Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to gain service users' perspectives on whether therapeutic alliance, if at all, featured as part of their experience of the Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) group programme.
Design. A qualitative, semi-structured interview-based study to explore service users experiences of therapeutic alliance within their treatment.

Methods. Seven individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), who were attending STEPPS groups, were interviewed as part of the study.

Results. Three themes were identified from the data using thematic analysis: 'A process of identification and feeling understood, 'Building camaraderie' and 'Recognising positive change', processes that map directly onto the concept of therapeutic alliance. Group members sought out opportunities to relate to one another, a process which was facilitated by the content and structure of the treatment. Therapeutic bonds were built within the group, and these positive relationships appeared to increase mutual engagement and commitment to see the treatment through. As part of this experience, participants noticed positive changes within themselves, which they attributed to attending the STEPPS programme.

Conclusion. Service users experiences outlined within this study suggest that therapeutic alliance featured in the STEPPS treatment. Whilst STEPPS focuses on being a skills based programme, the relationships formed between all group members emerged as an important mechanism from which change was made possible. Further research is required to build on these findings and investigate the extent to which therapeutic alliance affects treatment outcome and drop out within this treatment package for individuals with BPD.


The term "pseudoxanthoma elasticum" is a misnomer. It is used to designate a rare disease of the skin, characterized clinically by the appearance of linear or punctate, faint egg-yellow or light orange discolorations, associated with a loss of elasticity, of the skin of the neck, axillary spaces, cubital fossae, popliteal spaces and inguinal areas and sometimes of the chest, abdomen and buccal mucosae (?). The disease under this name has been known to dermatologists since 1896, when Darier1coined the term to describe a condition of the skin found in a case that had previously been studied by Chauffard and others. His pathologic studies in this case led him to employ the term "elastorrhexis of the skin," a phrase which in the light of subsequent studies we believe to be far more descriptive of the disease. At the time this paper is written about thirty-five cases of pseudoxanthoma


OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative parameters in predicting neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

METHODS
30 patients with histologically proven LABC scheduled for NACT were recruited. CEUS was performed using a contrast bolus of 4.8 ml and time intensity curves (TICs) were obtained by contrast dynamics software. CEUS quantitative parameters assessed were peak enhancement (PE), time-to-peak (TTP), area under the curve (AUC) and mean transit time (MTT). The parameters were documented on four consecutive instances: before NACT and 3 weeks after each of the three cycles. The gold-standard was pathological response using Miller Payne Score obtained pre NACT and post-surgery.

RESULTS
A decrease in mean values of PE and an increase in mean values of TTP and MTT was observed with each cycle of NACT among responders. Post each cycle of NACT (compared with baseline pre-NACT), there was a statistically significant difference in % change of mean values of PE, TTP and MTT between good responders and poor responders (p-value < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of TTP post-third cycle was 87.2% (p = 0.03), and MTT post--second and third cycle was 76.7% (p = 0.004) and 86.7% (p = 0.006) respectively.

CONCLUSION
In responders, a decrease in the tumor vascularity was reflected in the CEUS quantitative parameters as a reduction in PE, and a prolongation in TTP, MTT.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE
Prediction of NACT response by CEUS has the potential to serve as a diagnostic modality for modification of chemotherapy regimens during ongoing NACT among patients with LABC, thus affecting patient prognosis.


We investigate increased efficiency by integrating smart metering systems, such as those used for electricity, gas, and water services. Since gas and water meters are not connected to power lines, they are generally battery powered. Wireless multihop communications protocols used by these systems must therefore use little power in order to prolong operational life, in contrast to wired meters with supplied power that have little necessity for power-saving. We propose a wireless multihop communications protocol that enables integration of gas and water meters by devising a communications method for smart electric metering systems.


We construct a coalescence hidden variable fractal interpolation function (CHFIF) through a non-diagonal iterated function system(IFS). Such a FIF may be self-affine or non-self-affine depending on the parameters of the defining non-diagonal IFS. The smoothness analysis of the CHFIF has been carried out by using the operator approximation technique. The deterministic construction of functions having order of modulus continuity O (|t|^{delta} (log|t|)^m), (m a non-negative integer and 0 < delta le 1) is possible through our CHFIF. The bounds of fractal dimension of CHFIFs are obtained first in certain critical cases and then, using estimation of these bounds, the bounds of fractal dimension of any FIF are found.


For decades, the automotive industry has used the notion of controllability as a way of assessing the likelihood that, when subject to a hazardous situation, the vehicle driver avoids an accident. The introduction of semi-and fully-autonomous vehicle systems has the potential to fundamentally alter the driver's tasks and role during all or part of the journey, and challenges the notion of controllability as used in existing automotive risk models. This paper explores the notion of controllability and highlights areas where increasing autonomy may impact the use of controllability in risk assessment.


Design of integrated circuits (IC) is a very challenging and extremely time consuming task. The whole process can be roughly divided in three major steps. First the desired circuit performance has to be specified (design goals). According to these specifications an appropriate circuit topology must be selected. Finally the device parameters need to be determined (device sizing) so that the circuit meets the design specifications Once the topology has been selected, the quality measure of the circuit with the given device parameters must be defined. The quality of the circuit is expressed as a real-valued function, referred to as the cost function (CF). It is a function of device parameters and includes all considered design goals (gain, bandwidth, noise, offset, delay).Simulated annealing is an effective and commonly optimization algorithm used to solve non linear optimization problems. To improve the speed and efficiency of the optimization process the simulated annealing optimization method could be used instead or in conjunction with the existing method. SA is a numerical optimization technique based on the principles of thermodynamics. SA is motivated by an analogy to annealing in solids.


The advent of digital technologies has brought about new opportunities and challenges to the education system globally. The use of digital technologies by educators in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is a portal for innovative teaching and learning. While there is a gradual increase in the use of these innovative technologies by HEIs in South Africa, there is still a long way to transform the educational system fully. Effective use of digital technologies in teaching and learning needs a certain level of digital literacy. Digital literacy enhances teaching and learning by helping educators integrate and use digital technologies, while equipping students with skills to access the internet effectively. The impact of digital technology has beaconed the need of educators to acquire 21st-century skills. Digital literacy skills are critical in realising the potential and benefits of digital technologies. This paper investigates the importance of digital technologies in education and the impact of digital literacy skills on the effective use of these technologies in HEIs in South Africa. Data collection was primarily based on a critical review of literature relating to the application of mobile technologies in HEIs in South Africa. The results revealed various barriers inhibiting educators from adopting mobile technologies in teaching and learning, including lack of digital literacy skills, time constraints, unwillingness to change, lack of educator confidence, poor technological infrastructure, and lack of digital or mobile devices. The study provides recommendations to enable and inspire educators in HEIs to use mobile digital technologies effectively.


OVERVIEW: The Kin Thermal Power Station No. 1 unit began operations in February 2002. Planned and developed by The Okinawa Electric Power Company, Incorporated, this 220-MW coal-fired thermal power station has the largest generating capacity in Okinawa. The steam specifications at the power station are as follows: the main steam pressure at the turbine inlet is 16.57 MPa, the main steam temperature is 566 °C, the reheat steam temperature is 566 °C and the condenser vacuum is 6.67 kPa. The turbine model employs a high-medium pressure single flow turbine (SF-40) and a compact single-casing turbine design. During construction, new and conventional construction methods helped improve efficiency. As a leader in engineering, Hitachi employed a full turnkey method encompassing both civil engineering and construction to successfully complete construction of this plant. Takeshi Umezawa Katsumi Ura Yuichi Hanawa


Crude extracts of applee peel were prepared by soxhelt extraction method with solvents methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, acetone, hexane and ethyl acetate. Extracts were subjected for the measurement of total phenolic content (TPC) by Folin-Ciocalteu method as well as flavonoid content, chelating activity, reducing power and antioxidant/radical scavenging activity [1,1diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity]. Results for all samples were in agreement with each other. The results revealed that all extracts of the apple peel exhibit antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that the apple peel extracts could act as potent source of antioxidants.


PURPOSE: A method and method for broadband millimeter wave data communication is provided to produce broadband information communication between processor-based systems through a centralized communication array. CONSTITUTION: A central communication array comprises a plurality of individual antenna elements in time division multiplex(TDM) communication with a processor-based system. This system processes signals received at each antenna element in order to route them to their desired destination. A advantage of using a plurality of individual antenna elements at the central communication array is that only antenna elements having a radiation pattern overlaying a remote site requiring communication service(subscriber) need be implemented at any particular time. Thereafter, as more subscribers require service by a particular hub, additional antenna elements may be installed. This modular expansion of the service capabilities of a hub results in reduced initial installation costs where only a few subscribers initially require service, while maintaining the flexibility for implementation of omni-directional and/or cellular overlay communication coverage not possible with point-to-point systems.


The Nintendo Wiimote is growing in popularity with mu-sicians as a controller. This mode of use is an adaptationfrom its intended use as a game controller, and requiresevaluation of its functions in a musical context in orderto understand its possibilities and limits. Drawing on Hu-man Computer Interaction methodology, we assessed thecore musical applications of the Wiimote and designeda usability experiment to test them. 17 participants tookpart, performing musical tasks in four contexts: trigger-ing; precise and expressive continuous control; and ges-ture recognition. Interviews and empirical evidence wereutilised to probe the device's limitations and its creativestrengths. This study should help potential users to planthe Wiimote's employment in their projects, and should beuseful as a case study in HCI evaluation of musical con-trollers.


The pair production of scalar leptoquarks at hadron colliders is examined up to higher orders in {alpha}{sub {ital s}}. Our calculations show that soft-gluon corrections due to {pi}{sup 2} terms are important.


