Abstract Applicable statutes give Nigerian courts discretion to achieve fairness in marital property readjustment. Ironically, the courts' approach has often been to adjudicate on the basis of formal title, resulting in a general failure to make any readjustments. This article offers two alternative explanations for this judicial behaviour: absence of a specific statutory marriage-centred definition of matrimonial property; and the courts' failure to appreciate the implicit matrimonial property regime revealed by a perspicacious interpretation of the statutes. These factors lead the courts to exercise a title-finding jurisdiction instead of an adjustive one. This conservative approach results in the courts exercising an exclusionary prescription of property. These flaws ignore the socio-cultural underpinnings and environment of marriage that support patriarchy in Africa and generally "disable" women in relation to property rights. Sample court cases support this thesis and underscore the need for a statutory definition of matrimonial property, with marriage as its denominator.


ABSTRACT  Cells from tuberous sclerosis (TS) patients have been reported to show hypersensitivity to X‐rays or radiomimetic chemicals, N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). We investigated the frequencies of chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), and cell cycle kinetics in MNNG‐treated lymphocytes from 7 patients with TS and 7 controls. There were no significant differences between the two groups in chromosome aberrations, SCE frequency or cell cycle kinetics. Our results did not support the hypersensitivity to MNNG.


The hand‐assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery (HALS) preserves the advantages of the minimally‐invasive approach. However, its application has faced resistance due to the need of hand port devices and its increased costs. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of an original technique using a double glove to keep pneumoperitoneum.


High performance computing (HPC) clusters are typically managed in a restrictive manner; the large user base makes cluster administrators unwilling to allow privilege escalation. Here we discuss existing methods of package management, including those which have been developed with scalability in mind, and enumerate the drawbacks and advantages of each management methodology. We contrast the paradigms of containerization via docker, virtualization via KVM, pod-infrastructures via Kubernetes, and specialized HPC packaging systems via Spack and identify key areas of neglect. We demonstrate how functional programming due to reliance on immutable states has been leveraged for deterministic package management via the nix-language expressions. We show its associated ecosystem is a prime candidate for HPC package management. We further develop guidelines and identify bottlenecks in the existing structure and present the methodology by which the nix ecosystem should be developed further as an optimal tool for HPC package management. We assert that the caveats of the nix ecosystem can easily mitigated by considerations relevant only to HPC systems, without compromising on functional methodology and features of the nix-language. We show that benefits of adoption in terms of generating reproducible derivations in a secure manner allow for workflows to be scaled across heterogeneous clusters. In particular, from the implementation hurdles faced during the compilation and running of the d-SEAMS scientific software engine, distributed as a nix-derivation on an HPC cluster, we identify communication protocols for working with SLURM and TORQUE user resource allocation queues. These protocols are heuristically defined and described in terms of the reference implementation required for queue-efficient nix builds.


In a literary career spanning almost six decades, from the 1920s to the 1970s, Agatha Christie wrote 66 novels and over 150 short stories. This article is about her novels and in particular about the titles of her novels, with a special, but not exclusive, focus on the titles of the Italian editions. For reasons explained below, the title corpus under consideration does not consist of 132 items (66 + 66), as might be expected, but of almost 180 items. The titles will be analysed along four main dimensions: as autonomous texts, i.e. with regard to their form and structure, as The Italian titles of Agatha Christie's novels


Abstract Strong bases from alkaline and alkaline-earth metal carbonates were generated in situ by adding a small amount of acetic acid at reflux in toluene under water-free conditions. Their basic strength reached superbasicity thus changing the color of 4-chloroaniline (H−=26.5). The high conversion of ethyl acetate in its self-condensation over decomposed carbonates, which require strong basicity to abstract protons from ethyl acetate (pKa=25), also confirmed the formation of strong bases. Adding acetic acid during the reaction indicated that metal oxides—decomposed materials from carbonates—were responsible for their high catalytic activity. The lack of sufficient coordination of in situ generated metal oxides was considered to be a plausible cause for their strong basicity.


We have proposed a novel edge-readout detector design for PET, which can easily provide sub-millimeter in-plane spatial resolution together with DOI information with resolution determined by the thickness of the crystal layers. Multiple factors that can potentially affect the coincidence resolving time (CRT) have been studied in this work. The result indicates there is a strong correlation between the coincidence resolving time and the parameters of a constant fraction discriminator (CFD), while the correlation between CRT and other factors such as inclusion of optical barriers, locations of gamma-ray interactions in the detector and light-coupling material's refractive index (between crystal and SiPM's silicon substrate) is weak. With optimum CFD parameters, a 200-ps CTR can be achieved.


Being celestial and longevity is the core blief of taoism,,which absorbed nutrient from ancient Qiang nation when it formed.XI wangmu Dayu the KUNLUN mountain immortal soul ect,which were integrated into the theological system of Taoism,shine special charisma now.


A black shale with pyritized fossils occurs just over the Bevier coal in Boone County, Missouri. This shale is local in occurrence, lenticular, and thin. An impervious gray shale with very little pyrite occurs above it, and locally an unpyritized fossiliferous gray shale occurs below. The pyritization is believed to be syngenetic. The conditions favorable to such an origin are believed to have been similar to those now found in limans.


The development of common conceptual understanding is one of the essential steps in professionalization of a field of practice. To support this process, we collected Concept Maps (CMaps) from practitioners in the field answering the same focus question. Our goal was to expose variability in the understanding of the concept under investigation and to identify common themes, which could be later taken as the basis for the development of a common definition. Collected maps were open-ended, they consisted of varying numbers of concepts and propositions, had different structures, and had little overlap of concepts and concept connections. In order to extract common themes from this set of maps, we used Latent Semantic Analysis to compare CMaps' semantic elements (e.g., concepts, propositions and maps) to each other. Based on this semi-automated analysis we were able to extract a set of concepts and propositions that are semantically representative of the collection.


In this paper, a vector control strategy of the doubly fed induction generator using rotor EMF-oriented position sensorless scheme is proposed. Compared with the other position sensorless schemes, the proposed control method only uses the rotor voltage and current as the feedback signals, which substantially reduces the costs and enhances the reliability of the control of the generator. The finite impulse response filter (FIR) is used in the rotor EMF orientation. Simulation shows good response of the system. Experiments based on a 3 kW unit demonstrate the correctness and availability of the scheme


This paper researches the problem of laser beam welding affectting the elasticity of large size thin sheet. By doing experiment, we got the curve of elasticity-distance. And by significance test, we judge whether the elasticity change truly turned out. The research results have mean to laser technology application in car industry.


In the article, it simply introduced the basic situation of maize harvest mechanization in 2014 in Liaoning province; it summarized the experiences of promoting the working of maize harvest mechanization from the aspects of leadership emphasis, technical guidance, purchase subsidy policy, farming system and technique training etc... Aiming at the main problems existing in maize harvest mechanization in Liaoning province, it provided related development suggestions from policy point.


Family private universities mainly manifests family property right of school's capital,family leading members and rotation system,family decision mechanism and management system,family existence and development of universities.The absence of influence of traditional family culture and policies is the main reason of family private universities in China.Based on fully investigation,we should perfect regulations and strengthen management to make private universities develop healthily.


1706–1835. This Curzon Press/Wm Eerdmans volume is a much more expensive work, but a lifetime's Tamil scholarship lies in it. Muthuraj never mentions it, nor other key texts. It illustrates the thesis I have long argued, that the success of a mission depends on how quickly through it Christianity is indigenized and spread in Indian voices. Hudson illustrates this through the work of dynasties of Tamil poets, originally influenced by Tranquebar missionaries. Another 'missing person' is John Devasahayam, first South Indian Anglican clergyman and independent district missionary (d. 1864) who was educated by Lutheran missionaries in Thanjavur and worked for C.H.E. Rhenius who sparked the schism between Anglicans and Lutherans in 1833. It is clear from George Pettit's The History of the CMS Tinnevelly Mission (1851) and A.S. Appasamy's centenary history (1925) just how important Indian co-workers were. More also could have been said of the very rich literary and spiritual tradition, both Tamil and Sanskrit, into which the Gospel was planted and which shaped emerging Indian theology, and conversely in Europe, of the challenge of the Enlightenment. Finally there is a dearth of indepth analysis as to causes and effect. Nevertheless, this is a useful work about a seminal period which K.S. Latourette and others omitted altogether. One just hopes the next volume will be more rigorously edited.


This paper explores public open space as a platform to strengthen social capital networks and, in turn, support the regional social innovation system. Design, location and user perception were found to be central determinants in attracting and retaining users for social capital development.


FIELD: transport. SUBSTANCE: automobile containing the body with first floor (10) having flat protruding first zone (11) and low located zone (12) adjacent to first zone (11). Low located zone (12) is enveloped with protruding frame (14), and second floor (15) is mechanically attached to frame (14) in the plane located in one and the same level with the plane of first zone (11). EFFECT: designing the automobile the body of which is adapted both for passenger car, and for light - duty truck. 7 cl, 6 dwg


Music makes an important contribution to the sense of belonging to a group, in the forming of the personality and the structure of social relations. Observations of the use and function of music in different societies indicate that it is an important factor in cementing the 'common soul' of a society. This fact leads to at least two general political implications. 1. There must be a guarantee that individuals and groups in society can actively participate in different aspects of music life. 2. There must be possibilities for individuals and groups to maintain traditional activities and create new musical activities that emerge from their cultural needs and everyday conditions.


