evaluated by the same surgeon in the following days if no souffle or thrill, early failure was detected on initial inspection. Results : In the 354 cases of arteriovenous fistula, the total early failure rate was 12.7%. The lowest early-failure rate was 3.5% in the systolic and diastolic thrill group. The highest early-failure rate was in the not functional group (P<0.001). There was no correlation between early failure and age, sex, surgeon and location of fistula. Conclusion : Optimally, an arteriovenous fistula has a thrill with a soft compressible pulse. At the end of each operation, if the surgeon cannot detect a thrill at the fistula site, can find only pulse, or if the function is otherwise unsatisfactory, considering of a new arteriovenous fistula may be required, however it is better to postpone the surgery. Abstract


Background: The introduction of the K to 12 Curriculum has introduced research subjects in Senior High School, emphasizing qualitative and quantitative research to nurture critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. However, teaching research methods poses persistent challenges, with students often feeling disconnected from the research process. This study addresses the need to understand the problems encountered in teaching Practical Research subjects, their impact on student work, and teachers' coping mechanisms, especially given the recent introduction of these subjects in the Senior High School curriculum. Methods: This research employs a Descriptive Phenomenological Method and purposeful sampling to select four experienced Practical Research Teachers. Data is gathered through one-on-one interviews using open-ended questions and audio recordings. Data analysis follows Colaizzi's Descriptive Phenomenological Method, involving immersion in data, identification of significant statements, exploration of meanings, theme categorization, constructing a comprehensive depiction of the phenomenon, and data verification. Data saturation guides sample size determination, ensuring a thorough exploration of the teaching challenges in Practical Research subjects. Results: This study delves into the challenges encountered by educators in teaching Practical Research subjects, particularly within the context of the K to 12 curriculum. It identifies a multitude of issues that impact both teachers and students, including teacher-related challenges such as low confidence, students' weak foundation in research, and the confusion arising from late teaching load releases. Additionally, student-related problems encompass a lack of understanding of basic research concepts and the sequential parts of research, leading to delays in manuscript submissions and confusion over research requirements. School administration-related challenges arise from the late release of teaching assignments and disorganized school activities, which disrupt students' research progress. Furthermore, instructional materials-related issues revolve around the lack of access to research journals, articles, and websites, hindering students' learning and teachers' ability to provide concrete examples and explanations. These problems collectively compromise the quality of research outputs and contribute to the time-consuming nature of teaching, especially for foundational concepts. Students may fail to submit research outputs on time, undermining the significance of research in basic education. Despite these challenges, teachers employ coping mechanisms, such as capacity building through readings, seminars, and discussions with fellow educators. They also tolerate the problems by revisiting topics repeatedly and accepting teaching loads willingly. Regular assessment and feedback to students emerge as effective strategies for addressing these challenges. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study highlights the multifaceted challenges faced by teachers in teaching Practical Research subjects and their impact on the quality of education and research outputs. It underscores the critical need for comprehensive teacher training and enhanced pedagogical approaches to address these issues. Additionally, it calls for timely administrative processes, the provision of essential learning resources, and clear communication to minimize conflicts and enhance students' research experiences. The study recommends that teachers engage in ongoing professional development and that institutions invest in modern facilities and technologies to improve the accessibility of research materials. Furthermore, the standardization of research guidelines and formats can streamline the research process, reducing confusion and enhancing the quality of research outputs. The findings also suggest the importance of replicating this study on a broader scale to ensure comprehensive coverage and the enhancement of research quality in educational institutions. Ultimately, addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a research-oriented culture and preparing students for higher education and future success.


Abstract Electrorheological fluids are colloidal suspensions of polarizable particles in a viscous, nonconductive solvent. When an electric field is applied to a fluid, dielectric columns form, oriented parallel to the field. One can calculate the size of the columns formed in two dimensions using a simple model. I also discuss possible mechanisms for the long-term relaxation of the fluid toward a phase separated state. This paper then compares these predictions with the results of a molecular dynamics simulation of the aggregation process. The simulation differs from most others performed previously in that it examines structure formation near equilibrium. The simulation provides confirmation of the predicted column sizes in the dilute, near-equilibrium limit and provides a measure of the time scale for phase separation. The observed time scale is independent of field strength, supporting an interpretation that phase separation is driven by an interaction between the thermal fluctuations of the shape of separated columns.


The aim of this study is to have a better understanding of the effects of service quality, which will lead to patient satisfaction and behavioral intention in order to build long-term
relationships with their patients. An-Nur Specialist Hospital (ASH) has been in operation for the past nine years.The ASH establishment is a private specialist hospital in the local area of
Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor.The business has been well established and has recorded positive monthly growth since its inception. The high demand in hospital services, lately, has obligated the ASH management to transform their business and enhance the quality of their health services to meet the growing demand.Healthcare delivery system in developing countries calls for an efficient management to increase the effectiveness of healthcare systems Hence, there is a need to review the current business model with the intent of transforming ASH service quality in order to ensure competitiveness among other operators. This case study will assess the current health services
delivery practices at ASH and provide recommendations to improve the quality of health
services.


Special equipments are important and basic equipments for national economic construction,which benefits and also may cause great losses to people's life and property in the situation of mismanagement.Special equipment safety assessment can be used in the searching,analysis and forecast of special equipment risks and harmful factors,which would provide the possible method to deal with the hazards monitoring and accident prevention lead to risk,harmful consequences and degree process.This can put forward the reasonable safety countermeasures and achieve the minimum rate of loss and the best security the benefit of investment.In this paper,several common safety evaluation methods were introduced and the possible problems existing in the special equipment safety assessment in china was discussed.


Acknowledgements I would like to thank my adviser, Professor Francesco Bianchi, for his guidance and especially his assistance on the econometric aspects of my thesis. I would like to thank Professor Kent Kimbrough for his weekly guidance throughout the year and the countless hours he has spent listening to me talk about my thesis and reading my drafts. I'd also like to thank Emily Lynch for her assistance on the Matlab work required for the agonistic break model. Additional thanks to Songman Kim for his help with some of the Stata portions of my project and to Joel Herndon for his general assistance on data acquisition and anaylsis. I am grateful to Jane Day and Carlton Brown at the Ford Library for their assistance in obtaining data using the various programs available at Fuqua. Finally, I'd like to thank the fellow students in my honors seminar class— Karna Mital, Chengyu Li, and Chen Ni—for all the comments and advice they've provided over the last eight months. ABSTRACT The extreme underpricing of Chinese Initial Public Offerings in the early days of the Chinese equity markets was reduced by several reforms instituted by the Chinese government from around 2000 to 2002. These reforms reduced 1-day returns on IPOs from 295% to 72%. The reforms reduced IPO underpricing by decreasing the inequality between IPO supply and demand. These reforms, while announced between 2000 and 2002, likely took until around 2004 to take full effect. In addition to inequality between supply and demand, other factors such as information asymmetry and government/quality signaling contributed to underpricing both before and after the reforms.


In the last decade there has been a significant advance in the types and materials of intraocular lens implants available. Recently, there has been a trend towards developing a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implant and, with advances in surgical techniques, there is the possibility of abolishing the need for postoperative spectacle correction completely. For the last seven years at the Croydon Eye Unit we have been involved in four multicentre clinical trials into the efficacy of the bizonal refractive form of multifocal IOL design. The results presented focus on the IOLAB 8191M multifocal implant, with a near central zone of 1.5 mm diameter, and a +4.00 D addition. When implanted, this is equivalent to a spectacle addition of +2.80 D.


First of all, for estimating the reliabilities in Weibull stress-strength models, some matching priors are derived based on a modified profile likelihood. Simulation studies show that these matching priors perform well with small sample sizes. Next, a generalized Zellner's g-prior is proposed for model selection in linear models with grouped covariates. The marginal likelihood function and a simple closed form of it are derived. The issue of computing the Bayes factors is addressed, and the performance of the Bayes factors is examined by numerical studies. Finally, the Bayes factors under the proposed prior in some 2-way ANOVA models are proved to be consistent.


Officers, Council and Standing Committees for Session 1951-52 In accordance with the procedure laid down in the Articles and By-laws of the Society, nominations made by the Council to fill vacancies for the Session 1951-52 were circulated to Corporate Members, who were given an opportunity to make additional nominations. Two such additional nominations for ordinary membership of Council were received, and a postal ballot was held. The names of those elected to fill the vacancies for Officers and Members of Council for the Session 1951-52 are as follows:-


A method, system and computer program product for optimally allocating objects in a virtual machine environment implemented on a NUMA computer system. The method includes: obtaining a node identifier; storing the node identifier in a thread; obtaining an object identifier of a lock-target object from a lock thread; writing a lock node identifier into the lock-target object; traversing an object reference graph where the object reference graph contains an object as a graph node, a reference from the first object to a second object as an edge, and a stack allocated to a thread as the root node; determining whether a move-target object contains the lock node identifier; moving the move-target object to a subarea allocated to a lock node if it contains the lock node identifier, and moving the move-target object to the destination of the current traversal target object if the lock node identifier is not found.