A theoretical model for the relationship between inflation/deflation and currency supply was established, using Cambridge Equation. Then Granger Causality Test was made to prove that increase rate of overmuch currency is the cause of CPI and CPI, on the other hand, cannot act as the cause of increase of increase rate of overmuch currency in China, thus indicating that central bank control of the development of economy by adjusting currency supply remains to be of practical significance.


The aim of our study was to gain an insight in the research field of critical success factors (CSF) of ERP implementation projects. Therefore, we conducted a literature review – a systematic review in five different databases and among several proceedings of international conferences. All in all, we identified 185 relevant papers – 95 single or multiple case studies, 55 surveys and 35 literature reviews or articles where CSFs are derived from chosen literature. From these existing studies we derived 31 different CSFs. The top three factors identified are: Top Management Support and Involvement, Project Management and User Training. Most of the relevant papers focus large enterprises. Only 12 papers explicitly focus on smaller and medium-sized enterprises (S&ME) which can be seen as research gap in this field.


This study aims to describe Vocal Learning in SMP 1 Payakumbuh. This research used qualitative approach, and it belongs to descriptive research. The data were collected through observation, interview, and documentation. The data analysis was conducted through data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing .Data validity test was done by extending observations and increasing persistence. The results of this study indicate that: (1) lesson planning includes: a. The material being taught is provided in stages, b. The methods used are the lecture method, demonstration method, question and answer method, and assignment method, (2) the implementation of vocal learning includes: initial activities, core activities, and final activities, (3) learning evaluation includes process evaluation seen from students' discipline, activeness, and seriousness. In addition, evaluation of results seen from the activities when students demonstrate. It uses indicators of techniques, material, and appearance.Keywords: Vokal, Materials, and learning outcomes


Newcastle disease is one of the most serious infectious disease of poultry in present worldwide.Newcastle disease virus(NDV) has a negative-sense,single-stranded RNA genome,encoding six structural proteins that NP,P,M,F,HN and L,which are located in the peplos both F and HN glycoproteins are the most important.F protein with the role of the virus envelope and host cell membrane fusion,resulting in the virus penetrates the host cell membrane,is key factor to determine the virulence.HN protein with two active of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase,which has an important role to NDV infection cells.The two glycoproteins are not only play a decisive role to the virulence and pathogenicity of NDV,but also introduce protective antibody.The paper provides a review of the structure and function of this two proteins.


Preface 1 Dynamic soil structure interaction *1.1 Introduction *1.1.1 The marriage of soil and structure *1.1.2 What does the interaction mean? *1.1.3 It is an expensive analysis do we need to do it? *1.1.4 Different soil models and their coupling to superstructure *1.2 Mathematical modeling of soil & structure *1.2.1 Lagrangian formulation for 2D frames or stick-models *1.2.2 What happens if the raft is flexible? *1.3 A generalised model for dynamic soil structure interaction *1.3.1 Dynamic response of a structure with multi degree of freedom considering the underlying * soil stiffness *1.3.2 Extension of the above theory to system with multi degree of freedom *1.3.3 Estimation of damping ratio for the soil structure system *1.3.4 Formulation of damping ratio for single degree of freedom *1.3.5 Extension of the above theory to systems with multi-degree freedom *1.3.6 Some fallacies in coupling of soil and structure *1.3.7 What makes the structural response attenuate or amplify? *1.4 The art of modelling *1.4.1 Some modelling techniques *1.4.2 To sum it up *1.5 Geotechnical considerations for dynamic soil structure interaction *1.5.1 What parameters do I look for in the soil report? *1.6 Field tests *1.6.1 Block vibration test *1.6.2 Seismic cross hole test *1.6.3 How do I co-relate dynamic shear modulus when I do not have data from the dynamic * soil tests? *1.7 Theoretical co-relation from other soil parameters *1.7.1 Co-relation for sandy and gravelly soil *1.7.2 Co-relation for saturated clay *1.8 Estimation of material damping of soil *1.8.1 Whitman's formula *1.8.2 Hardin' formula *1.8.3 Ishibashi and Zhang's formula *1.9 All things said and done how do we estimate the strain in soil, specially if the strain is large? *1.9.1 Estimation of strain in soil for machine foundation *1.9.2 Estimation of soil strain for earthquake analysis *1.9.3 What do we do if the soil is layered with varying soil property? *1.9.4 Checklist of parameters to be looked in the soil reports *1.10 Epilogue 2. Analysis and design of machine foundations *2.1 Introduction *2.1.1 Case history #1 *2.1.2 Case history #2 *2.2 Different types of foundations *2.2.1 Block foundations resting on soil/piles *2.2.2 How does a block foundation supporting rotating machines differ from a normal * foundation? *2.2.3 Foundation for centrifugal or rotary type of machine: Different theoretical methods * for analysis of block foundation *2.2.4 Analytical methods *2.2.5 Approximate analysis to de-couple equations with non-proportional damping *2.2.6 Alternative formulation of coupled equation of motion for sliding and rocking mode *2.3 Trick to by pass damping - Magnification factor, the key to the problem *2.4 Effect of embedment on foundation *2.4.1 Novak and Beredugo's model *2.4.2 Wolf's model *2.5 Foundation supported on piles *2.5.1 Pile and soil modelled as finite element *2.5.2 Piles modelled as beams supported on elastic springs *2.5.3 Novak's (1974) model for equivalent spring stiffness for piles 1 *2.5.4 Equivalent pile springs in vertical direction *2.5.5 The group effect on the vertical spring and damping value of the piles *2.5.6 Effect of pile cap on the spring and damping stiffness *2.5.7 Equivalent pile springs and damping in the horizontal direction *2.5.8 Equivalent pile springs and damping in rocking motion *2.5.9 Group effect for rotational motion *2.5.10 Model for dynamic response of pile *2.5.11 Dynamic analysis of laterally loaded piles *2.5.12 Partially embedded piles under rocking mode *2.5.13 Group effect of pile *2.5.14 Comparison of results *2.5.15 Practical aspects of design of machine foundations *2.6 Special provisions of IS-code *2.6.1 Recommendations on vibration isolation *2.6.2 Frequency separation *2.6.3 Permissible amplitudes *2.6.4 Permissible stresses *2.6.5 Concrete and its placing *2.6.6 Reinforcements *2.6.7 Cover to concrete *2.7 Analysis and design of machine foundation under impact loading *2.7.1 Introduction *2.7.2 Mathematical model of a hammer foundation *2.8 Design of hammer foundation *2.8.1 Design criteria for hammer foundation *2.8.2 Discussion on the IS-code method of analysis *2.8.3 Check list for analysis of hammer foundation *2.8.4 Other techniques of analysis of Hammer foundation *2.9 Design of eccentrically loaded hammer foundation *2.9.1 Mathematical formulation of anvil placed eccentrically on a foundation *2.9.2 Damped equation of motion with eccentric anvil *2.10 Details of design *2.10.1 Reinforcement detailing *2.10.2 Construction procedure *2.11 Vibration measuring instruments *2.11.1 Some background on vibration measuring instruments and their application *2.11.2 Response due to motion of the support *2.11.3 Vibration pick-ups *2.12 Evaluation of friction damping from energy consideration *2.13 Vibration isolation *2.13.1 Active isolation *2.13.2 Passive isolation *2.13.3 Isolation by trench *2.14 Machine foundation supported on frames *2.14.1 Introduction *2.14.2 Different types of turbines and the generation process *2.14.3 Layout planning *2.14.4 Vibration analysis of turbine foundations *2.15 Dynamic soil-structure interaction model for vibration analysis of turbine foundation *2.16 Computer analysis of turbine foundation based on multi degree of freedom *2.17 Analysis of turbine foundation *2.17.1 The analysis *2.17.2 Calculation of the eigen values *2.17.3 So the ground rule is *2.17.4 Calculation of amplitude *2.17.5 Calculation of moments, shears and torsion *2.17.6 Practical aspects of design of Turbine foundation *2.18 Design of turbine foundation *2.18.1 Check list for turbine foundation design *2.18.2 Spring mounted turbine foundation 3. Analytical and design concepts for earthquake engineering *3.1 Introduction *3.1.1 Why do earthquakes happen in nature? *3.1.2 Essential difference between systems subjected to earthquake and vibration from machine *3.1.3 Some history of major earthquakes around the world *3.1.4 Intensity *3.1.5 Effect of earthquake on soil-foundation system *3.1.6 Liquefaction analysis *3.2 Earthquake analysis *3.2.1 Seismic coefficient method *3.2.2 Response spectrum method *3.2.3 Dynamic analysis under earthquake loading *3.2.4 How do we evaluate the earthquake force? *3.2.5 Earthquake analysis of systems with multidegree of freedom *3.2.6 Modal combination of forces *3.3 Time history analysis under earthquake force *3.3.1 Earthquake analysis of tall chimneys and stack like structure *3.4 Analysis of concrete dams *3.4.1 Earthquake analysis of concrete dam *3.4.2 A method for dynamic analysis of concrete dam *3.5 Analysis of earth dams and embankments *3.5.1 Dynamic earthquake analysis of earth dams *3.5.2 Mononobe's method for analysis of earth dam *3.5.3 Gazetas' method for earth dam analysis *3.5.4 Makadisi and Seed's method for analysis of earth dam *3.5.5 Calculation of seismic force in dam and its stability *3.6 Analysis of earth retaining structures *3.6.1 Earthquake analysis of earth retaining structures *3.6.2 Mononobe's method of analysis of retaining wall *3.6.3 Seed and Whitman's method *3.6.4 Arango's method *3.6.5 Steedman and Zeng's method *3.6.6 Dynamic analysis of RCC retaining wall *3.6.7 Dynamic analysis of cantilever and counterfort retaining wall *3.6.8 Some discussions on the above method *3.6.9 Extension to the generic case of soil at a slope i behind the wall *3.6.10 Dynamic analysis of counterfort retaining wall *3.6.11 Soil sloped at an angle i with horizontal *3.7 Unyielding earth retaining structures *3.7.1 Earthquake Analysis of rigid walls when the soil does not yield *3.7.2 Ostadan's method *3.8 Earthquake analysis of water tanks *3.8.1 Analysis of water tanks under earthquake force *3.8.2 Impulsive time period for non rigid walls *3.8.3 Sloshing time period of the vibrating fluid *3.8.4 Calculation of horizontal seismic force for tank resting on ground *3.8.5 Calculation of base shear for tanks resting on ground *3.8.6 Calculation of bending moment on the tank wall resting on the ground *3.8.7 Calculation of hydrodynamic pressure *3.9 Mathematical model for overhead tanks under earthquake *3.9.1 Earthquake Analysis for overhead tanks *3.9.2 Hydrodynamic pressure on tank wall and base *3.9.3 Hydrodynamic pressure for circular tank *3.9.4 Hydrodynamic pressure for rectangular tank *3.9.5 Effect of vertical ground acceleration *3.9.6 Pressure due to inertia of the wall *3.9.7 Maximum design dynamic pressure *3.10 Practical aspects of earthquake engineering *3.10.1 Epilogue References Subject index