By Robert M. Elenbaas, Pharm.D., FCCP, and Dennis B. Worthen, Ph.D., Published by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Lenexa, KS, 2009. xiv + 201 p. Price $59.95 (nonmembers); $39.95 (members)

![Figure][1]

This work traces back the birth of clinical pharmacy from the beginning of the


With the proliferation of mobile devices and diverse mobile applications, wireless operators are experiencing phenomenal growth in the demand for mobile services around the world. These demands have led to the technological responses such as the advancement in radio access, coding and modulation schemes as well as spectrum (carrier) aggregation and cognitive radio capabilities. The aspect of spectrum or carrier aggregation uses cognitive radio technology that implements the dynamic spectrum access for spectrum utilization by sensing and using the underutilized spectrum on co-primary basis without interference to the primary users. In this work, an energy-based, non-parametric TVWS spectrum sensing algorithm was implemented in MATLAB environment. The developed sensing algorithm was aimed at finding free TVWS frequency channel(s) that would be used during spectrum aggregation of channels from TVWS and LTE-A spectrums. The chosen free channel would be configured as the component carrier two (CC2) at the configuration management platform of the TVWS eNode B. The result showed the instantaneous TV channels statuses; free, busy and interfered by computing the PSD expressed in dB while the estimated received power level in dBm for free channels was computed for the UHF range from channel 21 through channel 69. The detectable TV signals' threshold value was set at -114 dBm. In the ten simulation five cycles carried out, the developed algorithm instantaneously selected channels: 68,34,48,60 and 28 corresponding to the centre (carrier) frequencies of 850MHz, 578MHz, 690MHz, 786MHz and 530MHz, would be dynamically configured as the component carrier two (CC2) in the TVWS eNode Bs during spectrum aggregation process.


Creating comfortable interior microclimate environment with comparatively lower energy consumption is one of the basic aims in building design. Combined with the comprehensive retrofit design practice of Wuhan construction building, the thesis investigates a set of practical building climatic design method which is based on computer simulation and analysis technology. Meanwhile, this article analyses the climatic design strategies of Wuhan construction building, and provides a references for architects in the conceptual design stage in the future.


We report a case of growth hormone and thyrotropin secreting hormone (GH/TSH) cosecreting pituitary macro-adenoma who was treated by trans-cranial surgery and gamma-knife radio-surgery and had been on somatostatin analogue therapy for four years and then she was diagnosed to have thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC). Following total thyroidectomy, depending on her high insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and normal TSH levels ablation was planned with high dose radioiodine. However, that time recombinant TSH was not available in our country so radio-ablation was performed necessarity. Any enlargement was observed in her residual pituitary tumor size since that time. Now she has been at the three and a half years of TPC follow-up and is free from the disease with unchanged pituitary tumor sizes.


Every day, more and more consumers choose to drink bottled water instead of tap water, since they believe that it is superior in quality. One of the criteria used by European consumers to choose bottled water is the geographical region of the spring. The flavor of the water is an additional factor that influences consumers' choices. As a result, determining the flavor of water is gaining popularity and is thus turning into a prominent field of study. However, studies on the potential environmental factors that affect the sensory characteristics of water (i.e., "terroir" of water) are limited. To this end, we investigated the composition of natural mineral water spring from Mount Smolikas in Greece over a two-year period to find any potential alterations in water composition. The physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, turbidity, color, and total hardness) of the water samples were examined, along with their content in metal ions, inorganic salts (cations and anions), and total organic carbon. Additionally, the water samples were analyzed for their content of off-odor volatile compounds (i.e., 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin) that can be naturally found in water. The study also examined the correlation of climate conditions (accumulated rainfall and mean temperature) with the parameters above using a principal component analysis and a multivariate correlation analysis. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of water samples complied with European regulations. Metals, anions, and cations were all below the corresponding parametric values established by the European Commission. The off-odor organic compounds, 2-methylisoborneol, and geosmin, had average concentrations of 9.4 and 2.7 ng/L, respectively. Chromium and aluminum elevated concentrations might be attributed to specific ores present near the water source, while pH, conductivity, total hardness, nitrates, and off-odor compounds levels could be fluctuated due to local climate conditions. The study revealed a good positive correlation (>0.7) between the quantity of rainfall and the level of potassium cations. Moreover, a strong negative correlation (>0.9) was observed between magnesium cations and the mean temperature of the local area. The study can be used as a benchmark for future studies to determine the terroir of mineral water.


In many regions of the world, the multiple uses of transboundary fresh water have been seen as a critically important component for regional stability. This situation explains why, in many cases, water management has commonly become linked to national security concerns or other issues of a "high politics" nature. But, at what intensity? In search of answers for this question, this research analyzes the case of the River Plate Basin employing Barry Buzan's central concepts of securitization, securitizing actors, referent objects, Regional Security Complex (RSC) and the related concept of Hydropolitical Complex (HC) developed by Michael Schulz as a distinct form of RSC applicable on areas where water-related issues stand out as a salient feature in regional political dynamics.


Residual stress in a ZrO2-Y2O3 ceramic coating resulting from the plasma spraying operation is calculated. The calculations were done using the finite element method. Both thermal and mechanical analysis were performed. The resulting residual stress field was compared to the measurements obtained by Hendricks and McDonald. Reasonable agreement between the predicted and measured moment occurred. However, the resulting stress field is not in pure bending. 14 references.


RUN A FEW WEB SEARCHES FOR the term "cultural turn," and you will begin to grasp the scope of an increasingly viral concept. In Google Books alone, you will find more than 100,000 citations, the bibliographic traces of the concept's extended wandering.1 Switch to the search engine at OCLC WorldCat, ArticleFirst, or ECO, and the numbers become less daunting, somewhere on the order of a few hundred hits. In these more specialized databases, however, the searchable content is limited to titles and abstracts. So what you are really seeing is the initial layers of a much larger conversation: the figurative tip of the bibliographic iceberg.2 What might the iceberg tell us? Most of all, perhaps, it provides a wide-angle view of the concept's current ubiquity. In addition to Victoria Bonnell and Lynn Hunt's 1999 volume Beyond the Cultural Turn, you will find thousands of recent books invoking "cultural turns" in a wide variety of scholarly contexts—from sociology to


Synopsis The isomorphism semigroup S(G) of a group G is the semigroup of isomorphic mappings between subgroups of G, with composition its operation. This paper will show that a periodic abelian group is uniquely determined by its isomorphism semigroup.


ABSTRACT The motivation of this paper is to extend the recent result of the author and his tutor for the solution of the critical semilinear wave equations of the form in four space dimensions to the general kind of quasilinear wave equations in . We will prove that for the compactly supported smooth initial values, the solution must blow up in finite time if the initial data are nonnegative and positive somewhere no matter how small the initial data are, and also we give the sharp lifespan estimate of solutions for the problem. This solves a part of the famous Strauss' conjecture with regard to the general kind of quasilinear wave equations in the case of critical exponent and in four space dimensions. The originality of the paper is the choice of 'rescaled' test function (2.8) (One can refer to Section 2 for details). The divergence form of the nonlinearity provides spatial derivatives to the test functions. It is a special term of the divergence forms, but this is the first attempt to this direction without any non-local term which comes from the derivative loss due to high dimensions. Thanks to the rescaling, spatial derivatives yield smallness of the nonlinearity except for main part among integration by parts in the functional method. It makes also positiveness of the nonlinearity. However, this combination of rescaled test functions and the divergence form of nonlinearities is a new idea.


Speech given at the Salvation Army's Biennial Australia-wide Courts and Prisons Chaplains conference, Sydney, 4th May 2000 by Adam Graycar, Director, Australian Institute of Criminology. This speech is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/


About the Author. Preface. PART I: EARLY MANAGEMENT THOUGHT. Chapter 1. A Prologue to the Past. Chapter 2. Management Before Industrialization. Chapter 3. The Industrial Revolution: Problems and Perspective. Chapter 4. Management Pioneers in the Early Factory. Chapter 5. The Industrial Revolution in the United States. Chapter 6. Industrial Growth and Systematic Management. PART II: THE SCIENNTIFIC MANAGEMENT ERA. Chapter 7. The Advent of Scientific Management. Chapter 8. Spreading the Gospel of Efficiency. Chapter 9. The Human Factor: Preparing the Way. Chapter 10. The Emergence of Management and Organization Theory. Chapter 11. Scientific Management in Theory and Practice. Chapter 12. Scientific Management in Retrospect. PART III: THE SOCIAL PERSON ERA. Chapter 13. The Hawthorne Studies. Chapter 14. The Search for Organization Integration. Chapter 15. People and Organizations. Chapter 16. Organizations and People. Chapter 17. Human Relations in Concept and Practice. Chapter 18. The Social Person Era in Retrospect. PART IV: THE MODERN ERA. Chapter 19. Management Theory and Practice. Chapter 20. Organizational Behavior and Theory. Chapter 21. Science and Systems in Management. Chapter 22. Obligations and Opportunities. Chapter 23. Epilogue. Name Index. Subject Index.