-Barometer is a well-organized tool for determining atmospheric pressure. The altimeter is a tool which calculates the vertical distance in accordance with a reference level. The barometric altimeter, computes the altitude according to the atmospheric pressure. Accuracy and size are the major issues in altimetry. On the other hand the present day altimeters employing conventional pressure sensors consume more floor space and provide very less accuracy. To resolve this problem, in this paper implemented a Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) based pressure sensor in the design of barometric altimeter. MEMS are a class of systems that shares the existence of micro machined parts having both electrical and mechanical components incorporated on a single chip. MEMS pressure sensor guarantees higher degree of accuracy and reliability. These MEMS based barometric altimeter system operates with high sensitivity in the pressure. A temperature sensor is interfaced with the system so as to implement the dynamic temperature profiling approach as an attempt to eliminate the temperature dependent errors prevailing in the present day standard temperature profiled altimeters. MEMS based Barometric Altimeter is implemented using the following two modules: Embedded Module and Simulation Module. Even though the size of the MEMS based Barometric Altimeter is reduced, it provides more accuracy. ——————————  ——————————


P2P video streaming is a cost effective and scalable alternative for client-server based video delivery over the Internet. In P2P video streaming schemes, the Internet peers contribute their bandwidth for data dissemination in a multicast group. Since the performance of a P2P streaming system is dependent on contribution of the group members, free riders is one of the main challenges of such systems. Free riders are some selfish peers that do not upload any data to the other peers while downloading from the network. Therefore, designing incentive mechanisms for P2P streaming systems is essential. In this paper we designed and proposed an incentive mechanism for mesh based P2P video streaming. The proposed approach includes two parts. In the first part, the contribution of the peers in the network is measured and maintained in a distributed fashion, and in the second part, differentiated service is provided for the peers based on their contribution. We simulated the proposed approach and the results show the efficiency of the proposed mechanism in improving the overall quality of the perceived video in the group.


This paper presents an ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filter using a combination of broadside-coupled structure and lumped-capacitor-loaded shunt stub resonator. The broadside-coupled microstrip-to-coplanar waveguide structure provides an ultra-wide bandpass filtering operation and keeps a good stopband at lower frequencies from DC at the same time. The lumped-capacitor-loaded shunt stub resonator creates two transmission zeros (attenuation poles which can be located at the outsides of the two bandedges of the UWB bandpass filter to improve the out-band performance by selecting a suitable combination of the length of the shunt stubs and the capacitance of the loaded chip capacitors. The filter was designed based on electromagnetic simulation for broadside-coupled structure, microwave circuit simulation and experiments for determining the transmission zeros. The filter was fabricated on a one-layer dielectric substrate. The measured results demonstrated that the developed UWB bandpass filter has good performance: low insertion loss about 0.46 dB and low group delay about 0.26 ns at the center of the passband and very flat over the whole passband, and less than -10 dB reflection over the passband. The implemented transmission zeros, particularly at the low frequency end, dramatically improved the out-band performance, leading the filter satisfy the FCC's spectrum mask not only for indoor but also for outdoor applications. These poles improved also the skirt performance at both bandedges of the filter. A lowpass filter has been also introduced and integrated with the proposed bandpass filter to have a further improvement of the out-band performance at the high frequency end. The filters integrated with lowpass section exhibit excellent filter performance: almost satisfying the FCC's spectrum mask from DC to 18 GHz. The developed UWB bandpass filter has a compact size of 4 cm x 1.5 cm, or 4.8 cm x 1.5 cm with lowpass section implemented.


: The aim of the research was to identify perceived organizational support and its relationship to teachers' perceptions of learning societies in Palestinian secondary schools. And the questionnaire of learning societies, and the researcher used the spss (quantitative) and qualitative method, and the data was collected, analyzed, and statistical transactions were conducted using a program to extract the results. The organizational perceived provided by the Palestinian schools is due to the variable years of experience (from 10 years to more), and there are statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) between the average degree of teachers' awareness of learning communities due to the variable years of experience (from 10 years to more), and there is a correlation relationship Statistically significant at level (0.05) between the degree of perceived organizational support in Palestinian secondary schools and teachers' perceptions of learning communities


The classification of the static magnetic domain wall structures of tube- and envelope-type is made in an unified way using the homotopy theory. The sets of topological classes for such two kinds of magnetic domain walls, G W n and G W n , are corresponding respectively one-by-one to the sets of homotopy classes relative to n + l base points for the S 2 →S 2 and S 3 →S 4 continuous maps. Either G W (n) ro G W (n) , therefore, can be constructed into group isomorphic to Z, the additive group of integers. (Then we call them the tube-wall group and the envelope-wall group of type n, respectively). The 'winding number' introduced by Slon-czewski et al. is considered anew. The sufficient and necessary conditions under which the 'winding number' is allowed to be taken as the index of tube-wall class are obtained. Finally, the topological classification of the magnetization states with M tube-walls and N envelope-walls coexisting is discussed. It is shown that the set of the corresponding topological classes, G W (M,N) , can be constructed into group isomorphic to Z M+N , the M + N dimensional lattice vector group. (It is then referred to as the mix-wall group of type [M, N] ).


Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the exon-1 domain of the huntingtin protein (htt). Above a threshold of 37 glutamine residues, htt starts to aggregate in a nucleation-dependent manner. A 17-residue N-terminal fragment of htt (N17) has been suggested to play a crucial role in modulating the aggregation propensity and toxicity of htt. Here we identify N17 as a potential target for novel therapeutic intervention using the molecular tweezer CLR01. A combination of biochemical experiments and computer simulations shows that binding of CLR01 induces structural rearrangements within the htt monomer and inhibits htt aggregation, underpinning the key role of N17 in modulating htt toxicity. H disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of misfolded proteins, which accumulate and eventually form amyloid aggregates in susceptible neurons. In HD, misfolding and aggregation is associated with the expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the huntingtin protein (htt). Htt proteins with polyQ expansions beyond 37 glutamine residues are known to be pathogenic. These polyQ repeats are located in the exon-1 domain of htt (htt). Recent studies indicate that the regions flanking the polyQ segment significantly affect the aggregation process. These flanking regions are a 17-residue N-terminal domain of htt (N17) and a 52-residue region at the C-terminus with two polyproline (polyP) segments. The N17 sequence is a crucial part of the htt protein, as it is proposed to mediate a variety of targeting, trafficking, and clearing operations in the cell. Furthermore, it was shown that the N17 domain promotes the aggregation of htt in vitro and in vivo. In agreement with this, the specific binding of molecular chaperones to N17 was found to alter htt aggregation and toxicity. Here our aim was to modulate the aggregation propensity and cytotoxicity of htt using CLR01 (Figure 1A), a molecular tweezer that can inhibit the self-assembly and toxicity of several amyloid proteins. CLR01 binds specifically to lysine with aKd of∼10 μM and to a lesser extent to arginine, while showing little or no affinity to other residues. This is important since lysine residues were previously implicated in htt aggregation. Also, CLR01 can be delivered to the central nervous system in mice. Notably, despite the well-known effect of CLR01 on other amyloid proteins, no studies of molecular tweezers on htt have been reported. This can be related to the small number of lysine residues found in htt, their concentration in the N17 sequence, and the fact that htt toxicity has been traditionally associated with the polyQ extension, where CLR01 is not expected to bind. Here we show that CLR01 can indeed inhibit toxic aggregation of the htt protein. Our study reveals that CLR01 binds to theN17 domain of htt, thereby triggering structural rearrangements. Furthermore, we found that CLR01 induces a deceleration of the aggregation process in vitro and in living cells. To analyze the effect of CLR01 at the molecular level, we performed classical molecular dynamics (MD) and replica-exchange MD (REMD) simulations as well as quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations of htt with 55 glutamine residues (httQ55 e1 ). The structure reported by Dlugosz and Trylska was used as a starting point for MD simulations of httQ55 e1 in the absence of tweezers. A cluster analysis of this trajectory was Received: October 29, 2016 Published: April 13, 2017 Communication