Nest-site choice of Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea was studied in Kuankuoshui Nature Reserve of Guizhou province, from April to July, 2008. Totally 17 nests were found, 88% of which were within the bamboo. The composition analysis indicated that the main factors affecting the nest-site choice of Red-billed Leiothrix were arbor, nest height, nest concealment, food abundance and slope direction. Comparisons between the nest-site and control area revealed significant differences in micro-nest site use, and characteristics of nest site were much different from those sites that were not used. This study indicated that the Red-billed Leiothrix preferred dense shrub and sparse herbage as nest site, while tree coverage had little effect on its nest site choice.


This paper considers elements of the methodology for the structural synthesis of the logistic support system of the Air Force grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the preparation for combat operations. Contradictions between the growing need for military units in material and technical means and the limited capabilities of the existing system of logistical support of the troop group predetermined the relevance and practical focus of this study.
Measures have been devised that affect the logistical support of the troop group. It is proposed to implement a mixed centralized-decentralized principle of building a logistics support system based on «material support clusters», which could ensure timely and complete delivery of material and technical means.
During the research, it was established that reducing the response time to changes in the volume of supplies of material and technical means in military units would ensure the continuity of the operation of weapons and military equipment, and this would give signs of the adaptability of the proposed logistics support system. It is theoretically justified that the use of the proposed methodology could affect the actual availability of established military reserves of the troop group and obstacles that prevent timely replenishment of daily expenses and losses. The remoteness of military units and separate units from provision agencies and the limited means of transporting material and technical means were taken into account. The calculations of the efficiency assessment of the developed structure of the logistic support system allow us to draw conclusions about its superiority over the existing one by 14–17 % by ensuring the continuity of combat operations.
The idea and elements of the devised methodology could be used in the calculations of transport tasks of civil enterprises


The invention discloses a full-bridge module and half-bridge module-based mixed multi-level converter, which comprises three phase units; the three phase units are connected between an anode direct current bus and a cathode direct current bus; each phase unit is formed by an upper bridge arm and a lower bridge arm; each bridge arm comprises N half-bridge modules and one full-bridge module with a direct current power supply; the N half-bridge modules and the full-bridge module with the direct current power supply are serially connected and N is a positive integer. The invention also discloses a control method of the full-bridge module and half-bridge module-based mixed multi-level converter. According to the full-bridge module and half-bridge module-based mixed multi-level converter and the control method thereof, higher output level number is realized by fewer half-bridge modules as far as possible, when the voltage of the half-bridge modules is subjected to sorting algorithm, the time used by computation is less, the efficiency is higher, the module put-into-use speed is faster and the fluctuation of voltage and capacitance is reduced.


To describe and analyze the uncertain fault relation,fuzzy fault graph was presented.Its mathematics foundation,named fuzzy Mid Set and some other relevant conceptions,were defined and analyzed.So the structure and property of fuzzy fault graph became definite.Then the method of fault diagnosis based on fuzzy fault graph was also put forward.When the method was used in a factual system analysis,the fuzzy fault diagnosis was realized preferably.The fuzzy fault graph can be used in describing the fault relationship of complicated system effectively and realizing the fuzzy fault analysis preferably.


Background: Thiazole nucleus–containing compounds have an antitumor efficiency against various types of cancer.
Purpose: The present study was designed to determine the cytotoxic effect of newly synthesized thiazole derivative (TD1) on human cancer cell lines, in addition to evaluate its antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice.
Materials and Methods: TD1 was synthesized and investigated for its cytotoxic effect on HCT116 (colon cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer), PC3 (prostate cancer) and MCF7 (breast cancer). The effect of TD1 on cell viability, tumor volume, and percent of increase in life span (% ILS) in Ehrlich–bearing mice was studied. Hematological parameters, liver and kidney function tests were evaluated. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione levels were determined in liver and kidney tissues. The expression of P53 in EAC was analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results: TD1 demonstrated an inhibitory effect on both cancer cell lines in vitro and Ehrlich ascites cells in vivo. TD1 increased in life span of Ehrlich–bearing mice compared to control. Cell cycle and flow cytometric analysis revealed that TD1 directed Ehrlich cells toward apoptosis by increasing of P53 expression.
Conclusion: It was concluded that TD1 have a potent antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice beside a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7, PC3, HepG2 and HCT-116.


Diabetes is a major health problem in Malaysia particularly in Kelantan state. This cross-sectional study was designed to
determine the knowledge, attitude and perceive practice towards type II diabetes among the public residants of Kelantan in
relation towards their blood glucose level. About 68 respondents aged from 18 to 59 years old, were approached personally
to participate in this study. Data collection was done through face-to-face interview using a questionnaire consisted of four
sections; knowledge, attitude, and perceive practice (KAP) questionnaire including recent fasting blood glucose (FBG) readings.
The results showed that most of the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge (54.4%, n=37), positive attitude (72%,
n=49), and good perceive practice level (51.5%, n=35) towards diabetes mellitus. There was no significant relationship between
knowledge, attitude, and perceive practice level towards diabetes mellitus at p<0.05. KAP level towards diabetes mellitus
showed no significant relationship with blood glucose level at p<0.05. Findings indicate that most respondents had normal
BMI (18.5 – 24.9) (64.7%, n=44) and normal FBG reading (< 6.1 mmol/L) (92.6%, n=63). As conclusion, respondents
with higher educational level were more likely to have a higher level of knowledge about diabetes mellitus; however, this did
not influence attitude, perceive practice and fasting blood glucose of respondents.


A recent account of fossilization in adult second language (L2) grammars is the 'Interpretability Hypothesis' (Hawkins & Hattori, 2006; Tsimpli & Dimitrakopoulou, 2007). It proposes that properties associated with uninterpretable features not already activated in the first language (L1) grammar will pose a learnability problem for older L2 speakers because they are inaccessible beyond a critical period (CP). The present study tests this hypothesis by examining the effect of age on the knowledge shown by proficient Saudi Arabic speakers of L2 English of two subtle linguistic properties associated with uninterpretable features: (i) the Gap Strategy in


The article considers the task of designing intelligent controllers of automatic control systems by working modes of pavers during compaction of road-building materials. Intelligent controller is submitted in a form of fuzzy PID-controller. Mathematical model which takes account of metallic structures of compacting working body and road-building materials is provided. Simulation model of working process under the study in terms of MATLAB/Simulink programme is obtained. Numerical example of comparison between system's transient characteristic and continuous, digital and fuzzy controllers is provided.


Manufacturing processes are required to adapt to change as businesses respond to global competition. The paper describes a framework for building distributed manufacturing processes based on an integrating infrastructure. Through a decomposition based on application function, application interoperation and application interaction, proposals are made for structuring the integration software required to flexibly implement distributed systems which can evolve to support required change. The paper describes the architecture used in a proof of concept implementation of a machine vision process made up of distributed application objects. Support for change is demonstrated through comparison with a conventional distributed system which does not make use of the services of an integrating infrastructure. In describing the system architecture, requirements for `soft` CIM building blocks which can be `plugged` into an integrating infrastructure are defined. This work together with a range of approaches to application interoperation proposed by researchers at the MSI Research Institute are being further investigated through an EPSRC funded project entitled `Manufacturing Software Interoperability: Steps towards Interoperating Distributed Objects`.


Kinetic of substitution of dibenzoylmethanate (dbm) for one acetylacetonate (acac) in VO (acac) have been studied in various solvents by spectrophotometry. Under the condition [VO (acac)] 》[Hdbm], the rate law for the substitution reaction is expressed as, rate = kK[VO(acac)] [Hdbm] / (1 + K[VO(acac)]) where K = [VO (acac)dbmH] / [VO(acac)][Hdbm] and the rate constant k corresponds to that of proton transfer from coordinated Hdbm to leaving acac- in VO(acac)dbmH.