This work investigates a general method of multiband impedance matching using a double-stub tuner (DST) loaded with metamaterial-based electromagnetic bandgap structures (MTM-EBGs). MTM-EBGs are uniplanar and fully printable and can be embedded directly into microstrip (MS) stubs to imbue them with designable electrical lengths at two or more harmonically unrelated frequencies, without increasing the stub footprint. Combinations of these stubs, inspired by the DST, can produce multiband impedance matching to arbitrary, complex, and frequency-dependent loads. A dual-band matching network is first presented with this method, and a general design procedure is developed to match at two desired frequencies while maximizing bandwidth. Matching bandwidths of 44.4% and 22.1% around 2.4 and 5.8 GHz are observed. Next, a tri-band matching network is designed and fabricated for operation at 2.4/3.6/5.8 GHz, again following a general and well-established design procedure and presenting bandwidths of 16.8%/6.6%/18.3% around the three operating frequencies, respectively. The resulting circuits are uniplanar and compact, requiring a similar footprint to that of a single-band DST, and the matching networks are designed to ensure that dissipative losses in the matched bands are minimized. In all cases, measurement results of the uniplanar devices show excellent agreement with simulations.


The conceptual uncertainty which currently plagues the field of delinquency prevention poses a crucial barrier to understanding, planning, and evaluating delinquency prevention programs. "Preventive services," in the broadest sense, describes a myriad of activities, ranging from intensive casework, to group recreational programs, to the installation of street lights. In addition, programs failing under the prevention rubric deal with diverse target populations. Some programs are targeted to youths who have evidenced delinquent behavior; others are focused upon youths who show few signs of future delinquent activity. Most youths approach prevention programs with more than their visible delinquent tendencies or behaviors; in truth, they may bring with them a multitude of problems which may not be so evident, including drug abuse, alcoholism, broken families, and school failure. Unfortunately, the prevention literature often fails to consider the multiple influences on a youth's behavior and the important need for linkages with other service delivery systems. This article discusses several conceptual frameworks for organizing the larger prevention picture, including: (a) the public health model; (b) classification by treatment strategy; (c) conceptualization by theories or crime correlates; and (d) classification by intervention level. Consideration of each model raises several additional issues that are as important as questions pertaining to program policy impact. The final section identifies and discusses sevral strategies for improving the methodology in conducting integrative reviews of program evaluations.


Any form of metaphor is a basic expression of the person's understanding and thinking and the expression of the culture. Basic Theory of analytical methodology of Linguistic analysis the selected method designed ancient history of nomadic Mongolian and literature analyzed examples of metaphor of the Mongolian Secret History. These are only model of the author's world as the examples from human life that define the characteristics of Mongolians.
These metaphors came from the daily life of the nomadic Mongolians and their real world and shows how their thinking transmitted through the metaphor.


We have investigated the homo-DNA templated Staudinger reduction of the profluorophore rhodamine azide and have applied this reaction to the detection of natural DNA with a hybrid homo-DNA/DNA molecular beacon. In this system the sensing and the reporting unit are bioorthogonal to each other which facilitates sequence design and increases fidelity.


Privately owned Nigerian banks hold 94% of banking assets in Nigeria, the world's second largest share of local ownership, and the share had grown over time while it declined around the world. Theoretical explanations for the dominance of local firms related to liabilities of foreignness do not appear to apply to Nigeria banking industry; nor does the absence of pull factors that attract banks to Nigeria. To explain this puzzle we have adopted an exploratory study design, including extensive interviews with local and foreign banks in Nigeria and also examine Nigeria in regional and global perspectives. This exploration suggests that the entrepreneurial spirit of local banks, combined with nationalistic pride, have formed formidable barrier to the entry of foreign banks, deterring their entrance and undermining the market position of the few who entered. Nigeria government had played major role in this development, by instilling governance and ownership standards as well as by market structure and competition that have spurred the development of these capabilities. Such policy role signifies a distinct and unexplored means via which governments affect foreign entry and competitive dynamics after entry. We offer theoretical extensions to accommodate these features in the theory of the MNEs and outline implications for policy and firms. We highlight the merits of studying phenomena that are inconsistent with theories as an opportunity for theory extension and development.


Introduction. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common postoperative complications. The incidence in adult population is 20?30%, and it can be up to 80% in high-risk population such as gynecological and laparoscopic surgeries. The objective of this study is to compare the efficiency of the combination therapy in comparison with monotherapy in the prevention of PONV in gynecological and laparoscopic surgeries. Methods. An observational prospective cohort study was conducted on a sample of 64 patients (32 patients per group) treated postoperatively at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Ward of GH Subotica, in the period from January?March 2017. The anesthesiologist in charge administered the combination of dexasone and metoclopramide or granisetron in monotherapy according to protocol to patients for prevention of PONV. Results. The demographic characteristics of patients are homogenous and show a statistically significant difference only in the characteristics of length of smoker status and maximum intra-abdominal pressure during surgery. The total incidence of postoperative nausea in the fifth, 15th and 60th minute was 15.6%, 17.2% and 18.7% respectively, and in the fourth, eighth, 12th, and 24th postoperative hour it was 12.5%, 7.8%, 10.9%, and 6.2%, respectively. The incidence of postoperative vomiting in the fifth, 15th, and 60th minute was 1.6%, 4.7%, and 4.7%, respectively, and in the fourth, eighth, 12th, and 24th postoperative hour it was 1.6%, 3.2%, 1.6%, and 1.6%, respectively. Conclusion. The study proved that the combination effect of dexasone and metoclopramide is not inferior compared to monotherapy with granisetron.


Introduction B oth Salmonella and Campylobacter are major causes of food-borne disease outbreaks in both the USA and EU. Foodborne outbreaks of Salmonellosis were reported to be responsible for illness in 16.4 and 22.2 cases per 100,000 people in the USA and EU, respectively. In addition, outbreaks caused by Campylobacteriosis were at levels of 14.3 and 55.5 cases per 100,000 people in the US and EU, respectively. For instance, more than one million people are sickened by Salmonella in the United States each year with approximately 200,000 cases arising from poultry sources alone, resulting in an average national cost for food-borne illness of up to US$93.2 billion. Campylobacter caused the largest number of food-borne bacterial illnesses in Denmark in 2014 at 3782 cases. Current gold standards for Salmonella detection and characterisation rely on a series of preand selective enrichment procedures, followed by biochemical and serological confirmation all of which typically requires four to seven days. Rapid methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been commercially available and applied to replace or facilitate conventional microbiological tests. Still, however, alternative techniques such as optical methods are being pursued to characterise pathogens to the serotype level in a reasonably short period of time at reduced costs. Since hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technologies were introduced early 1980s in earth remote sensing, the technique has been applied to many other fields including medical, biological, environmental, food and agricultural areas for research and development and practical uses. In terms of food applications, different HSI platforms have been developed for quality and safety evaluation in food processing. Many researchers have demonstrated that HSI techniques have the potential to evaluate quality and safety in foods in real-time. Our research group in the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA, ARS) in Athens, Georgia has expanded this technique through its application at a microscopic level to detect foodborne pathogenic bacteria in food matrices such as poultry carcass rinsate. This same group has developed an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF)-based hyperspectral microscope imaging (HMI) platform to detect food-borne pathogens at cell level. Since the significance of food-borne pathogens in public health and in food industry products calls for rapid and accurate analytical methods to be used for both detection and classification in routine inspection as well as during a food-borne outbreak, the HMI technique will be useful for food safety research and development.


Ensuring costs reduction and increasing competitiveness and satisfaction of end users are the goals of each participant in the supply chain. Taking into account these goals, the paper proposes methodology for defining the most important criteria for suppliers' evaluation. From a set of twenty established criteria, i.e. four sets of criteria: finances, logistics, quality and communication and business including its sub-criteria, we have allocated the most important ones for supplier selection. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on rough numbers is presented to determine the weight of each evaluation criterion. For the criteria evaluation we have used knowledge from the expert in this field. The efficacy of the proposed evaluation methodology is demonstrated through its application to the company producing metal washers for the automotive industry. Next a sensitivity analysis is carried out in order to show the stability of the model. For checking stability the AHP method in conventional form is used in combination with fuzzy logic.


Cold spraying coating test for H13 steel die Cr-25% Sr-0.5% RE compound powder with different process parameters was carried out. Some tests about the coating thickness, the decrease of the coating porosity and the improvement of the coating bond strength and wear resistance were measured and analyzed. The results show that along with the load temperature increasing from 350 ℃ to 550 ℃, and spraying distance increasing from 15 mm to 30 mm, initial friction coefficient of mold coating maintaines about 0.1. In the stable state, the friction coefficient first decreases, and then increases. The friction life is first prolonged, and then is shortened. The coating thickness increases first and then decreases. The coating porosity first decreases, and then increases. The optimal temperature is about 450 ℃, and the optimal spraying distance is 25 mm.


Human neuroglobin (hNGB) is a recently discovered specific oxygen-binding respiratory protein in human brain. In order to further research its structure and function, hNGB gene was subcloned into express vector pBV221,which analyzed by the BioSun 1.0, then the pBV221-hNGB was transformed into E.coli JM109.It was induced at 42 ℃,then subsequent SDS-PAGE electrophoresis shows that pBV221-hNGB led to overexpression of hNGB. We have established an important foundation for further investigation of relationship between structure and function of hNGB.