Abstract : The design of visual components in virtual environments has shown rapid improvement and innovation. However the design of auditory interfaces has lagged behind. Whereas visual scenes have become more compelling, the auditory portions of VE remain rudimentary. This disparity is perplexing since auditory cues play a crucial role in our day-to-day lives. Imagine entering a meeting with a room full of people. When you enter the room you realize that the speaker's voice is emanating from all points in the room yet the room is totally anechoic. In addition. you see other attendees moving in the room, yet there are no additional noises in the room except the speaker's voice. Despite walking into a "real" environment. your sense of reality would most probably be challenged. In tact it is generally believed that the sense of presence is dependent upon auditory. visual and tactile fidelity (Sheriden. 1996). Although the sense of realism in VE is also dependent on visual fidelity. virtual or spatial sound has been shown to increase the sense of "presence" (Hendrix 1996). It stands to reason that when we develop poor auditory interlaces in a VE. The perceived quality of the entire VE is compromised (Storms. 1998). The problem with audio is that our normal auditory environment is "transparent". We don't consciously process a sound in our environment unless we NEED to attend to it. Yet. when slogging through mud while on patrol. soldiers use auditory cues to keep track of the people around them while scanning for threats in front of them. They don't need to keep looking at the people around them. While not consciously processing the sounds of their comrades if someone stops walking, walking, they'll recognize the lack of sound instantly.


A simple global model was developed to determine the ignition margin of tokamaks including electron and ion conduction losses. A comparison of this model with results from a 1 1/2 dimensional Whist code is made. (MOW)


The goal of this PhD project was to study the genetic architecture of pear resistance to two of its most significant diseases and pests, fire blight and psylla, which cause severe yield losses in all the main pear production regions worldwide. The development of new pear varieties with resistance against these two biotic stresses is of major interest for Integrated Pest Management. This project was designed in a joint collaboration among Fondazione Edmund Mach (Italy), Institut de Recherches en Horticulture et Semences (France) and Plant & Food Research (New-Zealand). The interspecific pear F1 progeny T003 x 'Moonglow' was developed with the purpose of cumulating resistances to fire blight and psylla deriving from Asian and European pear cultivars. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR)-based genetic maps were built for T003 and 'Moonglow'. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) were detected for the resistances, demonstrating their polygenic nature. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) can now be applied for these two traits. Furthermore, the segregating population exhibited genetic incompatibilities, and the genomic regions associated with hybrid necrosis were mapped for the first time in pear. Development of molecular markers linked to the lethal genes should allow breeders to avoid crosses leading to incompatible combinations that could affect the expression of important agronomic traits co-segregating with these genes.


Disclosed in an embodiment are a rotor assembly and a motor including the same, the rotor assembly comprising: a rotor part; and a first cover including a first fixing plate for covering one side of the rotor part and a plurality of first vane parts protruding from the first fixing plate, wherein a first angle, which is formed by an imaginary line extending from an outer end of the first vane part and a tangential line of a first imaginary circle, is greater than a second angle formed by an imaginary line extending from an inner end of the first vane part and a tangential line of a second imaginary circle, the centers of the first imaginary circle and the second imaginary circle are the same as the center of the first fixing plate, the tangential line of the first imaginary circle is a tangential line at a position at which the first imaginary circle and the outer end meet and the tangential line of the second imaginary circle is a tangential line at a position at which the second imaginary circle and the inner end meet.


Surface cracks are a common occurrence in structural components due to the frequently highest values of the stress at the outer boundary of the body and to the presence of defects. Such flaws can heavily reduce the service life of structural components leading to their premature failure, especially under repeated loading. During last decades, many research works based on theoretical, numerical and experimental techniques have been performed, mainly devoted to the determination of the stress-intensity factors for recurrent surface crack shapes, different loading types and boundary conditions. Further, fatigue behaviour of surface cracks has been examined through numerical analyses or by simplifying the expected crack growth process. In the present paper, a literature survey is carried out by discussing the main topics related to the safety assessment of structural components with surface cracks under static or fatigue loading.


Diffusion MRI is a well established imaging modality providing a powerful way to probe the structure of the white matter non-invasively. Despite its potential, the intrinsic long scan times of these sequences have hampered their use in clinical practice. For this reason, a large variety of methods have been recently proposed to shorten the acquisition times. Among them, spherical deconvolution approaches have gained a lot of interest for their ability to reliably recover the intra-voxel fiber configuration with a relatively small number of data samples. To overcome the intrinsic instabilities of deconvolution, these methods use regularization schemes generally based on the assumption that the fiber orientation distribution (FOD) to be recovered in each voxel is sparse. The well known Constrained Spherical Deconvolution (CSD) approach resorts to Tikhonov regularization, based on an l2-norm prior, which promotes a weak version of sparsity. Also, in the last few years compressed sensing has been advocated to further accelerate the acquisitions and l1-norm minimization is generally employed as a means to promote sparsity in the recovered FODs. In this paper, we provide evidence that the use of an l1-norm prior to regularize this class of problems is somewhat inconsistent with the fact that the fiber compartments all sum up to unity. To overcome this l1 inconsistency while simultaneously exploiting sparsity more optimally than through an l2 prior, we reformulate the reconstruction problem as a constrained formulation between a data term and and a sparsity prior consisting in an explicit bound on the l0 norm of the FOD, i.e. on the number of fibers. The method has been tested both on synthetic and real data. Experimental results show that the proposed l0 formulation significantly reduces modeling errors compared to the state-of-the-art l2 and l1 regularization approaches.


A triazole bridged bis-calix[4]pyrrole was successfully synthesized and further used for the first time to construct AABB type linear thermoresponsive supramolecular polymers by utilizing the host-guest interaction between calix[4]pyrroles and carboxylate units of tetrabutylammonium suberate.


An orthogonal design combined with single factor experiment was applied to optimize ISSR-PCR amplification system of Rhubarb.The main elements of the reaction system(Mg2+、Taq DNA polymerase、dNTPs、Primer、DNA template) were tested.The result was analyzed by statistics software and direct analyzing.A suitable ISSR-PCR reaction system was established.Namely 25μL reaction system containing 30 ng DNA template,2.5μL 10×Taq Buffer,0.4mmol/L dNTPs,0.25μmol/L primer,2.5 mmol/L Mg2+,1.25U Taq DNA polymerase.


There is a growing concern among consumers for preserving the environment without compromising the current lifestyle. In this context, organizations are looking for a sustainable business model that can fulfil their business objectives effectively. The concept of the circular economy is emerging as a solution that can help the minimization of the ill effect of industrialization. The circular economy is efficiently adopted and implemented through circular practices. However, the adoption of circular economy practices is not easy for the industries, and it requires a comprehensive strategy. Therefore, this study aims to identify and evaluate the key strategies to accomplish circular economy practices in the present-day context. In order to fulfil the research objective, this study identified 11 significant strategies that are needed for the adoption of circular economy practices. These strategies are identified using an integrated approach of the literature review and focus group discussion with experts. Further, these key strategies are evaluated using the fuzzy DEMATEL and developed a causal relationship among the strategies. The applied method has also classified the strategies into cause and effect group. The cause group comprises the five strategies, while effect group contain the six strategies. The finding suggests that "management involvement, support and commitment" and "creating a vision and goals for circular economy" are prominent strategies. This study will facilitate the managers to make the action plan for implementing the circular practices in order to shift towards the circular economy.


The developmental history, present situation and future prospect of inorganic medicine was introduced in this paper, which had a guiding significance for inorganic medicine research and development.


An integrated data collection, analysis, and data visualization environment is described for a specific parallel system - the Intel iPSC/2 hypercube. The data collection components of the environment encompass software event tracing at the operating system with a program level and a hardware-based performance monitoring system used to capture software events. A visualization system based on the X-window environment permits dynamic display and reduction of performance data. A performance data collection, analysis, and visualization environment makes it possible to access the effects of architectural and system software variations.