Introduction: Glycemic variability (GV) has been associated with mortality in critically ill patients. Several methods have been used to measure it, but no guideline has so far proposed a gold standard. The aim of this study was to associate different GV measurement methods with mortality in patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) under nutrition therapy (NT). Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study conducted between April and September 2018, in which 82 patients were enrolled in intensive care, with more than 48 hours of hospitalization and using NT. Demographic data, clinical data and all blood glucose values measured during hospitalization were collected. The GV
was evaluated through three indicators: standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) and glycemic mean (MGL). Statistical analysis was performed using Whitney and Pearson Chi-square tests, univariate and multiple logistic regression, and odds ratio. The analyzes were processed and evaluated using the Statistical Data Analysis software version 12.0. Results: 11,676 blood glucose levels were measured. Most of the sample received enteral diet. Mortality was 42.7%. A total of 36.58% of the patients had a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and these presented higher values for all evaluated parameters of VG compared to non-diabetics. CV, SD and MGL values were higher among the patients who died. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed
that the variables CV, SD and MGL were significantly associated with mortality. However, based on the multivariate logistic regression model, only PD maintained a relationship with mortality. Conclusion: The SD is an indicator of GV is independently associated with increased mortality in a cohort of heterogeneous patients on TN in the ICU.


Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique de l'Environnement (UMR 5183), Universite Joseph Fourier-CNRS, Rue Moliere, BP 96, 38 402 St Martin d'Heres Cedex France. Keywords: Source apportionment, molecular tracer, Mediterranean urban area Particulate organic matter (POM) in atmospheric aerosols contributes in approximately 20 to 50% of the total fine aerosol mass at continental mid-latitude (Kanakidou et al., 2005). Several epidemiological studies had associated this class of particulate material with adverse effects on human health (Grahame and Schlesinger, 2007). POM results from primary emissions as well as in situ formation through oxidative processes of gas-phase organic compounds. In order to reduce ambient particles concentrations, an accurate knowledge of the relative contribution of their different sources is required. During the ESCOMPTE-2001 experiment, evidence has been brought of a large fraction of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) photo chemically produced in the region of Marseilles, a French Mediterranean urban area, pointing out the need for a better characterization of these particles. In this context, a field campaign was carried out at an urban background site of Marseilles in July 2008, within the FORMES program, to estimate the respective influences of the main aerosol sources. More than 70 organic markers including hopanes/steranes, PAH, n-alkanes, phthalate esters, steroids, sugars and sugar anhydrides, and various carboxylic acids were measured. Figure1 shows the variation of two selected individual organic compounds, Hopane (vehicular marker) and Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (plasticizer) plotted along with the PM


: Investigation and assessment of non-lethal weapons (NLWs) require development of specific methods and tools different than those applied to conventional weapons, due to reversibility and limited duration of the NLWs' effects. The capabilities evaluation aims to establish to what extent the NLWs are able to meet the requirements of an operational task. The paper describes the criteria currently applied for assessing the NLWs capabilities and proposes an approach based on selection of criteria and variation of their relative weights depending on studied NLWs and operational tasks specific. The application of this approach is illustrated by a comparative evaluation of a group of non-lethal hand grenades with different effects.


Objective To investigate the effect of human platelet lysate(HPL) on the multiple differentiation capacities of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) from the bone marrow,and to provide guidance for the applications of MSCs in tissue engineering and certain diseases.Methods MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of 3 healthy donors,and then were cultured in 10%FBS or 7.5%HPL for induction of osteogenic or adipogenic cells using the cultured cells at the 5th passage.Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential were analyzed by alizarin red S staining or Oil red O staining,and quantitative determination.Results We found that MSCs cultured in both 10%FBS and 7.5%HPL media could be induced successfully into osteogenic or adipogenic cells.The quantitative data(16.548±4.397 vs 4.151±5.631) showed that MSCs cultured in HPL media had,in comparison to MSCs pre-cultured with FBS,a higher potential for osteogenic differentiation(P0.05) .On the contrary,the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs cultured in HPL media were reduced(0.239±0.030 vs 0.497±0.105,P0.05) .Conclusion Based on the results of the present study,HPL enhances the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs,while impairing the adipogenic differentiation.


In the state of Idaho, streamflow depletions are quantified utilizing parameters of rate of flow, total volume diverted, and volume consumptively used. This paper summarizes the engineering procedures used to quantify streamflow depletions that occur as a result of direct diversions from streams, diversions to storage, and diversions by wells. These procedures include determination of validity of water rights, magnitude and timing of diversions, crop consumptive uses, irrigation requirements, irrigation application efficiencies, and return flows. In Idaho, water right transfers must be approved by the State of Idaho Department of Water Resources; therefore, Department personnel prepare reports describing the utilization of the engineering procedures to determine amounts available for transfer.


This study aimed to test the reliability of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and to determine the status of dental caries as well as the relationships of food consumption frequency with dental caries status in adolescents aged 15–16 years old in Jakarta. Adolescents were randomly selected from 11 high schools. Clinical examination was performed by single calibrated examiner using the DMFT index. The FFQ was cross adapted to Indonesian version and self-administered by the study participants. A total of 471 adolescents participated in the study, with a dental caries prevalence of 75.4% and mean DMFT 2.7. The reliability test of FFQ resulting in ICC=0.940. Carbonated drinks and chips' consumption frequency have a statist ically significant weak relationship with dental caries status. The FFQ used in this study was a reliable tool to obtain data of food consumption frequency. The dental caries status of adolescents in Jakarta was considered moderate based on WHO classification. Only two types of foods in this study revealed significant relationships with dental caries in adolescents. Clinical article (J Int Dent Med Res 2020; 13(3): 1054-1058)


Invited Lectures.- Programming Environments for Cellular Automata.- A Lattice Boltzmann Wave Model and its Applications.- Complex Systems and Core Competencies for the Industrial Innovation.- Contributed Papers.- Coupled Maps Lattice Dynamics on a Variable Space for the Study of Development.- Essential Transformations of the One Dimensional Cellular Automata Rule Space and Endomorphisms of Compact Abelian Groups.- Lyapunov Exponents Vs Expansivity and Sensitivity in Cellular Automata.- Quasiperiod-3 and Period 3 Collective Behavior in Three Dimensional Totalistic illegal Cellular Automata with High Connectivity.- Simulation of Water Flow through a Porous Soil by Cellular Automaton Model.- Solving Routing Problems with Cellular Automata.- Towards Multilayered Automata Networks.- A Composite Automaton Designed to Model Complex Biological Systems. Modeling the Calcium-Ion Distribution in the Living Cell.- Time Dependant Grid Simulation by a Cellular Automata Network.- Cellular Neural Networks for Realizing Associative Memories.- A Cellular Automata Approach to the Simulation of a Prey-Predator System of Mites.- Urban Cellular Automata: an Evolutionary Prototype.- A Cooperative Edge Grammar for Edge Detection.- Hardware Supported Simulation Systems for Graph Based and 3-D Cellular Processing.- Evolvable Cellular Machines.- A High-Level Language for Programming Cellular Algorithms on Parallel Machines.- Author Index.


The paper presents a low-voltage (≤1 V) exponential function converter and its application to a current mode dB linear variable gain amplifier. The circuit is designed using MOS weak inversion translinear circuits and it is compact and power-efficient. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed circuit.


A simple and useful relation between the Coulomb amplitudes F and G (in Mott's notation) is derived and F and G are evaluated analytically up to α4 terms for arbitrary q = α/β. These results are valid for all angles, but are particularly useful at small angles. The general analytic behavior of F and G in the variable x = sin 12θ is discussed. The method is applicable to higher-order terms (α6 and up). A double integral representation of F is also derived by using the Sommerfeld-Watson transformation. This integral representation exhibits the dependence on α, q, and θ separately.


Analyzing the provided variability in an evolving product line is necessary to determine if new products can be derived by configuration of existing product line assets. To analyze the provided variability, we need to identify the variation points, the variants, and its constraints. In this paper, we show how formal concept analysis can be used to derive this information.


One of the most intriguing of philosophical puzzles concerns other minds. How do you know there are any? Yes, you're surrounded by living organisms that look and behave much as you do. They even say they have minds. But do they? Perhaps other humans are mindless zombies: like you on the outside, but lacking any inner conscious life, including emotions, thoughts, experiences and even pain. What grounds do you possess for supposing that other humans (including even me) aren't zombies? Perhaps less than you think. Anita Avramides tackles this fascinating question.


* The research for this chapter was conducted during the tenure of a Leverhulme Research Fellowship on Script and forgery in England to ad 1100 and I acknowledge with thanks the generosity of the Leverhulme Trust. For access to manuscript and microfilmed materials I thank the custodians of the William Salt Library and Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford, Winchester College, and in Paris the Archives nationales (CARAN) and the Bibliotheque nationale de France. Some of the material in the present chapter was discussed at the second workshop on 'Production and use of English manuscripts 1060 to 1220', organised by Dr Mary Swan (University of Leeds) and Professor Elaine Treharne (Florida State University), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and held at the University of Leicester in April 2010. I thank the organisers of the Leicester and Cambridge meetings for their invitations and have learned from the comments and suggestions of the audiences on both occasions. Nicholas Brooks and Simon Keynes have been kind enough to discuss with me the palaeographical and textu l details of S 602 and I have profited from Alice Rio's and Bruce O'Brien's comments on a draft text. I have been assisted in the preparation of this chapter by the images from the Single Sheet Database made available on the Kemble website http:// www.kemble.asnc.cam.ac.uk/ and I acknowledge their use with thanks. 1 For classic accounts of these models, see R.W. Southern, 'Aspects of the European tradition of historical writing: 4. The sense of the past', TRHS 5 ser. xxiii (1973), 243–63, repr. in R.J. Bartlett (ed.), History and historians: selected papers of R.W. Southern, Oxford 2004, 66–83; B. Guenee, Histoire et culture historique dans l'Occident medieval, Paris 1980; R.H.C. Davis and J.M. Wallace-Hadrill (eds), The writing of history in the middle ages: essays presented to Richard William Southern, Oxford 1981; R.M. Thomson, 'England and the twelfth-century Renaissance', Past and Present ci (1983), 3–21, repr. in his England and the twelfth-century Renaissance, Aldershot 1998; P. Magdalino (ed.), The perception of the past in twelfth-century Europe, London 1992; R.L. Benson and G. Constable (eds), Renaissance


The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, for short IEEE1, is the largest organization for technical professionals. Its membership is spread all over the world. The main goal of this institute is Advancing Technology for Humanity. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. Next the global presence of IEEE is shown, The organization of IEEE is described by defining the several operational units. The importance of IEEE is shown by presenting a few characteristic data. Next the focus is on the IEEE in the Benelux and on Milestones. The IEEE Milestones program honors significant technical achievements in all areas associated with IEEE. Milestones recognize the technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity found in unique products, services, seminal papers and patents.