CAMPOS, Tatiana do Nascimento, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, July, 2012. Evaluation of Dietetic and Nutritional Adequacy of Adults with Celiac Disease. Advisor: Maria do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio. Co-Advisers: Silvia Eloiza Priore and Andréia Queiroz Ribeiro Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by exposure to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The atrophy of intestinal villous is one of the initial manifestations of the disease, compromising the absorption of nutrients. Other extra-intestinal signs may be present such as neurological and liver disorders, arthritis, infertility, anemia, dermatitis, and osteoporosis. The only treatment established for CD is a gluten-free diet (DLG) for the whole life. The exclusion of gluten helps to recover the damaged mucosa and thus avoid nutritional deficiencies, and to protect against the occurrence of various complications of the disease. However, DLG is considered quite restrictive, eliminating some cereals and derived food (wheat, rye, barley, oats, malt), which can hamper a proper nutritional intake. The aim of this study was to investigate the adequacy of the nutritional status of adults with CD following a gluten free diet, residents in the city of Viçosa. Twentythree adults with CD diagnosed by biopsy, and forty-five healthy individuals participated in this study. We used the food record of 3 non-consecutive days to assess food consumption and to estimate the daily intake of nutrients to compare with the nutritional recommendations (DRI), with the average intake of the control group and with the average consumption of population (POF). Anthropometric measurements were taken, body composition was assessed through DEXA, and blood was collected for biochemical tests. The consumption of fat and cholesterol above recommended levels was observed in the group of celiac patients. A larger proportion of celiac patients compared to healthy individuals did not reach the recommendations of most of the vitamins (vitamin A, E, B1, B2, B3, B6) and calcium. However, the vast majority (> 65%) of celiac patients did not reach the estimated average recommendation for vitamin A, D, E, riboflavin, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium and potassium. Bone mineral density was significantly lower in this group. Thus, following a gluten free diet might contribute to the emergence of specific nutritional deficiencies and excessive intake of lipids,


Various isotopic systems studied in meteorites bear testimony of a nucleosynthetic heterogeneity in solar system bodies. As a first order observation, some systems show an isotopic dichotomy between objects formed in the inner solar system (non-carbonaceous chondrite reservoir) and those formed further out (carbonaceous chondrites reservoir). This can be attributed to the effects of a giant planet like Jupiter (e.g., [1]), although other models do not require a giant planet (e.g., [2]). Here, we use the SPH code PHANTOM [3] with the MULTIGRAIN algorithm [4] to perform 3D gas and dust simulations of protoplanetary disks. They include 17 dust phases comprised of solar system silicate, presolar silicon-carbide, and presolar oxide grains. We use a homogeneous initial disk with or without a Jupiter-like planet. The surface densities were used in mass balance calculations to calculate the distributions of nucleosynthetic compositions across the disk in the different scenarios. The presence of a planet creates a gap with pressure bumps on each side. These features can create changes in grain densities, particularly affecting the larger silicate grains. Our results show that size-and density-sorting generates differences in local abundances of presolar grains that could create isotopic heterogeneities in 54 Cr, 96 Zr, and 50 Ti in the order of those observed in solar system bodies. While the isotopic anomalies are essentially carried by the presolar grains, the final compositions are controlled by dilution with


The present invention discloses a system and method for generating a key based on the key derivation parameters, and a shared secret credential from between the authenticator and the authenticator of the authentication. Key generation information may involve the use of professional, since the key used to generate the key which generated the range of less than the available usage secret credential. Further, the key generation may involve multiple function calls, wherein each call to the function key is generated at least a subset of said key having a key from a previous invocation of the function is less than the allowable range. Generated key signature key can be used to sign the message. Depends on whether messages and / or commit message key used to comply with restrictions, you can take one or more actions.


Cyclopropano[70]fullerenes have been synthesized in the aim of being used as acceptors in blends based on regioregular poly (3,5-Hexylthiophene) RR -P3HT for photovoltaic (PV) plastic cells. These molecules used with RR -P3HT in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) configuration provided interesting characteristics: 1.5% solar conversion efficiency, 9.29 mA/cm 2 current density, 0.51 V open circuit voltage, and 0.34 fill factor. The IPCE spectrum for P3HT: cyclopropano[70]fullerene cells shows a peak around 430 nm with 71% external quantum efficiency. This result justifies the increased current density.


morecommonandless lethal upperrespiratory tract ill-nesses. Somefeatures that are commonlyseenwithotherupperrespiratory tract infections, suchaspharyngitis andrhinorrhea, arerarein this syndrome,however.Followingthe initial nonspecific findings, respiratory symptoms,beginningwithnonproductivecoughandprogressingtoseveredyspnea, developin patients withhantaviral infec-tion. Interstitial pulmonary infiltrates and, in manypatients, pleuraleffusion


The response of the paraffin thickness using the amplitude spectrum of scattered neutron is studied. The experiment device consists of a neutron source of 241Am-Be, a detector of Li -glass and the BH1224 multichannel spectrometer. The results show that there is a good linear relationship between the counting Y and the paraffin thickness D when 0≤D≤54.7 mm. Linear fitting for the front 7 points measured when 0≤D≤54.7 mm is used. The slope is the biggest when r=5.5 cm, and the measuring accuracy of the paraffin thickness is 2.5 mm.


In this thesis, we examine the inertid and electromagnetic properties of matter induced &om a five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein-type extension of General Relativity (referred to as "Induced Matter" theory). The research presented here consists of six exact solutions of the 5D vacuum field equations, representing three different physical configurations, which are analyzed for their inertial and electromagnetic properties (using, for the first time &om within the Induced Matter formalism, a charged, imperfect fluid model) . The first two solutions represent sp herically-symmetric charge distributions, de' scribing what, in the appropriate limit, would be charged 'particles'. The next two solutions represent &ally-symmetric 'magnetized' distributions, describing 'wires' carrying currents with axially-symmetric magnetic fields. The final two solutions are confonnally flat solutions (5D conformally flat and 4D confomdy flat in a 5D manifold) representing cosmolo~cal distributions. (Specifically, their 4D interpretations are that of de Sitter space.) We also correct a previous error made in the analysis of the Liu-Wesson class of 5D charged solutions, recently published in ref. [2]. Specifically, that class of solutions was thought to represent charged radiation, whereas it actually represent s 'nonradiative' fluid. The inertial (and electromagnetic) properties of the LiuWesson class are calculated .'.me for the first time.


Smart speakers have become pervasive in family homes, creating the potential for these devices to influence parent-child dynamics and parenting behaviors. We investigate the impact of introducing a smart speaker to 10 families with children, over four weeks. We use pre- and post- deployment interviews with the whole family and in-home audio capture of parent-child interactions with the smart speaker for our analysis. Despite the smart speaker causing occasional conflict in the home, we observed that parents lever-aged the smart speaker to further parenting goals. We found three forms of influence the smart speaker has on family dynamics: 1) fostering communication, 2) disrupting access, and 3) augmenting parenting. All of these influences arise from a communally accessible, stand-alone voice interface which democratizes family access to technology. We discuss design implications in furthering parenting practices and behaviors as the capabilities of the technology continue to improve.


In this paper, we propose hierarchical inter-domain load balanced QoS routing in a large scale of network. And a scheme of calculating resources' costs for precomputation schemes in hierarchical routing is proposed. and a scheme for selecting a path among multiple precomputed paths is proposed. We also propose a QoS routing scheme for transit and intra traffic in a large scale of domain-based network. For a domain in the network, the routing scheme first precomputes K multiple paths between all pairs of ingress and egress border routers while considering balancing of the expected load then selects paths with the probability of path selection. The routing scheme combines inter and intra domain routings seamlessly and uses the same cost calculation scheme.


Aboriginal elder Lutheran Pastor Peter Bulla being interviewed by journalists after the handover of the Kings Canyon Land Title (Watarrka National Park) or Tempe Downs Station.


Multi-state supernetworks have been expanded in space and time for modeling individual activity-travel scheduling (ATS) behavior. Any path in a time-expanded supernetwork represents an activity-travel pattern (ATP) at a high level of detail. To alleviate the limitation of a deterministic network representation, time uncertainty has been incorporated in multi-state supernetworks. However, the extension unrealistically assumed that all uncertain travel times are time-invariant and spatially independent. In this study, temporal and spatial dependencies among uncertain link travel times are considered in a stochastic time-dependent (STD) context using uncertain support points. ATS under uncertainty is formulated as a path finding problem in a stochastic multi-state supernetwork, given the individual's decision rule, which for illustrative purposes is assumed to be the minimization of expected disutility in this paper. Recursive dynamic programming is applied to find the non-dominated paths, subject to time window constraints at the activity locations.


Information for making curricular decisions come from many sources. One model being that measurable data might secure needed content for determining sequence in the curriculum. Wide access to computer technology and within a testing philosophy, information might well be incorporated from printouts to determine future courses of action. Individual differences need to be provided for in designing the curriculum. The question arises, "Should information come completely from objective sources in making these decisions?" What about daily classroom work of pupils? Daily work of pupils reveals subjective information from the following sources: written work, oral experiences including discussions, quality projects completed, attitudes indicated by pupils such as volunteering to do extra work, and being exceptionally good listeners, among others. There, no doubt, could be a harmony between the objective and subjective facets to make quality decisions pertaining to pupil progress. ********** Much is written on state standards and high expectations for pupils to achieve. The major curriculum area to receive attention here is reading, since all pupils on the third grade level are to be able to read 3rd grade materials, according to the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) act of 2002. The objectives are to be determined on the state level such as under the supervision of the state department of education. With all pupils in a state being tested in grades three through eight, beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, according to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, machine scoring is necessary. Data from computer point outs may then provide information for decision making pertaining to teaching pupils. Data driven decisions will be compared with pupils/teachers deciding the scope and sequence of reading instruction, as indicated in portfolio development (See Education Week, January 10, 2002). Scope in the Teaching of Reading Scope answers the question, "What should be taught in reading?" The written objectives on the state level then answers the question pertaining to what is to be taught in the reading curriculum. The results pertain to objectives which are available to classroom teachers and provide the scope or breadth of content/skills to be taught. Tests to measure pupil achievement are also written on the state level. To be of good quality, tests need to be valid. Teachers then need to teach what is written in the state mandated set of objectives. Little leeway is provided for teacher selection of objectives if the state mandated ends are numerous in number and are required teaching for pupil attainment. In addition to validity, the tests need to measure consistently or in a reliable manner. In pilot studies made of the state mandated tests, reliability figures need to be high, be it test/retest, split half, and/or alternative forms. If pupil A for example, measures on the seventieth percentile the first time and the twentieth percentile the second time on the same state mandated test, confusing results are in evidence! The reader of the test data from the printout has little or nothing to go by when attempting to notice a pupil's achievement. Certainly, on a test, there should be consistent test results from pupil A and others when test/retest reliability is in evidence. If data from tests are to be used in decision making, then valid and reliable tests need to be written and in the offing (Ediger, 2002, 44-49). Which decisions will need to be made from data driven test results? If pupils are tested annually in grades 3-8, then data from grade three will determine if the pupil is to be promoted to grade four, and for successive grades. The test then is to measure if the pupil in grade three, for example, has met grade level requirements. If not, he/she may be required to be tutored before/after school, attend summer school, and/or repeat the grade. So far, the mandates have not been that specific, but the chances are there will be tightening up of state mandated standards for pupils to achieve. …