: The development of multivalent metal (such as Mg and Ca) based battery systems is hindered by lack of suitable cathode chemistry that shows reversible multi-electron redox reactions. Cationic redox centres in the classical cathodes can only afford stepwise single-electron transfer, which are not ideal for multivalent-ion storage. The charge imbalance during multivalent ion insertion might lead to an additional kinetic barrier for ion mobility. Therefore, multivalent battery cathodes only exhibit slope-like voltage profiles with insertion/ extraction redox of less than one electron. Taking VS 4 as a model material, reversible two-electron redox with cationic– anionic contributions is verified in both rechargeable Mg batteries (RMBs) and rechargeable Ca batteries (RCBs). The corresponding cells exhibit high capacities of > 300 mAhg (cid:2) 1 at a current density of 100 mAg (cid:2) 1 in both RMBs and RCBs, resulting in a high energy density of > 300 Whkg (cid:2) 1 for RMBs and > 500 Whkg (cid:2) 1 for RCBs. Mechanistic studies reveal a unique redox activity mainly at anionic sulfides moieties and fast Mg 2 + ion diffusion kinetics enabled by the soft structure and flexible electron configuration of VS 4 . batteries. Ex situ and operando spectroscopic studies demon-strate the insertion of Mg 2 + ions and elucidate the anion-dominated redox reactions in the VS 4 /rGO cathode. Compu-tational analysis not only confirms the hybrid redox mechanism, but also reveals that the chain-like VS 4 can offer an effective pathway for fast migration of Mg 2 + ions. The unique charge-storage mechanism based on disulfide anions makes such a material well suited for multivalent-metal-based batteries and capable of multi-electron transfer reaction in RMBs and RCBs, thus providing a high capacity of > 300 mAhg (cid:2) 1 and a high energy density ( > 300 Whkg (cid:2) 1 for RMBs and > 500 Whkg (cid:2) 1 for RCBs). The strategy involving anionic redox chemistry would provide a new perspective for the development of high performance cathode materials for multivalent batteries. The authors


Aiming at the hydrogeology characteristics of high water-rich sand layer in Shenyang,making use of the analysis software of Comsol Multiphysics,and taking into account the linear elastic deformation nature of sandy soil,a three-dimensional seepage-stress coupled model was established on the basis of the Biot's consolidation theory.It describes the dynamic process of the ground deformation due to dewatering by multi-port pumping wells.The numbers,distance and pumping capacity of the wells are optimized by the inverse analysis of parameters through water fitting and displacement back analysis.Furthermore,the deformation of the building and underground pipes caused by the dewatering can be forecasted with the settlement,incline,curvature and horizontal displacement.It is shown that this model is stable and the water level can get dynamic equilibrium by pumping for 77 days.The ground deformation satisfies the requirement of the construction safety.It has good practical,economic and social benefits by the way of optimizing the distance,numbers and the pumping flow of the wells.


The invention discloses a gold-labeled detection test strip of body fluid HSP70 gels and a preparation method of the gold-labeled detection test strip, belonging to the technical field of immune detection. The test strip comprises a sample pad, a gold-labeled pad, a nitro cellulose membrane and absorbent paper, wherein three detection lines and a quality control line are arranged on the nitro cellulose membrane; and a gold-labeled antibody is arranged on the gold-labeled pad. The gold-labeled antibody is a color developing antibody; the detection lines are capture antibodies; the color developing antibody and the capture antibodies are a pair of mat anti-human HSP70 monoclonal antibodies sandwiched and paired by double antibodies; the quality control line is goat-anti-mouse IgG. The gold-labeled detection test strip of the body fluid HSP70 gels has the advantages of high specificity, readily-observable result and sensitivity of reaching 15 ng/mL so that results are read during 15 min, good stability and repeatability, convenience for operation, and no need of special instruments and is suitable for popularization and application for detecting primary hospitals and experiment researches on the scene.


Social communication is an integral part of everyday living and plays a vital role in establishing and maintaining psychosocial wellbeing. Conversations are the most frequent communication activities of older people (Davidson, Worrall, & Hickson, 2003). There is evidence that aphasia impacts on a person's ability to participate in social conversations. Since the functions of everyday conversations are both transactional and interactional, it is important to understand how engagement in conversations between people with aphasia and their family and friends is accomplished.


It was found that the sodium sulfate method of radioimmunoassay of 125I-labeled myelin basic protein could be used in the measurement and linear regression analysis of myelin-basic protein-binding activity in Lewis and Fischer rats, and could be adapted to the day-to-day single point measurements of antibody in microliter quantities of serum without untoward loss of statistical precision.


Abstract The purpose of the work which this committee has undertaken is to determine the effect of the variables which influence the results of physical tests on rubber. The investigation has proven that variations in temperature which may occur from day to day in an uncontrolled testing room may affect the physical tests to as great a degree as a 25 to 40 per cent change in the time of cure, while relative humidity affects the results to only a minor degree. Furthermore, variations in the absolute humidity of the room in which the unvulcanized rubber is stored between the time of mixing and the time of curing may affect the tensile strength and modulus of rubber compounds to as great a degree as does the temperature after curing. It is, therefore, apparent that laboratory tests which are conducted under uncontrolled conditions of temperature and humidity may give highly erroneous results and may even give misinformation which is worse than no information at all. The committee, therefore, recommends that ...


for Constantine and his successors the question-begging and now rather oldfashioned term "caesaro-papism," but let that pass), and continues with the "dyarchy" of prince and prelate in the Middle Ages, and so to the rise and then the collapse of the papal theocracy. He makes a serious effort to relate church history to social-economic developments, referring more briefly to theology and liturgy, which the students at Camarillo presumably hear about in other departments, and somewhat apologetically saying little on art and architecture (p. v). And he does, I think, without compromising his obvious convictions, succeed in his intention "neither to shy away from scandals nor to feature them" (ibid.). One is not of course surprised that a Roman Catholic writer speaks of "The Great Eastern Schism" (Chapter XII) where a Greek would speak of the Roman Schism and others might compromise with a more neutral term. Occasionally he does, I think, read later interpretations back into history, as in assuming that the twelfth-century Lateran Councils cannot really have meant that schismatic ordinations were invalid (irritae, pp. 600, 619).


Clientelism in Argentina is a topic that has received a great deal of attention in the specialized literature. However, an important mechanism has remained understudied: the exchange of public sector jobs for political support. Public employees are an important gear of political machines but have not received the attention they deserve. Studies of Argentine clientelism have focused mainly on punteros; that is, on local party brokers who mediate personal favors between poor voters and politicians (Auyero 2001; Levitsky 2003; Stokes 2005; Calvo and Murillo 2004; Zarazaga 2014). While many punteros are public employees or aspire to be, the two groups are not the same because many punteros do not hold1 a public job. Public employees who received their jobs in exchange for political support are a particular subset within the party machines' army of campaigners. Oliveros's book successfully fills the gap by studying how patronage affects electoral competition and the quality of democracy. This fascinating study is the first to provide a systematic analysis of the political activities of midand low-level public employees in Latin America. Oliveros argues that patronage jobs are distributed to supporters in exchange for a wide range of political services—such as helping with campaigns and electoral mobilization— that are essential for attracting and maintaining electoral support. The book makes an important theoretical contribution. While it is clear that public employees provide political services to the politicians who have hired them, it is less clear why they do not renege on such deals after being appointed. They can easily back out of the agreement after getting the job. Following Stokes's rational inquiry method (2005), Oliveros asks why the deal is sustainable; that is,


Customer satisfaction is a major driver of companies growth and profitability. Especially in the service industry, job satisfaction of front line employees plays a major role for achieving satisfied customers. Thus, many researchers already have examined job characteristics and occupational stress as antecedents of employees' job satisfaction. However, limited knowledge exists about non-linear relationships and moderating effects among these variables. The present research investigates the antecedents of job satisfaction in the health care industry. Hypotheses are tested by a hierarchical regression analysis on a sample of N=131 registered nurses working in German hospitals. Empirical evidence supports a) a direct linear effect of occupational stress on job satisfaction, b) moderating nonlinear effects of occupational stress on the relationship between motivating potential and job satisfaction.


The structural transformation of modern state governance shows that cooperation is its inner logic and fundamental strategy. Modern state governance needs both reasonable institutional structure and stable social foundation. As a kind of governance democracy,deliberative democracy can undertake the primary demands of modern state governance effectively at the level of social foundation: deliberative democracy can produce two elements that modern state governance requires,that is,participants and social order. On the other hand,modern state governance supports deliberative democracy in political life and social space. Hence modern state governance and deliberative democracy can be well-coordinated. When cooperation and consultation constitute the common values of modern state governance and deliberative democracy,cultivating appropriate public spirit is essential to their development.