The theoretical review of the hip arthoplasty in the acetabular variant is a controversial topic among the orthopedic surgeons. The indications for the recovery of Revista Cubana de Ortopedia y Traumatología. 2014; 28(1): 101-108 http://scielo.sld.cu 102 the bone reserve, particularly with structural allografts, remain under discussion. It is widely accepted to use crushed bone allograft to treat cavity defects and the results have been good worldwide. The use of a structural graft is more random and the results vary according to the scientific literature. This paper will deal with the use of cephalic autograft taken from the femoral head of the patient. Our experience in the use of bone allograft is wide since the center has a bone bank at its disposal that may meet the growing surgical needs of many patients.


This paper presents a capacitive pressure-based micro gas flow sensor with slip flow analyses considering velocity slip at the wall. The sensor consists of a pair of capacitors for measuring pressure difference between the inlet and outlet and absolute pressure at the outlet, inlet/outlet reservoirs, and the main microchannel causing pressure difference. The main microchannel is 128.0 /spl mu/m wide, 4.64 /spl mu/m deep, and 5680 /spl mu/m long, where the outlet Knudsen number is 0.0137. The sensor was fabricated using wet etching, ultrasonic drilling, Deep Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and anodic bonding. The capacitance change of the sensor and the mass flow rate of nitrogen were measured as the inlet to outlet pressure ratio increased up to 1.24. With the increasing pressure difference, the capacitance change of the differential pressure sensor and flow rates through the main microchannel increases. The sensitivity of the sensor will also be discussed.


An improved high gain switched capacitors-based multilevel inverter (MLI) topology is developed for medium voltage and high-power applications. It consists of 13 unidirectional switches, a single dc source, and three capacitors for producing the 13-level output along with a sextuple voltage boost. The capacitors are self-balanced; hence, the circuit complexity is reduced, so there is no need for any auxiliary circuit or sensors. A simple and fundamental control strategy based on nearest-level pulse width modulation is applied to assess the viability of the proposed topology. Comparative analysis with other similar topologies verifies that the proposed circuit outperformed other topologies in terms of device count, cost function, power quality, and total standing voltage. The proposed topology viability is assessed under both static and dynamic loads. The losses across the components are calculated using thermal analysis in the PLECS. Results show that the topology works appropriately under different loading conditions. High boosted output and lower component count makes the proposed circuit suited for low voltage sources applications such as solar PV applications.


The open boundary conditions for the computational fluid dynamics simulation of the mi- cro- and meso-scale flow over the Grimming mountain, Austria, are determined by an optimization ap- proach. The Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model ALADIN-Austria provides data of wind speed and wind direction at virtual weather balloons within the area of interest. Moreover, the numeri- cal model includes buoyancy, thermal stratification, adiabatic heating and turbulence effects. Further- more, it is applied to the flow over the Grimming mountain and the results are validated by station data and show suitable correlation with the measurements. In addition, the wavelength of lee gravity waves is in good agreement with analytic approximations and gives an additional validation of the presented model. Finally, the presented model is able to serve as framework for particle transport simulations as snow drift.


The friction and ripple effects from motor and drive cause a major problem for the robot position accuracy, especially for robots with high gear ratio and for high-speed applications. In this paper we introduce a simple, effective, and practical method to compensate for joint friction of flexible joint robots with joint torque sensing, which is based on a nonlinear disturbance observer. This friction observer can increase the performance of the controlled robot system both in terms of the position accuracy and the dynamic behavior. The friction observer needs no friction model and its output corresponds to the low-pass filtered friction torque. Due to the link torque feedback the friction observer can compensate for both friction moment and external moment effects acting on the link. So it can be used not only for position control but also for interaction control, e.g., torque control or impedance control which have low control bandwidth and therefore are sensitive to ripple effects from motor and drive. In addition, its parameter design and parameter optimization are independent of the controller design so that it can be used for friction compensation in conjunction with different controllers designed for flexible joint robots. Furthermore, a passivity analysis is done for this observer-based friction compensation in consideration of Coulomb, viscose and Stribeck friction effects, which is independent of the regulation controller. In combining this friction observer with the state feedback controller \cite{Albu-Schaeffer2}, global asymptotic stability of the controlled system can be shown by using Lyapunov based convergence analysis. Experimental results with robots of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) validate the practical efficiency of the approach.


As a young woman in her 20s, I am deeply concerned by the inhuman treatment of women worldwide. I try my best not to be very emotional about the mistreatment that women face, but I live it every day. Because of the dress with which I choose to express myself, I get stopped and harassed. Because of my principle to empower and educate myself before I am married, I get judged and reminded constantly that I should settle down; meanwhile, the same expectation and judgment don't apply to men of the same age. Because of my strong opinions against patriarchy, I am labelled as a man-hater or Westerner-wannabe. My Ethiopian identity is put on trial due to my understanding of womanhood and my take on feminism that is seen as an influence of Western culture. This is the reality for most, if not all, young women in Ethiopia—whether they are from the capital Addis Ababa or live in other parts of the country.


Road network data is the foundation of transportation analysis,research,planning and design.The transportation departments usually need to update their road network by referring to the data from different recourses.Therefore,the up-to-date data should be secured as well as the inheritance of temporal versions.Considering the present situation,the paper presented a method,which can automatically recognize and update the incremental data quickly and accurately by referring to the new collected vector road data.Much time and manpower used for updating and maintaining the road network data every year can be greatly reduced.


This study examined the effect of Behavior Based Safety(BBS) program on safe behaviors of bus drivers and passengers. Four male bus drivers working at a H transportation company situated in Seoul participated in this study. BBS program consisted of education, prompts, and self-monitoring with goal s...


Background
Much of health care today involves helping patients manage conditions whose outcomes can be greatly influenced by lifestyle or behaviour change. HIV/AIDS is an imminent lifethreatening disease. HIV/AIDS patients' adherence to health behaviours is related to their perceptions of the severity of a potential illness or the consequences of not preventing or treating the illness. Nonadherence involves patients taking medications incorrectly or not at all, forgetting or refusing to make essential behavioural changes for their care, and persisting in behaviours including high-risk sexual activity that jeopardize their health. Adoption of technology is slow in behavioural healthcare. This paper investigates the inherent individual and environmental barriers to HIV/AIDS' patient adherence in an ongoing research on Women's Health in Nigeria.
Methods
A mix of both qualitative and quantitative indicators are used to develop case studies of the inherent individual and environmental barriers to patient adherence. Focus groups discussions and semi-structured interviews. The study currently covers a clinic and a university teaching
hospital each in case selected across rural and urban Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo States of Nigeria.
Results
The primary causes of nonadherence are poor provider–patient communication, lack of understanding of the treatment and its importance, lack of trust and mutual caring in the therapeutic relationship, and provider behaviour that is controlling and paternalistic.
Depressed patients with HIV have decreased adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Increased patient adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic plans leads to greater clinical efficiency and effectiveness.
Conclusion
The main drivers fuelling Nigeria's HIV/AIDS epidemic include low risk perception, multiple concurrent sexual partners, informal transactional and intergenerational sex, lack of STI services, gender inequalities, stigma and discrimination, and inadequate health services.
HIV/AIDS' patients are required to take 95% or more of antiretroviral medications to control the disease.
Keywords: adherence, behaviour, clinician-patient relationship, healthcare, HIV/AIDS, medication


PURPOSE: An eco-friendly pavement for a bicycle lane and a sidewalk with an anion radiating material and elvan powder and a paving method using the same are provided to continuously generate anions and far infrared rays. CONSTITUTION: An eco-friendly pavement for a bicycle lane and a sidewalk with an anion radiating material and elvan powder comprises a joint member(30), a surface layer(40), and a finishing member(50). The joint member, composed of transparent water-soluble primer or cement paste, is formed on the top of a rubble aggregate layer(10) or water permeable concrete layer. The surface layer, composed of feldspar porphyry, blast furnace slag cement, tourmaline, pigments, and an expander, is formed on the top of the joint member. The finishing member, composed of epoxy resin, two liquid type paint, anion powder, is spread on the surface of the surface layer.