Multi-gate architectures are now considered as mandatory to overcome scaling issues for sub-32nm technology nodes as they offer an optimal electrostatic channel control (1-2). Finfet and Trigate are commonly fabricated in a quasi-standard SOI process and they have proven excellent performance. However, planar Double Gate transistors (DG MOSFETs) have also demonstrated their ability to exhibit very good characteristics for short gate lengths (3-4). This paper demonstrates the interest of planar DG MOSFETs and presents recent results obtained on such planar DG MOSFETs with gate length down to 10nm fabricated within a bonding based process.


This paper presents a technique for obtaining wide gain-bandwidth from an ultrathin leaky wave-based high impedance surface (HIS) antenna. By properly selecting multiple feed locations over a linear dogbone-shaped patch array antenna, its gain bandwidth is maximized. Dogbone-shaped patches distributed along the surface of the grounded substrate are able to support a leaky wave. The HIS made of dogbone-shaped patches is directly used as radiator. Different feed locations are investigated and a wide gain-bandwidth of 5.8 GHz or 29.89% is observed with the use of multipoint excitation.


We report the first experimental observation of nonlinear propagation effects in fiber Bragg gratings, resulting in nonlinear optical pulse compression and soliton propagation. The solitons occur at frequencies near the photonic band gap of the grating; they are due to a combination of the negative dispersion of the grating, which dominates the material dispersion, and self-phase modulation. The solitons propagate at velocities well below the speed of light in the uniform medium.


The aim of this retrospective multicenter observational study is to test the feasibility and safety of a combined extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) plus renal replacement therapy (RRT) system to use an ultraprotective ventilator setting while maintaining (1) an effective support of renal function and (2) values of pH within the physiologic limits in a cohort of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Among COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of 9 participating hospitals, 27 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation undergoing ECCO2R-plus-RRT treatment were included in the analysis. The treatment allowed to reduce VT from 6.0 ± 0.6 mL/kg at baseline to 4.8 ± 0.8, 4.6 ± 1.0, and 4.3 ± 0.3 mL/kg, driving pressure (ΔP) from 19.8 ± 2.5 cm H2O to 14.8 ± 3.6, 14.38 ± 4.1 and 10.2 ± 1.6 cm H2O after 24 hours, 48 hours, and at discontinuation of ECCO2R-plus-RRT (T3), respectively (p < 0.001). PaCO2 and pH remained stable. Plasma creatinine decreased over the study period from 3.30 ± 1.27 to 1.90 ± 1.30 and 1.27 ± 0.90 mg/dL after 24 and 48 hours of treatment, respectively (p < 0.01). No patient-related events associated with the extracorporeal system were reported. These data show that in patients with COVID-19–induced ARDS and AKI, ECCO2R-plus-RRT is effective in allowing ultraprotective ventilator settings while maintaining an effective support of renal function and values of pH within physiologic limits.


Three simple, accurate, and sensitive spectrophotometric methods (A, B and C) have been described for the indirect assay of diltiazem hydrochloride (DIL.HCl), either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. The first method (A) is based on the oxidation of DIL.HCl by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and determination of unconsumed NBS by measuring the decrease in absorbance of amaranth dye (AM) at a suitable λmax=521 nm. Other methods (B) and (C) involve the addition of excess cerric ammonium sulfate (CAS) and subsequent determination of the unconsumed oxidant by a decrease in the red color of chromotrope 2R (C2R) at a suitable λmax=528 nm or a decrease in the orange-pink color of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) at λmax=525 nm, respectively. Regression analysis of Beer-Lambert plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 3.0–9.0, 3.5–7.0 and 3.5–6.3 μg ml−1 for methods A, B and C, respectively. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell's sensitivity, detection and quantification limits were calculated. The proposed methods have been applied successfully for the analysis of the drug in its pure form and its dosage form. No interference was observed from a common pharmaceutical adjuvant. Statistical comparison of the results with the reference method shows excellent agreement and indicates no significant difference in accuracy and precision.


Simple Summary COVID-19 is the disease caused by a coronavirus: SARS-CoV-2. The disease was declared by WHO in March 2020 as a pandemic and is still affecting countries around the world. Although considered a human disease, it is thought to have its origins in bats, and transmitted to humans potentially through an intermediate animal. What is not fully understood is the likelihood of the virus transmitting back to animal populations, either to companion or wild animals. For the virus to enter host cells, it needs to interact with particular proteins on the cell surface. Here we review the susceptibility of animals to the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the comparison of proteins between animals and humans. The most studied is the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2), which has been used to rank the viral susceptibility of a range of vertebrates. Here, we also assess three other proteins. Of these, TMPRSS2 may be helpful in determining susceptibility, whereas the other two would appear to be of limited use. We propose that future work should examine changes seen in these proteins which alter the ease by which the virus can enter cells. This type of analysis may contribute limited evidence in predicting if animals are safe from such viruses and may help to guide future welfare concerns. Abstract COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a world-wide problem for the human population. It is known that some animal species, such as mink, can become infected and transmit the virus. However, the susceptibility of most animals is not known. Here, we review the use of sequence analysis of the proteins which are known to interact with SARS-CoV-2 as a way to estimate an animal's susceptibility. Although most such work concentrates on the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2), here TMPRSS2 (Transmembrane Serine Protease 2), neuropilin-1 and furin are also considered. Polymorphisms, especially ones which are known to alter viral/host interactions are also discussed. Analysis of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein sequences across species suggests this approach may be of some utility in predicting susceptibility; however, this analysis fails to highlight some susceptible animals such as mink. However, combined with observational data which emerges over time about which animals actually become infected, this may, in the future, be a useful tool to assist the management of risks associated with human/animal contact and support conservation and animal welfare measures.


In this contribution a vectorial channel sounder with multiple transmitting antennas and one receiving antenna is presented. This channel sounder characterizes time variant propagation channels providing a measure of how wave propagation deviates from ideal free space propagation. In particular, it quantifies additional amplitude modulation characteristics in a multipath environment as well as a frequency modulation due to moving scatterers in the propagation path. Moreover, this vectorial channel sounder distinguishes properties of a propagation that depend on emitting antennas with different characteristics, such as polarization, location and emitting directions. This paper focusses on coding and detection algorithms of individual timing schemes applied to emitting antennas allowing a vectorial channel sounding without any synchronization. A reduction of the required sample rate is achieved by a down conversion of the channel's RF to an intermediate frequency. A typical application is the measurement of narrowband multipath propagation channels of navigation systems. As an example a multipath environment with a miniaturized rotating wind turbine is measured.


This paper describes research into determining the 3D position of a flow follower in a confined space. The flow follower is able to transmit ultrasonic signals to receivers that are fixed to the wall of the vessel. A key challenge is to accurately determine the location of the flow follower. Transducers must be small, low power and low cost. The present work explores modifications to the Time Difference of Arrival algorithm. The results will demonstrate how through modifications the centre of the pill can be located from spatially separated transmitters and how the problems which arise due to rotation of the follower can be overcome using transmitters with unique identifying codes.


It has been suggested that dopamine derived from exogenous levo- dopa may not follow vesicular dynamics in Parkinson's disease (PD). Using a novel PET method based on the sensitivity of ( 11 C)-dihydrotetrabenazine (DTBZ) binding to changes in vesicular dopamine levels, we show here that striatal ( 11 C)-DTBZ binding decreases after levodopa administration in advanced PD, likely reflecting an increase in vesicular dopamine levels. Endogenous dopamine and exogenously derived dopa- mine seem to follow the same vesicular dynamics. Synapse 63:713-716, 2009. V C 2009


Abstract.  1. Patterns of simuliid species richness were examined over a variety of scales at 532 stream sites in the Nearctic (394) and Neotropical (138) regions. In Nearctic streams, species richness of immature blackflies both within and across ecoregions and over two seasons was examined. Stream variables at each site included seston, width, depth, velocity, discharge, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, dominant streambed‐particle size, canopy cover, and riparian vegetation. These variables were subjected to a principal component analysis and derived principal components were related back to richness, using regression analysis. At the level of the stream reach, richness was not highly correlated with single‐point measurements of stream conditions.