Glutamine (Gln) is the most abundant amino acid intracellularly and in the plasma. Importantly, Gln depletion has emerged as a therapeutic approach for cancers that have undergone metabolic reprogramming and have exhibited a dependence on Gln for survival, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Asparaginases are bacterial enzymes that hydrolyze plasma glutamine to glutamate and ammonia, depriving glutamine-dependent AML cells from one of their vital nutrients. Preliminary data and literature have shown that following treatment with asparaginases in vitro there is a consistent increase in serine (Ser). Therefore, we hypothesized that in response to Gln depletion, AML cells upregulate de novo Ser biosynthesis as a compensatory pathway, and the inhibition of this pathway will synergize with Gln depletion to increase cytotoxicity in AML cells. We will test this by targeting, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), a key enzyme in Ser biosynthesis, which is a very common target for serine biosynthesis. We determined that crisantaspase (Rylaze) inhibited the proliferation of several AML cell lines with pharmacologically relevant IC50 values. Similarly, decreasing the concentration of Gln in the media resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the proliferation, growth, and expansion of AML cells, confirming AML sensitivity to Gln depletion. Protein expression of PHGDH and PSAT was upregulated following Gln withdrawal from the media as well as following crisantaspase treatment. We set out to explore the effects of PHGDH knockout and observed that the PHGDH knockout AML cells were significantly more sensitive to crisantaspase, yielding IC50 values ranging from, ~250-fold lower compared to the parental lines. Gln depletion through crisantaspase treatment or withdrawal from the media decreased GSH levels and increased LDH release, both of which were further enhanced by PHGDH knockout. Indicating enhanced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity when both Gln and Ser are targeting in combination. Additionally, silencing of PHGDH reinforced anti-leukemic effects of glutamine modulation by different glutamine metabolism inhibitors, including V9302, CB-839 and BPTES. Preliminary testing of an NAD-dependent cell permeable PHGDH competitive inhibitor prodrug (BI4916) demonstrated an inhibition of AML cell proliferation in multiple cell lines. It has also demonstrated potential synergism and increase in cellular cytotoxicity when used in combination with Rylaze. Simultaneous targeting of Ser and Gln metabolism for AML treatment shows promising results in vitro with great potential for translation into clinical practice with clinically available asparaginases, and other glutamine modulators. Ongoing work is focused on the design of a more potent pharmacologic inhibitor of PHGDH to combine with crisantaspase as a novel treatment approach for AML.
 Citation Format: Kanwal Mahmood Hameed, Ashkan Emadi. Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 286.


4577 Background: It is generally acknowledged that men who are most likely to derive benefit from therapy for prostate cancer are those with a life expectancy of greater than 10 years. We examined ...


The application of geophysical prospecting radar(GPR) in orbital traffic engineering of shanghai Mingzhu line shows it is an effective method. It can prospect the subsurface barrier and identify its type, material, depth etc. with radar image. It is fast and accurate to locate with this method.


In order to meet the requirement raised by the society and to develop students' creative ability,the author has done some useful research and practice in CAD teaching and course design.The author points out the deficiency lying in the one track mechanical drawing which the students used to do in the course design of "Computer Aided Design".Besides,she adds architectural drafting and interior design to the course so that the students can become more creative and possess various drawing techniques with CAD.


Thank you very much for reading social democracy in a post communist europe. As you may know, people have search numerous times for their favorite novels like this social democracy in a post communist europe, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they cope with some infectious bugs inside their computer. social democracy in a post communist europe is available in our digital library an online access to it is set as public so you can download it instantly. Our digital library saves in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Kindly say, the social democracy in a post communist europe is universally compatible with any devices to read.


This paper presents a methodology to integrate a fuzzy coprocessor described in VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) to a soft processor embedded into an FPGA, which increases the throughput of the whole system, since the controller uses parallelism at the circuitry level for high-speed-demanding applications, the rest of the application can be written in C/C++. We used the ARM 32-bit soft processor, which allows sequential and parallel programming. The FLC coprocessor incorporates a tuning method that allows to manipulate the system response. We show experimental results using a fuzzy PD+I controller as the embedded coprocessor.


In the absence of head-to-head comparisons with other TNF alpha antagonists, which are perfectly feasible, there is no firm evidence that golimumab has a better risk-benefit balance than other immunosuppressants.


Describe your ideal tenant • '"Appealing" isn't really part of the process. All qualified applicants are accepted if units are available." • "The first qualified applicant to apply gets the apartment." • "I don't expect people to come dressed for a job interview, but that is essentially the first step." • "Be well spoken and considerate on the phone." Study Four: Phonetic Segmental Analysis MUSE Sample Raced at 89% White Region Rating 14% Northeast 17% West Coast 17% East Coast SouAm Sample Raced as 97% White Region Rating 71% South 2% Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, respectively. AAL Sample Raced as 89% Black Region Rating 29% South 22% East Coast


The author calls attention to the importance of local paleogeographic characteristics shaping pottery production. Ignoring facts resulting from a study of paleoenvironmental factors may lead to interpretative mistakes. The issue is discussed based on a variant of grey ware with abradable surfaces that derives from the smooth grey ware widespread in the Barbaricum (1st to 5th c. A.D.). The choice of raw materials for the production of this variant is instrumental in obtaining the "abradable" effect. The author questions the idea of a special technology for producing quality ceramics from raw material with abundant quartz.


People have often taken positive emotions to be essentially similar to negative ones and hence explain both groups by a basically similar explanatory model. Recently, a growing interest in positive emotions has emerged resulting in a proposal to explain positive emotions by a different explanatory model than that used for negative emotions. A central claim of such a proposal is that positive emotions serve to broaden, rather than to narrow, an individual perspective. Although I agree that in many cases negative emotions are more focused than positive ones, the situation is more complex than that and understanding the nature of positive emotions requires further distinctions; in particular, between various types of positive affect, and between a positive psychological evaluation and a positive moral evaluation. Once these distinctions are made, a single general account for explaining both negative and positive emotions is possible. In this account, the partial nature is common to both negative and positive emotions.


【Seasonal variations of settling particles and metal fluxes were monitored at a nearshore site of Marian Cove, King Geroge Island, Antarctica from 28th February 1998 to 22nd January 2000. Near-bottom sediment traps were deployed at 30m water depth of the cove, and sampling bottles were recovered every month by SCUBA divers. Total particulate flux and metal concentrations were determined from the samples. Total particulate flux showed a distinct seasonality, high in austral summer and low in austral winter: the highest flux $(21.97g\;m^{-2}d^{-1})$ was found in February of 1999, and the lowest $(2.47g\;m^{-2}d^{-1})$ in September of 1998, when sea surface was frozen completely. Lithogenic particle flux accounted for 90% of the total flux, and showed a significantly negative correlation with the thickness of snow accumulation around the study site. It was suggested that the most of the lithogenic particles trapped in the bottles was transported by melt water stream from the surrounding land. Fluxes of Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn, Cii, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb showed similar seasonal variations with the total flux, and their averaged fluxes were 34000, 9000,960, 180, 13.8, 17.6, 3.0,2.1, 5.4, 0.02, and $1.5nmol\;m^{-2}d^{-1}$ respectively. Among the metals, Cu and Cd showed the most noticeable seasonal patterns. The Cd flux correlated positively with the fluxes of biogenic components while the Cu flux correlated with both the lithogenic and biogenic particle fluxes. The Cu flux peak in the late summer is likely related to a substantial amount of inflow of ice melt water laden with Cu-enriched lithogenic particles. On the other hands, the Cd flux peak in the early spring may be associated with the unusually early occurred phytoplankton bloom.】


Conclusion. This study confirms the wide range of vascular architecture in juvenile angiofibromas. Proof of laminin α2 expression in tumour vessels is suggested to indicate presence of vessels of early developmental stage in juvenile angiofibromas, supporting the concept that plexus remnants of the first branchial arch artery contribute to the vascular tumour component. Objectives. Laminins, one of the major components of vascular wall basement membranes, have been implicated in tumour growth and have been shown to have developmentally regulated expression patterns. The goal of this study was to analyse the expression of laminins in juvenile angiofibromas. Materials and methods. A detailed analysis of the laminin isoform expression was performed by immunofluorescence staining for laminin chains α1, α2, α3, α4, α5, β1, β2, β3, γ1, γ2, and γ3 on cryosections of 10 juvenile angiofibromas and inferior nasal turbinate tissue for control. Results. Vascular staining of the different laminin chains revealed areas of differential vessel density in juvenile angiofibromas and irregularities in vessel size, configuration and architecture. Similar to vessels in nasal turbinates, laminins α4, α5, β1, β2 and γ1 were found to be expressed in juvenile angiofibroma vessels. In contrast to vessels of nasal turbinates, staining for α2 and α3 chains was only detected in vessels of juvenile angiofibromas.


When Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects humans,about 20%of those infected actually develop tuberculosis.In Japan,the incidence of tuberculosis in 2008was 19.4/100 000persons(24 760cases)and the rate has been decreasing gradually,but is still higher than that in the USA,Holland,and Belgium,for example.Histologically,experimental tuberculosis displays exudative inflammation,proliferative inflammation and productive inflammation depending on the time course.In productive inflammation,granulomatous lesions with necrotic centers are formed.The typical granulomas consist of epithelioid macrophages,Langhans'multinucleated giant cells,lymphocytes and fibroblasts,and the process of their formation involves many cytokines,chemokines and transcription factors.These findings have been derived primarily from animal experiments utilizing an airborne infection apparatus.This review focuses on the basic research aspect of tuberculosis-what has been found through animal experiments by our research group-and furthermore,indicates what we should do in tuberculosis research in the near future.更多还原


In the modern world, electronic communications play a significant role in national and international electronic transactions. This issue has forced all legal systems to face up to many emerging legal problems in the context of electronic communications, such as the legal status of electronic agents in contracting electronically. Regarding the legal validity of e-contracts made through interactive websites, the legal status of electronic agents which play an important role in this process is questionable to see whether they are akin to real agents in the physical world or they are only a mere tool of communication. The current article tries to analyse this question by criticising a number of theories and some others based on the technical nature of the Internet, the traditional legal rules and principles and the UNCITRAL regulations on e-commerce and also the statues of American, English and EU laws on e-commerce to develop Iranian legal system.


The relationship between fiscal inequalities among central cities and suburban areas and migration to the suburbs is examined. The focus of the study is on questions related to resource sharing in the provision of goods and services that would benefit residents of both central cities and their suburbs. (summary in ENG, FRE)


While mortality attributable to COVID-19 has devastated global health systems and economies, striking regional differences have been observed. The Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine has previously been shown to have non-specific protective effects on infections, as well as long-term efficacy against tuberculosis. Using publicly available data we built a simple log-linear regression model to assess the association of BCG use and COVID-19-attributable mortality per 1 million population after adjusting for confounders including country economic status (GDP per capita), and proportion of elderly among the population. The timing of country entry into the pandemic epidemiological trajectory was aligned by plotting time since the 100th reported case. Countries with economies classified as lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income and high-income countries (LMIC, UMIC, HIC) had median crude COVID-19 log-mortality of 0.4 (Interquartile Range (IQR) 0.1, 0.4), 0.7 (IQR 0.2, 2.2) and 5.5 (IQR 1.6, 13.9), respectively. COVID-19-attributable mortality among BCG-using countries was 5.8 times lower [95% CI 1.8-19.0] than in non BCG-using countries. Notwithstanding limitations due to testing constraints in LMICs, case ascertainment bias and a plausible rise of cases as countries progress along the epidemiological trajectory, these analyses provide intriguing observations that urgently warrant mobilization of resources for prospective randomized interventional studies and institution of systematic disease surveillance, particularly in LMICs.


The Korea Post uses a specific transport equipment called 'pallet' to carry mail and packages efficiently. Since some regions send more goods than they receive and others receive more than they send, there exists imbalance between demand and supply for the empty pallets. They should be repositioned to satisfy demands. Empty pallet allocation (EPA) problem involves reallocating empty pallets to cope with this situation. We analyzed the current EPA process of the Korea Post, in which decisions are still made manually. It can be modeled as the single commodity network flow problem which can be solved in a polynomial time. These models provide us with optimal repositioning schedules of the empty pallets.


Critiques by A. Cohen, H. Davis, B. L. Lempert, and W. D. Ward of my paper "Impairment to Hearing from Exposure to Noise" are treated individually. Questions raised by the reviewers are discussed and areas for further discussion are noted.


Method for the classification of objects such as furniture and works of art. The method is characterized in that a sequence of images encompassing the classes and subclasses of objects is created, in the form of a tree structure. For each class or subclass of objects so defined, a representational image of the object is formed, illustrating, in general, the generic structural elements of the object and for each element, a number of elementary representational images are created corresponding to the different methods for the production of said elements. The invention is characterized in that said images are stored in a storage device having a tree-like structure for the sequence of images. A given object is classified based on the image in sequence of images stored in said storage device, applicable to the different structural elements of said object, said images having been copied on a suitable image medium. The invention is useful for the identification of stolen or lost objects.


Using DC and RF characterization techniques the transition from impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) to tunnel injection transit time (TUNNETT) operation is investigated by varying the width of the generation zone in p-type lo-hi-lo (p LHL) structures. DC results show, that the doping height of the hi zone is a very crucial parameter, where tolerances become the narrower the smaller the generation zone width gets. The smallest widths realized amount to few ten nanometers. In this range still significant avalanche multiplication is present (M > 1000). S-parameter measurements, on the other hand, reveal a low impedance level which is more typical to in-phase injection TUNNEIT than to IMPATT operation. Preliminary RF results regarding output power and noise performance are 10 dBm (f = 78 GHz) and ¿84 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency, respectively.


Eight mirror-like polished p-type Si (111) wafers were irradiated with 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 KrF excimer laser pulses in ambient environment of HCl fumes in air. The laser parameters were: wavelength = 248 nm, pulse width = 20 ns, pulse energy = 20 mJ, and repetition rate = 20 Hz. For each set of laser pulses, characterization of the rectangular etched patterns formed on target surface was done by optical/scanning electron microscopy, XRD, and EDX techniques. The average etched depth increased with the increase in number of laser pulses from 100 to 2000 in accord with Sigmoidal (Boltzmann) function, whereas the average etch rate followed an exponential decay with the increase in number of laser pulses. However, the etched area, maximum etched depth, and maximum etch rate were found to increase linearly with the number of laser pulses, but the rate of increase was faster for 100–400 laser pulses (region I) than that for 800–2000 laser pulses (region II). The elemental composition for each etched-pattern determined by EDX shows that both O and Cl contents increase progressively with the increase in the number of laser shots in region I. However, in region II both O and Cl contents attain saturation values of about 39.33 wt.% and 0.14 wt.%, respectively. Perforation of Si wafers was achieved on irradiation with 1200–2000 laser pulses. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of SiO2, SiCl2 and SiCl4 phases in Si (111) wafers due to chemical reaction of silicon with both HCl fumes and oxygen in air.


[Objective] To discuss the value of ERCP in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. [Methods] Clinical data of 32 CP cases diagnosed and treated in the first People's Hospital of Kunming City from September, 2003 to December, 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. [Results] The 32 patients underwent ERCP 45 times. After being treated by ERCP, the symptom relief rate of abdominal pain in the short term was 82.76% and in the long term was 65.52%, according to the average 36.9 month follow-up (2~90 months). The postoperative complication rate was low. There was only 1 case of operation and the death rate was 0. [Conclusion] ERSP is an important treatment means of CP, which has the characteristics of being safe, effective and minimally invasive.


Data provided by large field of view optical sensors present a strong dependency on the source-target-sensor geometry. Despite substantial reduction of these bidirectional effects through the calculation of vegetation indices (VIs), residual impacts still remain on 10-days products derived from the maximum value compositing (MVC). The association of different orbital tracks on a same image creates patchwork artifacts while the time behavior of reflectances and VIs exhibits erratic changes. The reduction of these noise-like fluctuations can be done by retrieving the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). To fit a BRDF model requires the collecting of a data set, commonly achieved using a sliding time window of constant length from daily acquisitions. Once the BRDF retrieved, the data can be composed, by selecting a distinctive subset of data, correcting it from directional effects and choosing a way to combine it. The objective of this study is to adapt such a process, referred hereinafter as 'directional compositing', to the VEGETATION (SPOT satellite) system characteristics and production line requirements.


Purpose

Black women's contributions to the struggle for educational equality and to the USA Civil Rights Movement have been deplorably under-examined and scarcely evident in educational literature. This historical, biographical account documents the life and challenges of one brilliant woman, Mamie Phipps Clark, PhD. The purpose of this paper is to consider how Mamie Phipps Clark encountered and connected with Thurgood Marshall to advance social justice and the historical outcomes in the Brown v. Board (1954) decision. More importantly, the ways in which young Black children perceived racial awareness and self-identity are examined, and the perniciously damaging effects frequently stated by children's and their negatively held attitudes about skin color were revealed in her work (Clark and Clark, 1950).

Design/methodology/approach

This historiography examines Dr Mamie Phipps Clark's scholarship. Central to Brown v. Board of Education was Dr Mamie Phipps Clark's research agenda. She contributed to the USA's history in the pursuit of justice and equity for children. To adequately prepare social studies and civics educators and students, the unknown has to be realized. To embrace Clark's accomplishments within the educational literature is to forge a vast path of knowledge about children's identity, racial awareness and psychological well-being. She worked determinedly for just ideals for generations of children and women preparing the way for just educational integration.