The Marmul field lies in the Dhofar province of the Sultanate of Oman. The heavy oil accumulation was discovered in 1956 by Dhofar Cities Services who drilled five wells, but the field was not considered commercial and operations were abandoned. Petroleum Development Oman acquired the concession in 1969. Producible oils occur in Paleozoic clastics overlain unconformably by a Cretaceous sealing shale. Initial appraisal showed the complex nature of the reservoir distribution to be due to its glacial/periglacial environment of deposition, and a simple geologic model was conceived. Seismic impedance contrast at the seal's unconformity surface was then used as a predictive tool to differentiate glacial waste zones (tillites) from periglacial reservoirs and as support to the co tinuing appraisal and development drilling. The glacial/periglacial geologic model was progressively refined by further development drilling. The appraisal effort based on geologic and seismic impedance models was then deliberately pursued toward possible additional younger stacked reservoirs stratigraphically trapped at the periphery of the field. These reservoirs were proved by drilling to be separate from the main field and oil bearing. The unraveling of the field's complex trapping mechanisms, and the buildup of the geologic models needed for primary development and secondary recovery schemes, could only be achieved through an integrated and dedicated approach by geologists and geophysicists. End_of_Article - Last_Page 917------------


Cells of Chlorella vulgaris, BEIJ. Greifswald 9, were grown on autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions using glucose and acetate as organic substrates. It was shown that these C-sources applicated in a suitable range of concentrations increase the growth rate and the productivity of the algal cultures. The cells grown on mixotrophic conditions have a higher total pigment content and exhibit variations in the ratio chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b.

In addition the contents of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids of the biomass were shown to be dependent on the kind of the organic substrate used.


Machado de Assis wrote a considerable amount of short stories. Although his writings have been widely studied, some of his short stories have not yet received due attention from the specialized critique, because of their typical polysemous irony. One of such stories is "Entre santos" (2007), a tale of mystery about a man who witnesses some saints chatting at an altar. In this narrative, St. Francisco de Sales reports his contact with a worshipper interested in his wife's physical recovery in exchange of some effort involving no pecuniary loss. On proposing the exchange, the worshipper is torn between his love for his wife and his avarice. The story focusses on the evolution of the man's feelings. As the outline of the unusual plot suggests, the text remains open to further analysis. Despite the fact that this short story is considered one of Machado's best productions, we believe it has been insufficiently studied, so far, and propose a semiotic reading of the feelings related to avarice in the story told by the Saint.


In our prior work [arXiv:2109.09316], neural network methods with inputs based on domain of dependence and a converging sequence were introduced for solving one dimensional conservation laws, in particular the Euler systems. To predict a high-fidelity solution at a given space-time location, two solutions of a conservation law from a converging sequence, computed from low-cost numerical schemes, and in a local domain of dependence of the space-time location, serve as the input of a neural network. In the present work, we extend the methods to two dimensional Euler systems and introduce variations. Numerical results demonstrate that the methods not only work very well in one dimension [arXiv:2109.09316], but also perform well in two dimensions. Despite smeared local input data, the neural network methods are able to predict shocks, contacts, and smooth regions of the solution accurately. The neural network methods are efficient and relatively easy to train because they are local solvers.


Poor environmental stability has been a major concern for organic light-emitting devices. Exposure to ambient conditions leads to the formation of nonemissive areas (dark spots) that result in a decrease in device luminescence. Although a number of mechanisms for the formation of dark spots have been proposed, the causes underlying their initiation, and their nucleation sites are still far from being clear. In this study, optical microscopy is used to investigate the sites of dark spots of devices in which the original cathodes are peeled off and replaced by newer cathodes. Results confirm that the growth of dark spots occurs primarily due to cathode delamination. The growth of dark spots is also associated with changes in the organic layers, especially at the organic/cathode interface. Results also suggest that the nucleation of dark spots takes place at the organic/cathode interface and originates during the deposition of the cathode. On the other hand, both the anode and the hole transport layer do not appear to play a role in the formation of dark spots.


Tire production Indonesia has been increased by numbers from year to year along with a great amount causes the availability of abundant rubber tire waste, this waste has not been widely used and has unravel able properties leading into environmental pollution. In this research, we developed an environmentally friendly concrete innovation. This research aimed at determining the optimal value of concrete based on the rubber tire waste aggregate, compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and content weight of rubber concrete. This research is designed with quantitative method along with a laboratory true experimental approach. This research reviews the performance of concrete mixture incorporating 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of discarded tire rubber as coarse aggregate replacement. The results conclude that maximum compressive strength of rubber concrete was varied 5% and 19.42 MPa of strength. Maximum split tensile strength of rubber concrete was varied 5% with a strength of 1.70 MPa, Maximum modulus of elasticity of rubber concrete was varied 5% with a strength 24204.73 MPa, The weight of the minimum content of rubber concrete is found in a variation of 25% with a weight value of 2196.27 kg / m3. Keywords— rubber concrete, compressive strength, split tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, weight of content


In this article characteristics of willow and topinambour stems used for energy generation are presented. The potential of energy plants grown in Lithuania is reviewed, the methods of plant converting to energy are presented, and different chopping mechanisms are reviewed. The article presents a methodology for evaluation of willow and topinambour stems, their bio-metrical properties and physical-mechanical properties of stem chaff. The experiment results were discussed. Experiments were made on manually cut willow and topinambour stems, which were chopped by drum, disc and screw type choppers. Biometrical properties of non-chopped willows and topinambour stems were determined, and the stem chaff physical-mechanical properties such as moisture content, density, angles of natural crumble and fall were evaluated and the investigation of chaff thinness was fulfilled.


Six compounds, Z- and E-fadyenolide (3, 4), 1-ally1-2,3-(methylenedioxy)-4,5-dimethoxy-benzene (5), 4-methoxy-3,5-bis (3′-methyl-2′-butenyl)-benzoic acid (6), 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-dihydrochalcone (7), and 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (8) were isolated from three species of Jamaican Piper, Piper fadyenii, C.D.C., Piper aduncum L. and Piper hispidum Sw. Three amides (9 ~ 11) of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-oxo-5-phenylpent-2-enoic acid using piperidine, pyrrolidine and morpholine, respectively, were synthesized from compounds 3 and 4, and tested for insecticidal activity against the tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) and the flour feetle, Tribolium confusum Duval. In our experiment, compounds 9 ~ 11 inhibited ovogenesis of B. microplus and were toxic to T. confusum. Compounds 3 ~ 8 were found to have no activity.


We study the distribution of the number of rational points in a family of curves over a finite field of characteristic 2. This distribution determines the coset weight distribution of a certain BCH code.


This paper proposes a method to evaluate the values of FACTS devices in a power system in terms of loss and costs reduction, thereby allows for the optimal selection of locations of FACTS devices to return the highest benefits to the power systems. The method is solved iteratively based on an optimal power flow (OPF) framework, which is modified to incorporate FACTS devices. There exist many types of FACTS devices which could help reduce generation cost, improve the system voltage profile and minimize the transmission losses. In this paper, thyristor controlled series compensator (TCSC) and thyristor controlled phase angle regulator (TCPAR) are considered. The method is applied to a practical power system in the northern region of Vietnam.


The theory of A. R. Cooper, Jr., and other viscoelastic theories of thermal stresses in glass are reviewed. The role of structural relaxation in the evolution of the free strain and stress relaxation times is examined. An explanation of the hysteresis loop observed on thermal contraction/expansion curves in the glass transition region is offered. Single-exponential models are reviewed on the merit of the insight they provide into the physics of stress development. Their numerical performance is compared with that of the more comprehensive theories.


To protect the worker against the possibly harmful effects of electric field can be ensured effectively by a well-designed conductive clothing acting as a Faradaycage. Inside an ideal Faraday cage – which is an enclosed metal surface – electric field is zero. Efficiency of conductive clothing are mainly determined by the maximal size of the holes on them and is usually above 99%. In case of extra-low frequency (ELF), effects of electric and magnetic fields have to be taken into consideration separately from each other. Although conductive clothing – which are widely used during high voltage live-line maintenance – can shield the electric field effectively, based on the result of the measurements executed in the High Voltage Laboratory of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE), they are not effective enough to shield magnetic field at all. BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 23 April 2015


Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis [1]. Because the discovery and genomic characterization of mycobacteriophages has been the focus of integrated research and education programs, including the Phage Hunters Integrating Research and Education (PHIRE) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (HHMI SEAPHAGES), thousands of phages have been isolated using a single host strain, M. smegmatis mc155, over 500 of which have been completely sequenced [2–5]. These are mostly from environmental samples, but mycobacteriophages have also been isolated from stool samples of tuberculosis patients [6], although these have yet to be genomically analyzed. Clearly, these mycobacteriophages represent only a tiny piece of the overall phage population, which is predicted to include 10 particles, making them the majority of all life-forms in the biosphere [7]. Mycobacteriophages display a remarkable genetic diversity (Figure 1). About 30 distinct types (called clusters, or singletons if they have no relatives) that share little or no nucleotide sequence similarity have been identified. Many of the clusters span sufficient diversity that the genomes warrant division into subclusters (Figure 1). However, the genomes are characteristically mosaic in their architecture [8], which is readily evident from the shared genes revealed by amino acid sequence comparisons [9]. There is also considerable range in overall guanine plus cytosine content (GC%), from 50.3% to 70%, with an average of 64% (M. smegmatis is 67.3%). Thus, phage GC% does not necessarily match that of its host, and the consequent mismatch of codon usage profiles does not appear to be detrimental. Because new mycobacteriophages lacking extensive DNA similarity with the extant collection are still being discovered, and as there are at least seven singletons for which no relatives have been isolated, we clearly have yet to saturate the diversity of this particular population. The pace of discovery is rapid, so the profile of diversity is constantly changing. The collection of .50,000 genes can be sorted into .3,900 groups (phamilies) according to their shared amino acid sequences. Most of these phamilies (,75%) do not have homologues outside of the mycobacteriophages and are of unknown function. Extrapolation to the broader population suggests that phages have the largest repertoire of unexplored sequences in nature. Genetic studies with mycobacteriophage Giles show that 45% of the genes are nonessential for lytic growth, raising questions as to how and why they were acquired [10].