In 2005, Stephanie L. Kent and I published an article in this journal on the relationship between racial threat and police strength in large U.S. cities (Kent and Jacobs, 2005). The results were based on two-way fixed-effects pooled time-series analysis of these cities in 1980, 1990, and 2000. When another graduate student recently reexamined this data, he found a serous coding error and a few less critical variable discrepancies that may be attributable to reporting agency data modifications, which occurred after these data originally were collected. This reanalysis shows the results when these differences and a more serious error are rectified..... ....The main theoretical implications of the prior analysis (Kent and Jacobs, 2005) persist. The new results continue to suggest that enhanced Black threat produces larger police forces. The findings again show that the effects of racial threat increased from 1980 to 2000 (as a Wald test indicates that the three coefficients on race differ significantly from one another). In addition to the many other findings with identical theoretical implications, the corrected model continues to suggest that municipalities with a city manager have fewer police officers relative to their population. This is so probably because, in contrast to mayors who face elections, these unelected officials can better resist public crime panics and the resultant pressure to hire additional police officers. The corrected results suggest that the presence of a city manager reduces sworn officer rates by approximately 9.2 percent. This point estimate is more plausible than the 21 percent estimate reported in the original study. Language: en


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze important theoretical work conducted in the research streams of co-opetition and value creation. While innovation is acknowledged as a desirable and empirically verified outcome of co-opetition between firms, academic research has not systematically examined value creation outcomes of intra-firm co-opetition. This study aims to explore the nature of co-opetitive relationships within the firm. Processes of knowledge creation, differentiation and evolution are presented in the paper. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines and compares co-opetitive dynamics in different contexts, by adopting a multi-level approach to help understand and analyze the complex phenomenon of intra-organizational co-opetition. Value creation in an ecology perspective is discussed to enhance the conceptualization of the Quintuple Helix. Findings – This paper highlights the role of knowledge differentiation as a driver of value creation. In particular, intra-firm co-opetiti...


With the development of science and technology,types and levels of equipments in universities have been increased and updated to a large extent.The key to ensuring their greatest application in teaching and research is to design and construct an ensuring system for equipment operation and maintenance services.To construct a new ensuring system,attention should be paid to the building of a maintenance team,a system of information resources,guarantee of maintenance fee and establishment of a maintenance system.


Land use types and anthropogenic activities represent considerable threats to groundwater pollution. To effectively monitor the groundwater quality, it is vital to measure pollution levels before they become severe. In our research area, located in Gilgit Baltistan in northern Pakistan, groundwater supplies are diminishing due to urban sprawl. In this study, we used a GIS-based DRASTIC model (Depth to water, Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of the vadose zone, Hydraulic conductivity) to analyze the area's hydrological attributes to assess the groundwater susceptibility to pollution. Considering the importance of anthropogenic activities, this research primarily utilizes an adjusted DRASTIC model called DRASTICA, which incorporates anthropogenic impact as a parameter in the model. The resulting map, which depicts vulnerability to groundwater contamination, reveals that 19% of the study area is classed as having high vulnerability, 42% has moderate vulnerability, 37% has low vulnerability, and 2% has very low vulnerability to groundwater contamination. The adopted validation process (nitrate parameter of water quality) revealed that the suggested DRASTICA model achieved better results than the established DRASTIC model in a built-up environment. We used the nitrate concentration in groundwater to verify the formulated results, and the single parameter sensitivity analysis and map removal sensitivity analysis to analyze the model sensitivity. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the groundwater vulnerability to pollution is largely influenced by anthropogenic impact and depth to the water table, thereby suggesting that anthropogenic impact must be explicitly tackled in such studies. The groundwater zones exposed to anthropogenic pollution can be better classified with the help of the proposed DRASTICA model, particularly in and around built-up environments. The responsible authorities can use this groundwater contamination data as an early warning sign, so they can take practical actions to avoid extra pressure on this vital resource.


This chapter makes this argument that the EU's narrow, security-based, approach does not succeed in developing a comprehensive migration policy, and neither has it addressed the human issues arising from a crisis such as that currently being seen in the Mediterranean, It does so in three parts. It, first of all, considers the longstanding security focus of the EU in relation to migration and the more recent attempt at moving towards a 'comprehensive' approach. It then, secondly, critiques this approach through an examination of the EU's response through utilising crisis management operations under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), in particular the EUNAVFOR Med operation. This contribution argues that utilising military means in order to address a humanitarian question is problematic and the expansion of the EUNAVFOR Med operation in terms of its cooperation with the Libyan authorities shows a further focus on security in place of the apparent 'comprehensive' approach here. The existing approach shows little prospect of success and is also now giving rise to increased risk to individuals caught up in this crisis; rather than finding their way to safety, these people are finding themselves in equally dangerous situations. The chapter finally considers the continuing problems and the overall prospects for addressing these issues and developing a renewed, truly comprehensive approach.


Effectively selling products online is a challenging task. Today's product domains often contain a dizzying variety of brands and models with highly complex sets of characteristics. This paper addresses the problem of supporting product search and selection in domains containing large numbers of alternatives with complex sets of features. A number of online shopping websites provide product choice assistance by making direct use of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT). While the MAUT approach is appealing due to its solid theoretical foundations, there are several reasons that it does not fit well with people's decision making behavior.This paper presents an approach designed to better fit with people's natural decision making process. The system is called VMAP for Visualizing Multi-Attribute Preferences. VMAP provides on one screen both a multi-attribute preference tool (MAP-tool) and a product visualization tool (V-tool). The product visualization tool displays the set of available products, with each product displayed as a point in a 3D attribute space. By viewing the product space, users can gain an overview of the range of available products, as well as an understanding of the relationships between their attributes. The MAP-tool integrates expression of preferences and filter conditions, which are then immediately reflected in the V-tool display. In this way, the user can immediately see the consequences of his expressed preferences on the product space.The VMAP system is evaluated on a number of factors by comparing users' subjective ratings of the system to those of a more traditional MAUT product selection tool. The results show that while VMAP is somewhat more difficult to use than a traditional MAUT product selection tool, it provides better flexibility, provides the ability to more effectively explore the product domain, and produces more confidence in the selected product.


Over two decades, accumulated observations and experiments showing that certain non-biological sounds may attract rabid bats led to exploitation of tthis behavior to capture rabies-infected bats. The exaggerated perception of sound was targeted as a stimulus to elicit attacks on sound sources attached to traps. Investigations on bats were carried out in California to explore the potential for selectively removing rabies-infected animals from environments shared with humans. Canyon bats (Parastrellus hesperus) were the focus because that species is the most common laboratorydiagnosed rabid-bat involved in attacks on people or animals in California. Sound sources were positioned behind the capturing wires of harp traps, and the traps were installed in desert areas where canyon bats were known to be abundant. Traps were successful when operated during both nighttime and daytime. A total of 101 rabid canyon bats and 15 rabid bats of six other species were captured during operation of these traps. The proportion of rabid bats caught with this technique far exceeded those achieved by use of nonselective means such as mist nets (0.5%) or harp traps without sound lures (0%). This technique may be useful for the collection rabies-infected bats and possibly other carnivores, may be useful as an adjunct to reduce risk of human exposure, and could help advance our understanding of the physiological effects of lyssa-viruses.


Strengthening the role of renewable energy sources for the supply of electric energy, wind energy is gaining increasing importance. The doubly-fed induction generator as preferred generator type combines several advantages of low cost, high efficiency and variable speed in a wide range. However, an appropriate control for its complex structure is essential for an efficient performance. Therefore, this paper presents a control design and its validation through simulative as well as experimental investigations. With a special regard on an alternative start-up procedure, the drive train accelerates completely independent of the wind rotor emulator and allows the validation of the designed control after a transition to the normal operation mode.


The chip package interaction (CPI) induced by the mismatch in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between chip and package in a flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) and its impacts on the mechanical reliability of Cu/ultra low-k interconnect were investigated using finite element analysis (FEA). 3D and 2D multi-level sub-modeling technique was used to link the deformation from the package level to the interconnect level. The energy release rate (ERR) at the critical interface in interconnect structures was calculated using a modified virtual crack closure technique to analyze the impact of CPI on the reliability. First, the CPI in a four metal-layer interconnect model was investigated. The ERR at upper layer was higher than that at the lower layer, when the same low-k ILD is used for all layers. However, the ERR at M3 interface becomes 35% higher than the M4 level when TEOS is used in the M4 level. The interconnect design and the mechanical properties of ILD were found to be important to control CPI. Then, the ERR dependence on the crack length was analyzed using seven and nine metal-layer interconnect model. The ERR was found to increase with the crack length which indicates that the crack will keep growing once it propagate.


regression model was used to adjust the association between FO and the outcome variables mean SOFA score and 28-day mortality for confounding factors. Furthermore, to account for the longitudinal character of the daily SOFA scores an additional linear mixed model analysis was performed to compare the daily mean SOFA scores between the FO groups. Results : A total of 288 patients met the inclusion criteria and were assigned into FO and no FO groups. FO occurred in 30,6% of the patients. Moderate FO occurred more frequently in comparison to severe FO (27,1% vs 6,9%). Cumulative fluid intake at day 5 was higher in the FO group (8649 ml vs. 1998 ml; p = <0,001). Also, the mean admission bodyweight was lower in the FO group (84 kg vs 75,5 kg; p = <0,001) [table 1]. In multivariate regression analysis FO was associated with a higher mean SOFA score (2,48; 95% CI [1,76-3,20]; p = <0,001) [table 2]. However, the time course (steepness) of these SOFA scores between the FO and no FO group did not differ significantly [figure 1]. Lastly, multivariate analysis revealed that FO was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality (OR = 1,98; 95% CI [1,02-3,82]; p = 0,043) [table 2]. Conclusions : FO occurred in 30,6% of patients during the 5 first days of ICU admission. In most patients the FO was categorized as moderate. FO was independently associated with a higher mean SOFA score and increased 28-day mortality. The time course of these SOFA scores, however, did not differ significantly. The difference in mean admission weight between FO groups highlighted the importance of bodyweight-based fluid prescription. A prospective study to evaluate this strategy is required to translate evidences into clinical practice.