Findings

Nevertheless, until women, and essentially Black women's scholarship and civic contributions are valued as imperative to foundational educational, civic, social studies, history canons the entirety of history remains veiled. When women's scholarship by which our country achieved civic ideals is fully accepted, multicultural educators for social justice and action will claim Mamie P. Clark's merited inclusion in the social studies and educational canon. Without the position, knowledge and expertise of Judge Thurgood Marshall, the momentous 1954 movement toward educational equity and civic righteousness would not have occurred. It took his skill, but mostly his powerful Black maleness to bring about just passage of Brown v. Board. Further, without the influential testimony of Dr Kenneth Clark at Brown v. Board the crucial argument of the "pernicious effects of segregation" would have not influenced the court in the same fashion as that of a Black woman. In fact, in one account (Pohlman, 2005), Mamie, P. Clark's work is not mentioned when referencing a court cases' detailed circumstances of the doll studies. Interestingly, Dr Henry Garrett, Mamie's racist doctoral advisor is mentioned in the preliminary Virginia segregation court case as a prominent witness in this integration case without note of Dr Mamie Phipps Clark.

Practical implications

Howard University's motto, Veritas et Utilitas, Truth and Service was key to Charles Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Mamie P. Clark and Kenneth Clark's moral code. They lived the possibility to intensify equitable, equal, and accessible education by enacting legal civil rights agency and action. Nevertheless, pending any woman scholar, essentially women civic scholars, Black women's foundational social studies scholarship and contributions are wholly vital to our educational history and canons. It is only when women's precedents are included into the literature by which our country achieved civic justice, then social studies educators and educational researchers may begin to achieve gender inclusive practice while transforming social studies scholarship to better all students' worlds.

Social implications

Dr Mamie Phipps Clark's work endures, as does her history and advocacy for generations of children, especially children of color, as well as women scholars. Her equitable, historical place will be actualized as long as scholars continue to herald her scholarship and contributions to the civic and social studies canon of literature.

Originality/value

Dr Mamie Phipps Clark. Central to Brown v. Board of Education was Dr Mamie Phipps Clark's scholarship. She contributed to the USA's history in the pursuit of justice and equity for children. To adequately prepare social studies and civics educators and students, the unknown has to be realized. To embrace Clark's accomplishments within the educational literature is to forge a vast path of knowledge about children's identity, racial awareness and psychological well-being. She worked determinedly for ideals for generations of children and women preparing the way for educational integration.


Abstract Farm specialization and the general abandonment of mixed farming is a significant factor in the decline of biodiversity, including genetic resources for food and agriculture and wildlife, and in the disintegration of traditional and community-based management. The use of uniform, high-yielding cultivars and breeds has reduced the number of species used in agriculture (crops and animals), contributing to the instability of the entire world food system. Organic agriculture, on the other hand, through its ecological approach, promotes biodiversity and maintains the integrity of the ecosystem. Research into organic agricultural practices has shown that organic systems can support biodiversity conservation through increasing the number and variety of wild species found on farms and supporting high levels of agrobiodiversity (landscape, species and varieties). This paper discusses the contribution of organic agriculture to agrobiodiversity. Its positive impact on wildlife (e.g. pollinators, birds, soil fauna and flora, predatory invertebrates) is not included in this analysis. The cited examples demonstrate how organic agriculture is reversing the decline in species diversity as well as abundance of each species. They also show how, at the same time, it improves the socio-economic conditions of farmers and the livelihoods of rural communities.


The vegetation of the Lagoon Beach area is mapped and described. Classification
and ordination of thirty-five randomly located quadrats, and central chi-squared distribution analysis of association
between species, reveal three main species/stand groups. The wombat-grazed
closed-herbfields dominated by Samolus repens and Schoenus nitens form one strong
group associated with the lagoonal flats. A second group consists of stands which
include characteristic heath species such as Casuarina monilifera and Hypolaena fastigiata.
A third, less well-defined group consists mainly of Eucalyptus viminalis open
forests with an understory characteristically dominated by pteridium esculentum. The
factors that could be responsible for the differentiation of the vegetation of the
area are discussed, and a species list is appended.


The secondary windfinding radar is an important tool of atmosphere measurement. The paper mainly introduces the technique requirements、 work principle、 system scheme and calculation analysis. This paper also describes the work principle and technique requirement of electronic radiosonde which is working with the secondary windfinding radar.


This paper deals primarily with derivation of computation equations for seepage through earth dam having a less pervious upstream sloping core and a blanket on pervious foundation. With these equations, the hydraulic heads at several key points along the percolation path can be obtained simultaneously, and the hydraulic gradient line can be plotted. The seepage discharge through various parts and through the entire section can also be calculated. In the derivation of the equations, it is assumed that the variationof the loss of head underneath the blanket is linear and that the saturation line in the dam is a parabola. It is also assumed that the seepage through the unsaturatedper-colation region between the sloping core and the saturation line is supplied vertically, as in actual case. Consequently, the final results of the derivation appearing as equations (3) (1) are elementary functions, a computation of which can be easily made with a slide rule. All the equations are checked by the electrical analogy of resistance networks, with a discrepancy less than 5%. The paper in another respect gives, from equations (13) and (15), a method of cal-culation of the upper and lower limit lengths of the blanket for both of the cases of uniform and nonuniform thickness. A subsequent suggestion is made as regards the determination of the reasonable design length of the blanket, once the two limiting lengths have been computed. It also presents a method of designing the blanket of equal strength to prevent see-page, and the thickness is given by the approximate equation (17). It is pointed out that the determination of the thickness of the upstream blanket should not only suit the con-struction convenience but also be comfortable to the entrance head loss as given by equa-tion (18).


A Bi-TiO2 composite with high photocatalytic activity was prepared using tetrabutyl titanate and bismuth nitrate as raw material by hydrothermal method. The structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), X-ray fluorescence(XRF) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer(UV-vis DRS). The results show that anatase nanometer titanium dioxide was prepared, in which Bi3+ take the place of Ti4+. The surface area of the sample was higher, ca.312.6m2•g-1. Bi doping caused red-shift of the absorption spectrum, and the composite has better Visible-light Response. Bi-TiO2 shows higher photocatalytic avtivity to the degradation of resorcinol than pure TiO2. The optimum value of Bi doped was 1.00 %. After 120 minutes illuminating under 70W Halide Lamps, degradation rate of resorcinol can get to 100%.


For the past seven years, Spiering was the director of the Office of International Programs which has goals to expand globalization efforts for the university, increase opportunities for faculty and staff to go overseas, promote faculty development of more short-term study abroad programs, increase the number of students who study abroad, increase the number of international students at NDSU, strengthen linkages between the office and the community, expand the Intensive English Language Program and expand services to international faculty and staff including their dependents. Spiering has worked in the international office since 1994, first as assistant director, then associate director before becoming director. She earned her bachelor's degree from Wartburg College, master's degree from American University and doctorate in communication from NDSU.