The methods of integration,trend aspect,multinomial and average value may be used for the treatment of data measured with grid distribution method,with each method with its own characteristics.The method of average value is easy in calculation and each grid has the same weighting,but the precision is not high.In the methods of integration and trend aspect,the centre grids are used many times due to their high contributing proportion for whole region and constituent many triangles,while the edge grids are used few times,which is distinct in physical meaning.The method of integration may be used to calculate total amount,and the method of trend aspect can be used to show area distribution and variation tendency on a graph.Multinomial method can be used to imitate measured value and to calculate trend and deviation value of the data sequence and to analyze the distribution and diversification of contamination.Mathematical models and computing formulas would be selected according to different research purposes and physical meaning of analytic targets when it is used.


In this paper, the previously introduced fuzzy modeling method is used to model the input impedance of two coupled dipole antennas in the echelon form. The initial data of two coupled dipole antennas in the parallel and collinear form, which are required for the model, are obtained using the MoM. Then, the knowledge of two coupled dipole antennas in the echelon form is easily predicted based on the knowledge of two coupled dipole antennas in the parallel and collinear form and the concept of spatial membership functions. Also, the problem behavior is well approximated. Comparing the proposed model results with MoM shows an excellent agreement with a vanishingly short execution time comparing with MoM.


[This abstract is based on the author's abstract.] Despite its popularity, Six Sigma has its limitations. Measurement and metrics is one such weakness, but this weakness can be overcome with the Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI). Available lit..


Introduction: Colorectal malignancies stand out to be one of the chief causes of morbidity and mortality
in the world. Although the total incidence of colorectal malignancy in India n population has marginally
increased, it is now a common cause of cancer mortality among Indians.
The oncogene HER2/neu belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptor family. The favorable outcome of
HER2/neu in management of breast carcinoma patients has direct ed to evaluation of gene amplification
protein overexpression, and anti-tumor activity of Herceptin in various tumor types one amongst which
is colorectal carcinomas. The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency of overexpression of
HER2/neu in colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRC) and its association with various histomorphological and
clinicopathological parameters.
Materials and Methods: A total of 52 cases of colorectal adenocarcinomas including colonoscopic
biopsies & resected specimens were studied. Paraffin embedded sections were stained with Hematoxylin &
Eosin and histological and clinicopathological parameters were assessed. In IHC, antigens were retrieved
by Heat Induced Epitope Retrieval method and HER2/ neu status was determined using a semiquantitative
scoring system. The scores were then correlated with histological grade, type and clinicopathological
parameters.
Results: The HER2/neu overexpression was noted in 53.8% of our cases and was seen to be commonly
expressed by moderately differentiated tumours and conventional/ NOS histological type.
There was a statistically significant correlation observed between HER2/neu status and tumour grade (p=
0.001), tumour type (p = 0.008). There was no significant correlation between age, gender or localisation
or stage of tumour.
Conclusion: Histological grade and histological type of CRC showed a significant correlation with
HER2/neu overexpression, hence can be used as a predictive tool for determining the prognosis of the
patients.
Patients who overexpress HER2/neu could


Moving from a cinematic reinterpretation of Borges's Library of Babel, I attempt to provide a new answer to the old ontological question: "What kind of being is a film?". This answer, which takes into account the coming of digital era, is developed through a comparison with Carroll's philosophy of motion pictures. While discussing, criticizing and trying to complete his theory, I will examine the concept of a film under four different aspects: as a material object, as an ideal object, as a mental object, and as a social object. Finally, our ontology of film will be applied to clarify some traditional theoretical dualisms: i.e. film vs. reality, film vs. narration, film vs. discourse, film vs. art.


We validated the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique for measurement of energy expenditure in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in captivity by simultaneously measuring metabolizable energy intake in a feeding trial. We calculated CO₂ production using two equations, one typically used by animal ecologists (the "one-pool" equation) and the other typically used by human nutritionists (the "two-pool" equation). Metabolizable energy intake, as determined by feeding trials, for two adult eagles eating rats averaged 1,160 ± 89 kJ d⁻¹ and for four nestlings eating fish averaged 2,124 ± 40 kJ d⁻¹. Energy expenditure measured from DLW turnover using the one-pool equation averaged 2.2% ± 7.1% higher than metabolizable energy intake measured by feeding trials (not significantly different, P > 0.50), but when the two-pool equation was used, energy expenditure measured with DLW averaged 17.7% ± 6.7% lower than metabolizable energy intake measured by feeding trials (significantly different, 0.025 < P < 0.05). Thus, the use of the DLW technique with CO₂ production calculated by the one-pool equation was validated for bald eagles.


The purpose of this article is the consideration of the question oа the participation and responsibility of state concerning the observance of some priorities in the sphere of higher education. These priorities are determined by the positions of the current legislation of the Russian Federation. Special attention is paid to the correspondence of the available normative regulation of the state role as the basic responsible person in the given area to the spirit of the international agreements in the specified sphere where the Russian Federation is the participant on the basis of the analysis of some statistics. The measures for the elimination of the revealed contradictions are offered.


By means of18O stable isotope analysis,we studied the water sources and their seasonal( June and August) utilization dynamics of Tamarix growing in the riparian of middle reaches of Heihe river.The results show that there existed obvious variations in water stable isotope composition in branches of Tamarix,the δ18O in June and August were-8.32‰ and-10.41‰ respectively;In June,the water was utilized mainly from 40 ~ 60cm soil layer,while in August,Tamarix obtained water from soil layer about 60cm or even much deeper.The water utilization source for Tamarix was from ground water,and did not absorb rain water or river water directly.The reason why the riparian Tamarix formed such water utilization strategy was closely related to the arid climate and the interaction of stream-groundwater.


The face motion plays a special role in sustaining the human gestures. The emerging media applications are conveying the human expressions by means of virtual faces which are typically controlled by a parameterized description. In this context, we developed aFacial Analysis and Synthesis Scheme able to extract a spatial-temporal semantic face description from an image sequence. This research proposes new methods for detection and tracking of the face and facial features, for estimating the face movements and the facial expressions, and for extracting efficiently stored facial animation. By combining vision, graphics and mechanical models, we can solve the inverse problem: estimating the 3-dimensional face deformation from the 2-dimensional image measurements. Animating the face model with the extracted parameters, results in a faithful reproduction of the original gestures.


A physical interpretable equivalent electrical network and its parameters are extracted from a 3-D finite-element model formulated by Darwin's approximation to the Maxwell equations. In this paper, we add a sensitivity analysis procedure to the extraction of inductive parasitics, relying upon the adjoint technique for the extracted partial inductances and coupling factors. The resulting algorithm is an efficient way to calculate the sensitivities with respect to a large number of parameters. In an example, we use the gradient information to guide the geometrical optimization of an electromagnetic compatibility filter.


Objective To establish the feasibility and effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality aimed at improving postural control in children with cerebral type palsy spastic hemiplegia. It also seeks to compare low-cost virtual reality under two delivery modalities, telerehabilitation (TR) and face-to-face (FtF). Methods Randomized controlled clinical trial from the ACTRN platform ACTRN12621000117819. Eighteen sessions of low-cost virtual reality therapy will be provided through both, FtF and TR modalities using a Nintendo Wii balance board. Each programme will last for 6 weeks and will consist of 3 sessions per week of 25 minutes each. The participants will include 40 patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy type spastic hemiplegia. Twenty participants for each group. Participants will be assessed at baseline, by the end of weeks 2, 4, and 6, and at weeks 8 and 10 (post-intervention follow-ups). Clinical measures include the Modified-Modified Ashworth Scale for lower limbs, Modified Ashworth Scale for upper limbs, timed up-and-go tests, the timed one-leg standing and 6-minute walk test. Posturographic measures, including sway area and velocity, under six conditions will be used: 2 statics and 4 dynamic conditions, which include voluntary sway in the mediolateral direction following a metronome set at 30Hz and 60Hz, and sway while playing 2 different videogames. Results This study provides an assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of an affordable rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality aimed at improving postural control in children with cerebral palsy. Conclusion Rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality will improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy type spastic hemiplegia and this programme delivered using TR will be as effective as a FtF modality. The TR programme has be designed to expand the coverage of physiotherapy services for children with cerebral palsy in low-resource settings and in remote areas.


Throughout the last decades, more and more attention in academics and practice has been given to 'social' topics such as community involvement, active citizenship, commoning processes. Considering this trend, it is possible to notice an abuse of these terms, contributing to the 'social washing' and feeding the risk of instrumentalisation. Starting from the analysis of the state of the art and comparing two cases, the paper aims to evaluate the outcomes of neglected sites recycling with socially innovative initiatives. At the centre of the debate are social enterprises, non-profit entities whose ambition is to create social benefits and new economic solutions for a better use of local resources over time. Considering this purpose, the research investigated the European scenario of Southern Italy, characterised by demographic transition and youth migration. The research adopted qualitative, quantitative and comparative methods. The two cases analysed and compared are Periferica of Mazara del Vallo and ExFadda of San Vito dei Normanni. Both are the result of local resources reactivation and youth entrepreneurship policies. These creative centres are managed by social enterprises. Their actions and activities affect the places producing social, economic, cultural and spatial impacts. However, behind these initiatives lies the soft power, a power able to shape people perceptions through culture. The research illustrates the process outcomes and evaluates its positive and negative impacts to the site and its surroundings. In conclusion, the research is conceived as a contribution to the body of knowledge and the basis for future researches and practical models for the socially innovative recycling of disused resources in urban–rural context.