Infected aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence accounting for 2.6% of described aneurysms. Staphylococcus species and Salmonella species are the most frequently isolated microbes, with Clostridium septicum being decidedly less commonly detected. It is well documented that C. septicum bacteremia in the presence of an infected aneurysm is strongly associated with gastrointestinal cancer, particularly colorectal adenocarcinoma. Although blood cultures were repeatedly negative, a left pleural effusion culture grewC. septicum. The patient was treated with an endovascular prosthesis and prolonged antibiotic therapy including lifelong suppression. Serial abdominal computed tomographic scanswith contrast displayed an enlarging appendiceal lesion that was described as amucocele. Surgical histopathology revealed an invasive moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. This case highlights both the association of C. septicum with malignancy and the utility of pleural effusion culture in the presence of culture-negative infected aortic aneurysm.


The essential oil of Anethum graveolensL. was obtained from the aerial parts by hydrodistillation. Its comp o- sition was analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirteen components were identified representing 99.6% of the total oil composition. The major components were carvone (51.7%), trans- dihydrocarvone (14.7%), dill ether (13.2%), α-phellandrene (8.1%) and limonene (6.9%). The cytotoxicity of the oil was tested against HeLa, Caco-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines: IC50 values were 93 μg/mL for HeLa, 216 μg/mL for Caco-2, and 67 μg/mL for MCF-7 cell lines. Anethum graveolensessential oil was active in the brine shrimp lethality test (LC 50 = 15.9 ± 2.3 μg/mL), but showed only marginal antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC = 625 μg/mL). In addition, the ethnopharmacological uses of Anethum graveolensfrom difference geographical locations have been su m- marized.


This study presents a novel 4-DOF two-limb gripper mechanism with a simple design that offers high adaptability for different objects. The mechanism integrates a three-finger end effector and employs a 2-DOF driving system in both serial kinematic chains mounted on the base, addressing performance problems caused by moving actuators. First, the architecture of the gripper mechanism is described, and its mobility is verified. Next, the inverse and forward kinematic problems are solved, and the Jacobian matrix is derived to analyze the singularity conditions. The inverse and forward singularity surfaces are plotted. The workspace is investigated using a search method, and two indices, manipulability and dexterity, are studied. The proposed manipulator's parameters are optimized for improved dexterity. The novel gripper mechanism has high potential for grasping different types of parts within a large workspace, making it a valuable addition to the field of robotics.


Nothing might seem farther apart than the self-enclosed space of a dusty archive and the image of a pilgrim journeying from place to place towards an ever-shifting horizon. And yet, Scott Fitzgerald Johnson tells us, in Late Antiquity pilgrim and archive were not antonyms, but synonyms, if only metaphorically. Both images, according to J., symbolize the way in which knowledge was collected and organized. More specifically, they express that painstaking 'aesthetics of encyclopaedism' so characteristic of much of late antique literary production, whereby the world itself was imagined and used as 'a symbolic container for many types of knowledge' (p. 1). Literary Territories can be situated within a fast-growing literature on perceptions of space and the geographical imagination in the pre-modern world. While over the past decade the literary territories of classical Greece and Rome have been accurately surveyed (see, for example, Purves 2010; Thalmann 2011; and de Jong 2012, among others) and both western and Byzantine medieval geographical imaginations are being increasingly mapped out (see, for example, Lilley 2013; Angelov et al. 2013; Nielsson and Veikou 2021), Late Antiquity has remained largely uncharted terrain. J.'s book thus brings a welcome and much needed contribution to the burgeoning field of the (pre-modern) spatial humanities. In the words of the author, Literary Territories attempts to build bridges between 'a familiar Greco-Roman culture' and 'the often surprising and exotic worlds of Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages' (p. 136). This is achieved through the exploration of continuities (and discontinuities) of the geographical/archival metaphor as a way for organizing knowledge in different literary genres—from early geographical writing to pilgrim and hagiographical accounts. Spanning seven centuries of human history (2-9 c. CE), multiple cultures and languages (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Syriac), and a geographical area stretching all the way from Europe through modern Iraq, the book nonetheless does much more than providing a literary bridge between


The M sequences coded by a set of line codes, referred to as FM family codes, have been proposed by the authors. They are redefined as a modified version of the conventional antisymmetric M sequences from the viewpoint of autocorrelation property in this paper. A parameter 6 I is introduced in the modification. The coding rules of the proposed sequences referred to as the modiI fied antisymmetric (mod-AS) M-sequences are similar to the conventional partial response (PR) codI (6-l)O. to be desirable for the asynchronous DS/SSMA systems. Recently, Tsuzuki et al. found that M se uences coded by several different FM family code~4], i.e. a family of binary line codes with a 112 code rate, could provide not only the DC free property but also their cross-correlation properties being better than those of non-coded M-sequences with almost the same periods[5][6]. For simplicity, we refer to these coded M-sequences as the FM coded M-sequences. Nevertheless. since the number of seauences with the same period,'i.e. the "family size", is limited to three, ing of PR(110,01. . 0, -11, and the auto-correlati the of simultaneous users for asynchronous property is similar to that of the conventional PR DS/SSMA systems is also limited to three at the coding of class V or its modified versions. The specmmimum. Also the varieties of the spectral distritral distributions of the mod-AS M-sequences are DC bution's shapes are limited to two at the ma*mum. free and can be easily controlled by the parameter 6. In this paper, we show that FM coded seThe cross-correlation properties of the mod-AS Mquenees are equivalent to versions of the sequences are examined from the viewpoint of bit erconventional antisymmetric M sequences[8] [9] from ror rate performance of an asynchrOnouJ DS/SSMA the viewpoint of the auto-correlation property. The and be better than modification contributes to increase the number of non-cOded sequences but the proposed simultaneous users. Next we show that the FM coded M sequences. key words: spread spectrum, asynchronous fied antisymmetric M sequences provide better crosscorrelation properties compared to those of not only DS/SSMA, sequences> line codes, partial non-coded M sequences but the aheady proposed FM response coding coded M sequences from the viewpoint of their bit error rate (BER) performances of an asynchronous DS/SSMA system.


Using ginger extract as the main raw material,the extract of tea and eleocharis tuberosa peel,citric acid and ascorbic acid as compounded antioxidants,antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli were described and compared.The components of ginger extract with highest antibacterial activity as well as the relationship between antibacterial activity and thermal stability,content of flavonoids were analysed.The results showed that ginger extraction had flavonoids when concentrations were same.The antibacterial effect of two components mixture was better than the single component ginger extraction.The best two compositions: ginger extraction + citric acid,and the best of weight proportion: ginger extract∶citric acid was 11∶9;there is no obvious correlativity between flavonoids content and the antibacterial effect;after the heating treatment,antibacterial activity of ginger composite antioxidants had no obvious changes.


Colleges, universities, and research institutions are important innovators and partners in many large landscape conservation initiatives. Students are essential but often under-recognized constituents in these endeavors. A conference on Students as Catalysts for Large landscape Conservation was held in 2013 at Colby College to explore this topic. Participants came from 12 states, 3 countries, and 19 institutions. This paper summarizes insights from the conference and associated meetings of the Conservation Catalyst Network, including how and why students engage in large landscape conservation, benefits to students and practitioners, and remaining challenges. Land conservation and policy is replete with legacies of innovative and energetic students. The Colby Conference highlighted how students today continue this tradition. Momentum is building around the idea of education and research institutions as important conservation partners and drivers. Extraordinary opportunities remain to harness the creative and passionate power of students to catalyze conservation nationally and globally.


dince the antimilitarism of the late ties for advancement, the variety of 1960s has largely subsided in high tasks in the daily work, and the overall schools and colleges, large numbers of quality of life that can be enjoyed in youth are considering career oppora military-service career are all typical tunities in the military service. Since of the considerations that students are June 23, 1973, when the draft was expressing during counseling sessions terminated, the armed services have in high schools across America, relied entirely on volunteers, and Counselors and their clients can recent reports indicate that the needed easily obtain information about mili numbers have been obtained (Janowitz tary-service careers from local recruit 1975; "Volunteer Armed Forces . . ." ers. Most of this information is 1975). U.S. News and World Report accurate, and all of it is aimed at (May 3, 1976, p. 35) noted that "so attracting healthy, able young people significantly have the attitudes of into the volunteer armed forces. Does young people changed toward the milithe counselor have some responsibility tary that concern over whether an allfor helping students to evaluate and volunteer Army would work seems to compare critically all of the military be diminishing." career information available? How does Some of young people's interest in the counselor assist the client with military careers may be attributed to value problems associated with killing the current recession that has produced others in the line of duty—a conflict high unemployment rates and dried up that will surely arise as the military many traditional sources of work for career information is studied and as young people without technical skills. similated into clients' value systems? Perhaps some of this interest is little more than adolescent attraction to the


In recent years, opioids have been widely used in the field of analgesia treatment, and they are irreplaceable in some aspects. However, when opioids are effective, they can suppress the human immune system to some extent and are addictive. The overuse of opioids will seriously affect our social stability. In the behavior of transmission model, the dynamic model of many nodes are based on average method, the differential equation based on the mean field theory to analyze propagation behavior, it is difficult to reflect the status and evolution of each node in the network situation, cellular automata can effectively solve this problem, so we use cellular automata as a simulation system, transmission rules, based on the SIS model combining both drug state propagation prediction model is established. Considering that the traditional SIS model is unable to evaluate the degree of propagation (the number of drug propagation) of each node, we used the Support Vector Regression (SVR) model to predict the number of propagation of each node in the network. SVR model has the ability to deal with nonlinear multi-dimensional small samples, which has a good effect on the nonlinear regression prediction of time series, and provides a new choice for the prediction of opioid prevalence.