s Analysis The search found more than 120 papers that broadly fall into the category of transmission of infection. Much of the literature deals with transmission of diseases such as malaria (13 papers) and cholera (7 papers), neither of which is transmittable by the air within the cabin, and other foodborne infections (11 papers) such as Salmonella food poisoning. Influenza is the subject of a further 7 papers. Of those dealing with a specific infection, TB is the most researched issue with approximately 20 documents. A significant number deal with general non-specific issues or transmission away from the aircraft environment, malaria in airport workers for example. Other infections identified in the search include ebola, dengue, HIV, meningitis, smallpox, plague and hepatitis. The topic of disease transmission by aircraft was raised in 1965 and papers on the incidence of infections from food are reported as early as 1974 and continue until the present. However, the work on TB has begun rather later and most of the interest has been in the later part of the 1990s. Review papers There is one paper that reviews in detail the transmission of TB, published by the World Health Organisation (Tuberculosis and Air Travel: Guidelines for Prevention and Control). This paper reviews the research relating to the incidence of TB transmission on aircraft, citing literature up to 1998. In all, seven cases are reviewed, each of which deals with the air travel of an infected person and the subsequent follow-up for infection of fellow travellers. There are a number of very clear observations made by this document: • TB can be transmitted during air travel but none of the infected persons has developed active TB to date; • there is no evidence that air recirculation facilitates transmission of M. tuberculosis aboard; • in case of ground delays of more than 30 minutes, provisions must be made to supply adequate ventilation on board; • risk of TB among cabin crew is similar to that of the general population (the review states that no mandatory routine or periodic TB screening is indicated for flight crew, but presumably there is a greater risk of onward transmission from cabin crew than from passengers or flight crew); • airborne transmission of infectious diseases in aircraft appears to be limited to person-toperson spread within close proximity. Therefore, the general conclusion of the report is that the likelihood of transmission of TB is low and is limited to people in close proximity on an aircraft for an extended period of time. From the perspective of future research needs, the report is quite clear that given the scale of infection worldwide, the routine use of BCG vaccination, and the numbers of people travelling that Further epidemiological studies on TB transmission in aircraft would be time and resource consuming. In case of exposure to M. tuberculosis infection during air travel, tracing and information of passengers and crew may be warranted. In reaching their conclusions the authors of the WHO report cite a number of key papers, including: • McFarland JW, Hickman C, Osterholm M, MacDonald KL. Exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis during air travel. Lancet 1993;342:112-3 • Kenyon TA, Valway SE, Ihle WW, Onorato IM, Castro KG. Transmission of multi drugresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis during a long airplane flight. N EnglJ Med 1996;334:933-8 • Moser MR, Bender TR, Margolis HS, Noble GR, Kendal AP, Ritter DG. An outbreak of influenza aboard a commercial airliner. Am J Epidemiol 1979;110:1-6 • Miller MA, Valway S, Onorato IM. Tuberculosis risk after exposure on airplanes. Tubercle and Lung Dis 1996;77:414-9. The WHO review accurately interprets these papers in reaching its conclusions. We have further researched more recent papers dealing with the transmission of infectious diseases and TB in particular. Review of other papers Further papers published after 1998 have been studied to ascertain if the view expressed in the WHO review is still appropriate. The papers are listed in Table 9.1.None of these papers indicates that the WHO findings should be changed. Table 9.1 Key papers on transmission of infection Gillen PB (1999). Ebola and the filo viruses; reducing the threat by improving Third World medical care and education of aircrew members. Air Medical Journal18:4;156-9. Ormerod P (2000). Tuberculosis and travel. Hospital Medicine, Vol 61, No3. Parmet AJ (1999). Tuberculosis on the flight deck. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. Vol 70, No 8. United States CDC (2001). Exposure to patients with meningococcal disease onaircraft United States 1999-2000. MMMR, 50(23), 485-9. Wang PD (2000). Two-step tuberculin testing of passengers and crew on a commercial airplane. American Journal of infection Control, Vol 28(3): 233238. The case reported by Parmet (1999) concerned an infectious pilot who had flown for six months with a total of 48 other pilots, none of whom had become infected. Ormerod(2000) repeated the analysis of the WHO review and added the observation that most cases of TB were acquired on prolonged visits to regions where it is endemic. Wang(2000) deals mostly with testing methodology, taking it as read that transmission could occur on aircraft, but also other crowded settings such as school buses, ships, bars and hospitals. The paper on ebola, Gillen (1999), serves to reinforce the potential dangers of transmission of infection by aircraft and the role of health care workers and airline personnel in containing the problem. NIOSH announced in 1999 a peer review meeting entitled Study protocol peer review meeting: Evaluation of factors affecting disease transmission in commercial aircraft cabins as yet there is no known publication to come from this review meeting. Issues There are few papers that relate specifically to the airborne transmission of diseases within the aircraft cabin, other than those dealing with the specific cases of TB. Therefore, this chapter has concentrated on the transmission of TB as this is perceived to be the greatest risk and a model for other infections. For most diseases, and TB in particular, the perceived risk is most probably far greater than the real risk. This perceived risk has been fuelled by the introduction of recirculated air within the aircraft, giving the impression that airborne infections are distributed throughout the cabin by the ventilation system. The actual arrangement of the ventilation in aircraft cabins is designed with the intention that this will not happen and filtration is put in place to extract any likely pathogen. Consequently, the reality is that the engineering of the ventilation system suggests that there is a reduced risk of transmission by comparison with other means of transport given similar long-term and dense occupancy patterns. In addition to TB there is a wide range of infectious diseases that may be transmitted as a consequence of the conditions on or surrounding aircraft and air travel. The various diseases have different mechanisms of transmission and this means different approaches to the investigations. Each of these warrants some concern and a possible outbreak of malaria caused by the carriage of mosquitoes is potentially serious as are cholera infections transferred by unhygienic practices both on board and off the aircraft. Gaps in knowledge indicated by research In general, the microbiological loading of aircraft cabins has not been widely researched. Only a small number of studies have been carried out and these have adopted a range of methods and procedures. A more clear understanding of the level of infectious agents within cabin air would be useful. For TB, there are issues that have not yet been addressed by research. For example, the occurrence of M. tuberculosis in the air on flights is not clearly known and would provide useful evidence of the ventilation system s capability to remove it from the air. The greatest risk may be under conditions of reduced ventilation, when the aircraft is on the ground or in climb. The significance of the cabin environment in airborne transmission of infection is unclear. Temperature and humidity may have only a small effect on the viability of airborne pathogens, over the distances involved in person-to-person spread, but their effect on resistance to infection should be explored (see Chapters 6 and 7). The role of poor local ventilation effectiveness, which may increase the risk of transmission local to the infected passenger, should also be investigated. Research needs To establish a greater level of knowledge of the microbiological loading of aircraft by a standardised and accepted methodology would be a valuable contribution to the understanding of the potential for infection transmission. In the case of TB in particular the incidence of the bacterium in the air, furnishings and filters on flights from countries where TB is endemic would provide evidence on the likelihood of infection. For example, the in-service performance of the HEPA filters that extract the M. tuberculosis from the recycled air could be confirmed by suitable monitoring and testing. Where M. tuberculosis is identified on a flight, passengers on that flight could be followed up to determine whether the illness has spread. As part of the understanding of the incidence of the bacterium in the aircraft, a study of cabin cleaning procedures and effectiveness would be valuable. There is a potential benefit for cabin health if there were more knowledge of the role of local and individual ventilation control in avoiding person to person transmission of infection. Similarly, the impact of low ventilation rates while aircraft are on the ground is not fully understood. The overall risks of acquiring TB on aircraft could be assessed by comparison of aircraft carrying larger or smaller numbers of infected passengers, although the follow-up would be difficult. Follow up of flights known (retrospectively) to have carried


This article analyses the regional patterns of economic growth in Yugoslavia, probably the most heterogeneous country in Europe during the post-war period. The failure of the less developed regions to grow commensurately to their initial levels of income can be attributed to their inability to employ enough job seekers, and their failure to converge towards the total factor productivity levels of the more developed regions. In turn, these failures were symptoms of a single underlying problem: a capital intensity bias inherent to the governing objective of the labour-managed firms. Barriers to labour mobility, and a regional development policy that consisted of capital transfers buttressed this bias. JEL Classification numbers: N14, N94, O11, O18, O47, P25


Satellites are complicated systems, and there are many interconnected devices inside a satellite that needs to be healthy to ensure the proper functionality of a satellite. Uncertainty and mechanical failure in different integral parts of the satellite pose the major threat for the satellite to remain fully functional for its expected life span. One of the most common reasons for satellite failure is the reaction wheel (RW) failure. Satellite RW fault prognosis can be formed as a two-step process. In this paper, we study the first step where a data-driven approach is used for forecasting the RW parameters that can be used to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of a reaction wheel onboard satellite. Autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) and a type of recurrent neural network (RNN) known as the long short-term memory (LSTM) are used for time-series forecasting in this paper. Both models can predict up to a degree of accuracy, even when limited historical data is available. ARIMA works very efficiently as it can capture a suite of different standard temporal structures in time series. Still, when it comes to accuracy, LSTM provides a better regression outcome for our dataset. The results obtained by the models are very optimistic when model parameters are tuned.


The broad educational issue in mechatronic course is how to achieve the optimum balance between narrowly defined problems with clearly defined solution and open ended problems that can have a multiple, even non-viable solutions. In the context of a mechatronic course, question has to be addressed on what technology to use, what support, instructors and teaching resources to provide, what tasks to set, how to evaluate a student performance and how engage students to create an exciting and active learning environment. In this paper mechatronic laboratory with industrial electromechanical (crane) models are used together with lectures and tutorials providing a broad and stimulating learning experience for the students. The laboratory concept is based on the different type of the PC based electromechanical models for simulation and software development as well as for real time control.


In this article we present a new method to obtain polynomial lower bounds for Galois orbits of torsion points of one dimensional group varieties.