In the paper, the molecular engram polymer is produced by dithizone which is functional monomer,β-cyclodextrin which is pore-forming material and chloroepoxy propane which is crosslinking agent. Atomic absorption method is used to study its adsorption for lead. Thermodynamic model of adsorption and dynamic reaction order are discussed. The results show that adsorption is endoergic process and accords with Freundlich isothermal adsorption equation. Adsorption system conforms with pseudo-second order dynamic model, the static saturation adsorption amount is 45.55mg/g.


Any scientific discovery must include an epistemic process to gain knowledge of or to ascertain the existence of some empirical and/or logical entailments previously unknown or unrecognized. This paper proposes a new programming paradigm, named epistemic programming, which regards entailments as the subject of computing, takes three primary epistemic operations, i.e., epistemic deduction of knowledge, epistemic expansion of knowledge, and epistemic contraction of knowledge, as basic operations of computing, and regards epistemic processes as the subject of programming. The paper presents a relevant logic model of epistemic processes in scientific discovery. Based on the model, the paper defines what is an epistemic program and shows some important issues to implement an epistemic programming system for scientists to program their epistemic processes in scientific discovery.


Objective. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Our objective was to identify the clinical characteristics that correlate with the physical health status of patients with SSc, as assessed by the Medical Outcomes Trust Short Form-36 (SF-36). Methods. Cross-sectional, multicenter study of 416 patients from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry. Patients were assessed with detailed clinical histories, medical examinations, and self-administered SF-36. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between selected demographic and clinical variables and the SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score. Results. The greatest impairments in the SF-36 were in the domains measuring physical health, and the mean SF-36 PCS score was 37.5 (± 11.2). In multivariate analysis, significant clinical predictors of the SF-36 PCS were shortness of breath, number of gastrointestinal problems, skin score, swollen joint count, and age. The final model explained 47% of the variance in the SF-36 PCS. Conclusion. Clinical characteristics identified as significant correlates of the self-reported physical health status in SSc should each be targets of intervention in order to improve the HRQOL of patients with this disease.


This research aims to study influences of the massage on foot's reflection area on the free radicals generated in the body after aerobic exercises,in order to explore the mechanism of the acceleration of the recovery of exercise-induced fatigue by the way of massage on foot's reflection area.Adopted the self-compared method,this research conducted a high-loaded aerobic endurance training,and then measured the volume of MDA and the activity of SOD in serum at different time: pre-exercise,after-exercise instantly,after massage on foot's reflection area or natural recovery instantly and 24 hours.The results of this research can be concluded as follows:1)After one hour's trial,the concentration of free radicals in the body increase sharply,while the activity of SOD which can clean the free radicals increase notably.The balance between the creation and elimination of free radicals is broken.2)Massage on foot's reflection area seasonally after training can reduce the creation of free radicals,thereby promoting the recovery of exercise-induced fatigue.


Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen, causes  listeriosis, that mainly affects immunocompromised persons. Epidemiological investigation and molecular subtyping can be helpful in linking the specific sources of infection. Thirty-eight isolates of Listeria monocytogenes recovered from the bovine environment, milk, and  bovine clinical cases  were characterized by serotyping and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to correlate the genetic links between the isolates. Serotyping revealed 3 L. monocytogenes isolates to be of serovar group 4b, 4d and 4e, 34 isolates of serovar group 1/2b, 4b, 3b, 4d, 4e, and one isolate to be serovar group 1/2a, 1/2c,3a, and 3c. The PFGE analysis revealed 38 L. monocytogenes isolate from seven different clusters combined ApaI and AscI with 80% relative genetic similarity. In comparison majority of the strains showed location and serovar wise homology in PFGE pattern than source wise. It was also observed that at the place of collection, the organisms circulate in the environment. The present findings suggested that the dairy/bovine farm environment is a potential source of contamination of L. monocytogenes in milk and animals.


The purpose of this research and development are to developing playing skills sepak takraw exercises models. This research begins with needs analysis using survey method and then developing learning resources with corresponding characteristic with the needs analysis result. The development of playing skills sepak takraw exercises models based on interactive multimedia package in print media form and soft file *exe package in VCD forms. The research method using research method and the development with developing steps design by Borg and Gail. Surely, that method is modifying by the researcher to corresponding with the researcher requirement. The subject of this research is 35 university students who joined Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa or the student activities unit sepak takraw at Tadulako University. Small group test result obtained percentage of 91,69% with good category, while the result of large group test obtained percentage 94,16% with good category, and from exercise data according to the sepak takraw couch this product can be used in the real exercise. Based on effectiveness test result, empirically proven that the product result playing skills sepak takraw exercises models based on interactive multimedia has effectiveness which very good.


Given a programming language operating on stacks, we introduce a syntactical measure σ such that, a natural number σ(P) is assigned to each program P. The measure considers how the presence of loops defined over size-increasing (and/or non-size-increasing) subprograms influences the complexity of the program itself. We prove that a generic function f computed by a stack program with σ-measure n has length bound b ∈ En+2 (the n + 2-th Grzegorczyk class), that is |f( w)| ≤ b(| w|). Thus, we have a syntactical characterization of the functions belonging to the Grzegorczyk hierarchy; this result represents an improvement with respect to previous similar results.


A 3-dB power divider (PD) terminated in equal complex impedances is presented. It consists of two identical 90 ° transmission-line sections and an isolation circuit, being composed of resistance and capacitance, or resistance and inductance, depending on the termination impedances. If the termination impedance has capacitance, the isolation impedance should consist of inductance, and therefore, the isolation circuit should be implemented with a chip inductor. However, the chip inductor contains additional stray capacitance and resistance, which lead to undesired frequency performance. To avoid the usage of the chip inductors, even with arbitrary termination impedances, three design methods by adding transmission-line sections, adding open stubs, and adding short stubs are introduced. The PDs designed by the three methods can have not only desired isolation impedances, but also the total size of the PDs can be reduced. To verify the suggested theory, three PDs are measured. For one PD with adding transmission-line sections, the measured reflection coefficients at all ports are -43.29, -41.55, and -51.69 dB, the isolation is 56.7 dB, and the power division is -3.042 dB at a design center frequency of 1 GHz, which agree quite well with those predicted.


This study draws on models of motivated news exposure and literature on affordances to examine how devices (i.e., PC or mobile) and paths to exposure (i.e., news homepages, search, or social referrals) relate to people's behavior on news sites. Using behavioral data from seven local broadcast news sites, we assess how the device used and referral site affect whether people click on links to more news. We experimentally test four components of the presentation of links on news sites: content, labels, location on page, and images. Findings show that accessing news via social media and mobile devices reduces clicks relative to other paths and devices. Further, link presentation matters; for instance, links to Related content yielded more clicks than Popular content for those coming from search or a news homepage on PCs. We advance a conditional explanation of motivated news exposure and identify practical insights for news organizations.

 The devices people use (PC or mobile) and the paths they take to news (news homepage, search, or social referrals) relate to their behaviors once on a news site. Using data from seven local broadcast news sites, we assess how devices and referral sites affect whether people click on links to more news. We test four components of the presentation of links on news sites: content, labels, location on page, and images. We find that accessing news via social media and mobile devices leads to fewer clicks compared to other pathways to news. We also find that how links are presented matters. For example, the highest click-through rate we observed was when people using a PC and a search engine to visit a news site saw Related links at the end of a page accompanied by images and labeled in a way that appealed to social motivations. These conditional pathways are important for understanding news exposure and can provide practical insights for news organizations.


Introduction: The present study was considered aimed to investigate the relationship between communication skills and affective divorce in unsatisfied couples in Hamedan city. Methods: The research method was descriptive from correlational type. The statistical population of the study was including all unsatisfied couples referring to counseling centers in Hamedan city in 2016-2017. A sample of 80 unsatisfied couples was selected using available sampling method. Data were collected using communication skills questionnaire of Quindom and Gatman's affective divorce. Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between the scales of communication and auditory skill, the ability to receive and send messages, insights on the communication process and the relationship with determinism with affective divorce in couples. Discussion and Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that communicational skills can predict affective divorce in couples and are among the factors affecting the level of affective divorce in couples.


The purpose of this study was to explore the temperature and storage time on the pig sperm acrosin activity,which was detected by UV.The results showed that:(1)Fresh,cold shock and heat shock sperm acrosin activities were 5.38,5.20 and 5.16 mIU per 106 sperm,respectively,but the difference was not significant.(2)Fresh sperm acrosin activities at 4℃,17℃,25℃,30℃,37℃ and 39℃ were 4.29,5.01,5.03,5.17,4.78 and 4.61 mIU per 106 sperm,respectively.Sperm acrosin activity increase along with temperature increasing.When the temperature reached 30℃,acrosin activity reached the highest,the difference was significant between 4℃ and 30℃(P0.05).(3)When the preservation of more than 1 d at 4℃,the sperm acrosin activity decreased significantly(P0.05);when the preservation of more than 2 d at 17℃,25℃ and 39℃,acrosin activity decreased significantly(P0.05).The efficiency of preservation at 17℃ was best.In conclusion,the temperature affects the pig sperm acrosin activity,and the temperature of liquid semen Preservation was suitable for 17℃.Under this temperature the pig sperm can be saved for 3 d.