In low-temperature drying, a high drying rate has been found to be adequate for silver birch (Betula pendula) and European white birch (B. pubescens) timber as far as wood colour is concerned. During high-temperature drying, however, birch timber darkens significantly if steam is used as the drying medium. The objective of this research was to study the effects of drying force (wet-bulb depression), timber thickness, and initial moisture content on the color of high-temperature-dried birch wood. The reflectance spectrum of wood was measured and transformed to the CIEL*a*b* color scale. The increase in drying force increased the lightness and decreased the redness and the yellowness of wood. At the same time, the difference in color between the surface layer and the interior of boards increased. Increase in thickness and in initial moisture content increased the difference in color between the surface and the interior of boards. Pretreatment of timber with water soaking decreased the difference in color between the surface layer and the interior of boards when low drying force was used, but this difference was increased when high drying force was used.


This study was conducted to study the spatial variability of phosphorus, estimating it through cokriging taking as covariables the size fractions of soil. The study was conducted at the experimental farm INCAPER-ES. The soil was sampled in the canopy projection of culture and depth of 0-0.20 meters in a n irregular mesh with 109 points. The data were initially submitted to a descriptive analysis and correlation. Through geostatistics was made the adjustment of the variograms. The P showed significant correlation with the sand and clay fractions indicating that areas with higher concentrations of clay have lower availability of this nutrient. Both fractions have equal performance as co-variable in the estimate of the levels of P in the soil.


Introduction. The control device is one of the most important blocks of any digital system. The main function of the control device is to coordinate the interaction of the remaining units of the system. Therefore, the characteristics of the control device circuit have a significant impact on the quality of the overall system.
To represent the law of functioning of the control device, the models of the microprogrammed automaton (MPA) by Moore and Mealy are used. When synthesizing MPA circuits, it is necessary to solve a number of optimization problems: reducing hardware costs, increasing performance, minimizing power consumption, and jointly optimizing hardware-time characteristics. Methods for solving these problems largely depend on the elemental basis used. Currently, one of the main bases in which modern digital systems are implemented is the FPGA.
The main blocks in the FPGA are configurable logic blocks, a programmable interconnect matrix, a timing tree, and programmable inputs and outputs. To implement MPA schemes, two types of configurable logic blocks can be used: tabular logic elements (TLE) and built-in memory blocks (VBP), which have the property of reconfiguration. However, VBPs are widely used to implement various operating blocks of digital systems. Therefore, the controller circuit designer can use a limited number of such memory blocks.
Purpose of the article. The article deals with the issues of MPA synthesis when there are a limited number of "free" blocks of EBP. In this case, the microprogram automaton circuit is represented by a network consisting of VBP and TLE blocks. A method for the synthesis of a microprogram automaton with optimization of the number of TLEs is proposed when only one VBP can be used in the microprogram automaton circuit.
The proposed method is based on the use of a built-in memory block that performs the replacement of input variables and the coding of the automaton outputs.
Results. Studies of the effectiveness of the proposed method were carried out on standard machines. FPGAs of the Virtex-7 family from Xilinx were used as the elemental basis. To implement the proposed MPA, the Vivado package was used. The results of the research showed that the use of the VBP block made it possible to reduce the number of SLE blocks by an average of 14 % – 18 % compared to schemes consisting only of SLE. For the Virtex-7 family FPGA, the number of TLE inputs Io= 6 was sufficient for a single-level implementation of the output system.
Conclusions. The effectiveness of the proposed method makes it possible to recommend it for use in the synthesis of microprogram automata under conditions of an extremely limited number of BVPs. Keywords: Mealy automaton, synthesis, coding of inputs, coding of sets of outputs.


Ninety-six high-achieving fourth-graders performed a memory task before which either positive or negative expectancy statements were made by an adult and after which either positive or negative feedback statements were given. The resulting dissonant or consonant expectancy-feedback combinations were delivered over a four-day period. Results indicated that for high IQ children, performance was higher for those given discrepant rather than consonant combinations of expectancy-feedback statements. However, for low IQ children, performance was higher when given negative rather than positive feedback regardless of expectancy. The results are discussed in light of an uncertainty theory of motivation and arousal.


PURPOSE: A stator core unit is provided to slidingly couple the slot of each yoke unit, thereby easily assembling the yokes. CONSTITUTION: A stator core unit includes multiple unit yokes(430), multiple fixed pins(480), a housing, and a movement preventing part. A yoke part is divided into yokes, and the yokes are circumferentially placed to be adjacent to one another. The fixed pins are fixed to the housing. The housing supports the yoke part. The movement preventing part has multiple pin holes. The yoke includes a first protrusive rib(460) and a second protrusive rib(470).


Undergraduate training of student nurses at each UK higher education institution (HEI) consists of a network of modules interwoven in subjects culminating in a well validated program preparing student nurses to be both competent and confident in their care delivery (Price & McAlinden, 2018; Nursing and Midwifery Council UK, 2018). Pre-registration nursing programs are mostly designed to start with the development of the infant leading to the critically ill child with reference to developing a reasonable understanding in mental and emotional health at some point over the course delivery. The complexities of caring for children require nurses who are fully conversant with the unique needs of this client group. Yet the most emotive and sensitive issues that influence children's emotional wellbeing remain somewhat understudied within pre-registration nursing due to the challenging nature of the subjects and emotional impact on students learning in the classroom (Mills et al., 2021). Research informs us that young people are willing to engage in understanding much more about their mental health and emotional wellbeing (Omari et al., 2019) despite stigma and discrimination in society. Yet many health-care professionals require support in having confidence in providing a non-judgmental service that is both empathetic and practical (Trainor, 2020). Discrimination remains particularly prevalent toward young people expressing themselves as transgender or non-binary, a minority group whose characteristics and needs (Gender Recognition Act, 2004) should be understood, as well as the mental health needs of Black and Asian children which are overlooked far too often within healthcare (Burton et al., 2014). Along with implementing ethnic-racial socialization (Priest et al., 2014) a deeper exploration of egregious cultural practices of female genital mutilation (Balkozar, 2020), honor-based violence and forced marriages (Gregory et al., 2020), human trafficking (Raker, 2020), or violated mothers modeling aggressive behavior toward their children (Morgan, 2020) remain too often outside the 3-year program. Embedding these emotionally challenging topics within the BSc in Children's Nursing requires skill, planning, and sensitivity by nurse educators. For many years, performing diagnostics to confirm conditions such as type 1 diabetes or throat infection has become quicker and more accurate (Shatkin, 2015), whereas the lack of accurate testing to determine why a child is exhibiting behaviors of anger, irritability, and withdrawal in the absence of any physical illness remains complex and inexact. Nor is there an exact formula in helping children deal with loss.


The increasing use of Internet technology in corporate world is undeniable. Corporate Internet Reporting (CIR) is the communication process between the corporate sectors and stakeholders via the medium of the Internet. CIR is a significant way for the corporate sectors in presenting and disseminating business information. The study is conducted with the objective to examine the practice of CIR by the Malaysian listed corporations. Sample of the study consisted of 380 listed corporations. In measuring the level of CIR practice by companies, a CIR index was used. Data for CIR practice were collected by observing the presence of CIR attributes in the websites of companies being investigated and analysed by using descriptive statistics. The findings show that 82 percent of the companies examined have websites and are practicing CIR. On average, Malaysian listed companies practiced around 28.9% of the overall CIR attributes. The results based on industry type showed that the plantation sector had the highest mean score for overall CIR, Investor Relations category and User Support category, whereas the finance sector had the highest mean score for the categories of Accounting and Finance and Technological Advantage, and the construction sector revealed the highest mean score for forward looking data. Furthermore, a comparison between the Main Market and ACE market companies did not show any significant difference in the mean score for the overall CIR attributes and specific CIR attributes. Findings of the study might be useful to the Malaysian listed corporations in better understanding the level of CIR they practised so as to further increase the level of CIR in the near future. Finally, the study adds to the knowledge on the practice of CIR in Malaysia as one of the world's emerging economic countries.


The claim according to which corporations are morally responsible is a controversial one. At the same time, it is nowadays common to assign moral duties to companies, especially in work confronting the business and human rights issue. Can companies bear moral duties without being morally responsible? This article presents three different accounts of the duty to follow the course of action with the best consequences (consequentialist duty). The ascription of that duty to business is compatible with the claim that, by not being volitional agents, companies are not morally responsible for anything they do. The paper also addresses two possible objections against the claim that companies bear the duty of taking the course of action with the best consequences. These objections state that corporations are incapable of acting, be it in a general way (i.e. corporations do not possess the moral status of agents), be it regarding particular acts (the objection grounded on the "ought†implies "can†maxim).